Nicholas Rice: Manaslu Dispatch

2009 Solo Manaslu Expedition

Dispatch Thirty-nine: May 1st, 2009

Day Thirty-nine: Body of Giuseppe Antonelli Airlifted to KTM

Today after a very good night’s sleep, I woke up around 7a, late for base camp, and headed to the mess tent for breakfast; since we were now altogether only seven, we all ate in one mess tent together. Shortly after breakfast, we all headed up to the makeshift helipad where the body of Giuseppe was, awaiting the arrival of the helicopter that would transport to Kathmandu where it could be repatriated to Italy. The helicopter arrived about ten minutes later, and everyone scrambled to quickly load the body, then it departed as quickly as it had arrived. Everyone headed back to their respective base camps, mine being rapidly dismantled by the staff in preparation for their departure tomorrow for Kathmandu. Just before lunch, Mario Panzerri came over and told me that he had decided to stay in base camp and make another try for the summit. We could keep one cook and one kitchen boy and our base camp setup for the two of us and I wouldn’t have to switch agencies mid-expedition after all. Relieved, I headed down to tell the good news to Lina; I had been considering joining their expedition for the use of base camp services, although Bochi Bochi’s price of $80.00 per day had put me off in a big way; they seemed to be the most expensive expedition organizers in base camp. I stayed in her camp to make dinner; four cheese ravioli in a creamy garlic herb sauce, then headed up to my now completely dismantled base camp to sleep.

Photos: Left: Helicopter landing in base camp Right: Mario Panzerri in Camp IV