Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Twenty-two: April 14th, 2009

Day Twenty-two: Climb to Camp I (5,800 meters)

This morning, after packing up my things, I had a quick breakfast and left base camp around 7:30am. The morning was warm and clear, but I was worried for the Koreans who would be heading for a very windy summit. The route to Camp I was far more pleasant than it had been on my first carry and I arrived around 11:30am. I quickly started making water and organized my things in the tent. I heard a number of avalanches roar past as the afternoon temperatures rose. Around 3pm, two of the Koreans arrived and told me that it had been far too windy up high to make their summit bid and after we had parted ways at Camp I on my carry to Camp I (which had been through thigh-deep snow) it had taken them another 8.5 hours to reach Camp II, again breaking trail through deep snow. I offered them tea and then they headed down to base camp to recover. After making eight liters of water, I started to make dinner, potato gnocchi with a creamy pesto sauce. It took around an hour to make on the tiny camp stove, but the wait was worth it. After a filling and delicious dinner, I went to sleep without a headache or any other symptom of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). I was acclimating well.