Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Twenty-three: April 15th, 2009

Day Twenty-three: Climb to Camp II (6,400 meters); Storm

Today, after a quick breakfast of oatmeal I started up toward Camp II. I quickly noticed that no one else was on the route but wasn’t worried, as the route had been well established by the descending Korean Team. The morning was stunning; warm and calm, though, again, winds raged higher up the mountain. I soaked in the gorgeous views of the surrounding peaks as I climbed past gaping crevasses and hanging seracs. Finally, after just four and a half hours of climbing, I arrived to Camp II. I noticed weather moving in, so without wasting a moment, got to digging out a tent platform and securing my tent to the snow using anchors I’d improvised from a tent pole from a spare tent. When this was finished, I gathered a stuff sack full of snow to melt for water and settled in, not a moment too soon. Clouds obscured all visibility, winds higher up sounded like freight trains and it began to snow. I prepared myself a quick dinner inside the tent (as it had no vestibule, I vented heavily while cooking and never took my eye off the stove). The winds I had seen blasting the ridge higher up began testing the anchors and guy-out lines I had secured my tent with earlier. Thankfully they held brilliantly and I settled into the early evening somewhat preoccupied with my stinging eyes (hopefully, I hadn’t managed to burn them too badly). Avalanches roared past, stirring me from my transient sleep, the solitude of the camp sinking in, until finally, I managed a deep sleep.