Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Nineteen: April 11th, 2009

Day Nineteen: Carry to Camp I; Korean Tents Destroyed

Today, I woke up at 6am, packed up my climbing gear, and had a quick breakfast. I headed down to the Korean Camp with a 20kg pack where I waited for everyone to be ready. We left base camp around 7:30am and took turns breaking trail. The snow became deeper the higher we got and the last few hours of the climb to Camp I were hellish; snow to the mid-thigh level. When we arrived to camp I, the Koreans found the top inch of the two meter bamboo stick they had left to mark where their tents were. The tents were buried under at least 8ft of new snow, compacted by the wind. The wind kicked up after we arrived blowing spindrift all over and making pitching my tent very difficult. After my tent was secure, I helped the Koreans find their second tent and dig it out, a formidable task for someone not acclimatized to this altitude (5,800m) and exhausted from seven hours of trudging through deep snow with a 20kg pack. After the tents were freed, I noticed one of them was broken so I offered them use of my tent. I started down toward base camp around 5:30 and quickly realized, despite my empty pack, that the way down would be difficult as well thanks to the deep powder. Every step, I sank down at least to my knees, my joints taking a beating, and had to free myself with considerable effort. An hour later, an avalanche roared across the valley I was heading for; had I left an hour earlier, would surely be in its path. I arrived to base camp at 7:30pm, and after a quick dinner, quickly fell asleep.

Below is a quick mention of the Korean Team, who, weather permitting, will make their summit attempt in three days. Best of luck to them all!

2009 Dynamic Busan Hope Expedition

Leader: Hong Bo Seong

Seo Sung Ho

Kim Chang Ho

Nam Jeong Hwan