Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Twenty: April 12th, 2009

Day Twenty: Rest Day in Base Camp; Spanish Expedition Arrives

Today, after an amazing night’s sleep, I woke up around 7am and had a quiet breakfast. All the Italians, aside from Roberto Manni, who arrived yesterday, were making a carry to camp I. After cleaning my tent and doing laundry, I noticed an expedition arriving. It was the Expedicion Mujer Andalucia (Female Andalucian Expedition). My good friend Catalina Quesada Castro who has climbed on a number of 8000 meter expeditions with me was one of the members. We chatted for a bit then she went down to where the porters had gathered for their tips. After a few hours I headed down to catch up; I hadn’t seen her since our climbs on Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro in January. I met the other members of the expedition, who turned out to be alot of fun, a welcome change from my group. They insisted that I stay for dinner and afterwards, I bid them all goodnight.