Update 5
Australian Manaslu Expedition 2002
Update # 5
This report is current at 8 pm on Tuesday, April 30
The team is at Advanced Base Camp (ABC) and everyone is fit and well although somewhat frustrated that progress has been slower than planned. There has been about 3 metres of snow in the past week.
Whilst, due to the poor quality of communications, it has not been possible to pass on all of the messages of support which I have received over the past week, I have let them know that they are in the minds of many people at home and that there is a tremendous interest in their progress and good wishes for all of them in their endeavours.
The team made the initial carry to Camp 1, which is at 5600 metres, on April 24 (Wednesday) and then returned to ABC. Due to bad weather they had to wait until April 28 (Sunday) before they could make the second carry to Camp 1. They arrived at Camp 1 to discover that all of the tents were buried in snow and had to be dug out. Two of the tents were OK but Geoff's had collapsed under about two metres of snow, snapping the poles and ripping the fly. Geoff was particularly frustrated because he had never had the chance to sleep in it; it is now under four metres of snow.
Having established Camp 1 the team spent two nights there. Throughout this period the wind raged, the snow fell and the team worked in 3 hourly shifts to dig out their tents and avoid being buried again. Andrew was very concerned about when the tent he was sharing with Greg would blow apart; however, Greg slept calmly. They estimate that they have shovelled several football stadiums of snow in the past 48 hours.
The team is now well acclimatised at the Camp 1 level but happy to be back at ABC.
The planned carry to Camp 2 has been postponed pending better conditions. The slopes above Camp 1 are loaded with snow and need to stabilise before they become safe to traverse.
The last couple of nights have been exciting and very hard work, they now do not expect to be doing anything too strenuous for the next day or so.
In other news from Manaslu the German team appears to have made progress towards establishing their Camp 2 at 6600 metres on April 24 but have returned to ABC for some rest and recreation; the American team, as of April 27, has established their Camp 1 but has not made any progress towards establishing Camp 2, some American team members appear to be having difficulty acclimatising.
Ten photographs from the trek were sent out earlier today. I hope everyone received them and apologise to those who received more than their quota. Please contact me if you did not receive them all and would like to see them.
