Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Eighteen: April 10th, 2009

Day Eighteen: Weather Clears; High Winds on Manaslu

Today, I woke up to a clear morning, finally! The storm had passed and the weather was beautiful. High winds raged on Manaslu; huge plumes of spindrift were blowing hundreds of meters off ridges high on the peak. We finally were able to dry off our clothing, sleeping bags, and tents and recondition their platforms. I worked also on improvising another solar panel/battery setup for my tent. I hooked up two 6V solar panels together in series then hooked it through the solar charge controller. This then was connected to eight 1.5V AA rechargeable batteries (connected in series to equal a total voltage of 12V) then was routed back through the charge controller to the load (I improvised a 12V female adaptor from some duct tape an old toilet paper roll). After lunch, two Russian climbers arrived from Samagaun and we invited them into our mess tent for tea. They are part of a 17-member Russian expedition. They told me that there was a Japanese Expedition a day behind in Samagaoun as well. Base Camp is becoming more and more populated every day now. After lunch, I spoke with the Koreans who will head up to Camp I tomorrow and are counting on the 5-day weather window for their summit push. I will also head up tomorrow, helping them break trail through the deep snow and drop off a tent, stove, fuel and food, as long as the weather holds.