The Teri La and Labtse Khola are done! Finding the path is the biggest task these days. Due to the unforeseen exhausting hikes in the last days, we camp next to Purbung glacier (5005m). Our spare day for the summit is gone but we are proud of having found the the way into the “forbidden kingdom of Mustang”.
After 3 days of hiking we reach the base camp of the Teri la pass (5600m). An official path does not exist anymore. We’re totally lonesome. No one here in any direction. Thrilling!
Our guide leads us through the empty valley of Labse Khola. A horse is with us.Did not encounter anyone except one lonely yak driver who was looking for one of his lost yaks. Had to manage some crazy river crossings though. Lots of fun with camera equipment worth some thousand euros on the back.
After a steep hike from 4300m (Camp) to the top of 5360m high Kangla Pass we reach the restricted area of Nar-Phu. The snow height at the top of the pass was more than 1 meter and we had a quick view of another 8000er; Manaslu. A group of yaks crossed over to Manang. We’re looking forward to get to into the lonesome valley called Labtse Khola in two or three days, where we will probably meet no one for the next 10 days. Hopefully the weather will remain stable.
Rest day in Manang (3550m). We have Yaksteak, cinnamon rolls und beer. Dolman is fine again and Hannes feet are alive again…
We leave camp III (4620m) at 5 o’clock in the morning and reach Mesokanto II pass (5330m) through a 45° steep couloir. It is -15°C. One of the porters (Dolman) suffers from altitude sickness and Hannes does not feel his toes anymore. This world of ice is unbelievably beautiful but uncomfortable at the same time. We’re already looking forward to descending to Manang, have a beer and recover for our next challenges: Kang La and Teri La. Oh dear.
Jomsom. Due to unforeseen turbulence in the weather we arrived earlier than planned in Jomsom. After 4 days of waiting and hoping for better weather in the Italian Basecamp near Dhaulagiri, a 54 hour (!!) period of rain and snow had greatly increased the avalanche risk for the last trek. The pressure of one avalanche close to our Basecamp blew down our kitchen tent, but the VAUDE tents resisted everything! We arrived in Jomsom via Jeep. The early return will probably be an advantage for the coming research work we have planned. The weather looks great now and we are looking forward to our next tour with the support of our nine great Nepali members.
