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Photo Gallery: click on any photo
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Route Map
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Early Start:
At 4 am we left the camp and were the last group to start. The first
climbers waked us up at 2 am in the night passing our tents.
The first light of the day appears and we have managed 300 meters of
height. |
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Steep Scree:
There is a second base camp called "attack camp" at around 5.600 Meter.
But the route can be done within one day from the lower base camp
without problems. To sleep at the higher camp probably is a useful
acclimatisation for those who aim for higher peaks later. |
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First View:
We can spot the snow covered top for the first time. |
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Resting Place:
At the border between rock and glacier we put on the climbing harness
and crampons. |
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Snow Tour:
The glacier is not free of crevices, but being there in October we had
ideal conditions and there were no obstacles to overcome - besides the
thin air. |
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On the Rope:
Seven tourists and two guides are fixed at one rope when crossing the
glacier. |
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Key Site:
The wall doesn't look frightening from the distance, just like it could
be walked easily.
The modest hump in the middle of the snowy ridge is the top of Island
Peak, 6189m. |
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Safe:
The gradient is 40 to 45 degrees anyhow. Our two mountain guides
fixed ropes from down here right to the top. We will be safe on every
part of our way. |
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Fixed:
This picture allows a more realistic impression. The Jumar is in use
now. We pass the 6000m-line and my method is: Have a break to breathe
deeply every 5 steps. |
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Deep View:
Now on the ridge we look back to our path and the little collections of
things we dropped as we don't need it up here. And unfortunately Monika
is down there. She is a totally fit lady but felt sick today and had to
refrain from going on. |
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Weather Luck:
The warm down gloves can stay in the rucksack today. I am happy about
this as mine are too big to fit into the Jumar.
The prominent mountain in the background is Ama Dablam, of course. |
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Into the Sky:
On the ridge close to the summit we still found perfect conditions. The
fixed rope is an additional assurance. |
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Final Spurt:
A last short and steep ascent of about 30 meters is to overcome just
before the summit. |
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Technical:
It is 50 degrees now and we use the front part of our crampons and the
ice axe. Once you are here nothing will stop you. |
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Grip:
With clean ice it
would be much more difficult. So it is just a question of endurance. |
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Proud And Happy:
The summiters are
fixed on their rope even when celebrating their victory. There is not
much space on the top. We had to wait until the former group had left. |
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Neighbour:
South Wall of Lothse is the predominant feature of the view. |
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Descent:
The steep descent still calls for concentrated walking. Later we ease
our way by abseiling. |
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Back Home:
We are back in time to stroll around before dinner. |
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Icy:
Separated by a moraine the glacier lake Imja Tso is situated beside the
Base Camp. |
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Mountain Paradise:
The evening sky above the Base Camp provides the perfect end of a
perfect day.
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