2007 Shishapangma expedition dispatches

The crew are hard at work, some climbers are trekking to get fit and acclimatize.

21 Aug - Kathmandu

I (Jamie) arrived back in Kathmandu on the 13th of August, Now I am almost up to date with email... My cargo from Pakistan arrives tomorrow, some more washing and sorting to do!

The sherpa crew started work in earnest yesterday. We have had new kitchen tables made, and the new kitchen tents will be ready in a few days (thanks, Dawa). First up is putting every tent up and checking them, more than 40 of them! They started on this today.

In Pakistan one load was mysteriously lost so we have nine new Mountain Hardwear tents coming with Eric and Jen.

Some climbers have already arrived

13 Aug: Paul arrived and headed off around the Annapurna Circuit with Pasang Gombu, who is also climbing with us but obviously won't be helping with the packing.

18 Aug: Francis arrived and has now headed off around the Annapurna Circuit, hopefully with a large umbrella.

21 Aug: It was good to see Mark again (from Shishapangma last year), together with a friend they arrived yesterday and flew to Lukla this morning, the first real fine morning for several weeks apparently, for a trek.

29 Aug - One climber won't?

I thought I had caught up on emails, but no... At least the packing is going well.

Will Gordon make it? If you know Nepal you know not to fly (Royal) Nepal Airlines internationally, and if you do, don't worry about turning up on time at the airport. Currently one of the two planes is in maintenance in Brunei, meaning they cannot quite keep up with their flight schedule, even flying round the clock, but worse, the other plane has a wiring problem and so all flights are delayed by a day or two, and I am guessing a number will be cancelled outright. And all other airlines are running at over 100% capacity into Kathmandu, every seat booked.

30 Aug - Gordon MIA?

Well, Gordon did not even get on his flight out of Vancouver due to a ticketing snafu; that was some dodgy ticketing agent? At least Vancouver is more comfortable than Delhi - but it is further from Kathmandu. ETA - ???.

As one person said, the expedition isn't over until you step back in the front door; the corollary could be that the expedition doesn't start until you are truly out of the front door...

One of my two store rooms, and we also have an acre of land and additional stores at another place,
all being used for our expedition packing - Jamie