| Date / Time | Location | Update |
Tue 17 Aug:
0850 hrs |
Humberside Airport
|
The team all arrived safely back into the UK at Humberside Airport where families and friends were there to meet them.
They all looked tired from the journey but in high spirits and full of tales of their adventures in India.
They have achieved a great deal in a relatively short space of time and should be justifiably proud of their expedition.
Next on the agenda is Families Day where the team will present to their families their expedition story on Sunday 12 Sep 10 with the team meeting at CTC Driffield on Sat 11 Sep 10 to prepare. Full details to follow.
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Sun 15 Aug:
1530 hrs |
Agra
|
Message from Team Leader today
In Agra, not too bad a drive. Independence day today. Taj Mahal tomorrow with 0530 start to get there before the masses and heat arrive. Team meal on roof terrace tonight but as it is Independence Day no alcohol for sale. Hotel big improvement from YMCA!
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Sat 14 Aug:
2000 hrs |
New Delhi
|
Message from Team Leader today
Carried out Recce round city centre and it had improved since we left so all team members visited round there and didn't go to Red Fort. All been in pool so will now be clean from travelling. A few were taken to 'Cottage Emporium' which turned out to be tuk tuk drivers cousins shop! (Seems the same the world over).
All had a good time in Delhi and most now spent up. (Parents be prepared for the cry on Tuesday, I've got no money).
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Fri 13 Aug:
2030 hrs |
New Delhi
|
Message from Team Leader this evening.
All at YMCA in Delhi, a long day in taxis back to Chandigarh then train back to Delhi. Very hot and humid unlike the mountains but hot running showers and electricity good. Sightseeing and shopping tomorrow at the Red Fort and Cottage Emporium hopefully, keeping out of city centre due to it looking like a bomb site because of Commonwealth Games. 17 times over budget and still nowhere near complete!!
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Thu 12 Aug:
1700 hrs |
Manali
|
Messages from the team as below
In Manali today shopping, rained all morning so most stayed in the hotel. Weather fine but early reports indicated possible problems on the road to Chandigarh tomorrow.
Later reports indicate roads now open so should be good to go tomorrow as long as the rain holds off.
Lots of gifts for home purchased today and team have a pub quiz in a dry hotel this evening (presume meaning of dry is no alcohol and not leaky roof!)
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Wed 11 Aug:
1630 hrs |
Manali
|
Message from the team late last evening.
All at hotel in Manali, having just had a very nice tea and hot shower!
Rain quite bad outside but hopefully will clear by the morning so the team can manage a bit of shopping.
Had 12 and a half hour drive to reach Manali which was bum numbing, however the scenery was good, but foggy over the high pass.
Team members may already have rung home by now as comms seem to be ok from Manali.
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Tue 10 Aug:
0745 hrs |
Kaza to Manali
|
Various collated messages from the team across the last 24 hours as below.
The road between Kibber and Kaza was washed away with 7 landslides, for about 1 km at a distances of 15 km from Kaza, and the team squeezed into the back of the stores truck, drove to where the road stopped and then did a carry on and off vehicles from both ends with a walk in the middle.
They were delighted to find only cold showers as there has been no power in Kaza for day.
If all ok planned to leave for Manali if road open
0200 Tuesday 10 Aug 10
Weather is good, road is open and leaving for Manali. Please send more champagne!
|
Mon 09 Aug:
0900 hrs |
Kibber
|
See below from the team
Left ABC at 0800 in perfect Spiti weather, blue sky, fair weather cumulus and 35C. (What a change from 2 days ago!).
Reached Kibber at 1130.
Unfortunately the road to Kaza is blocked so no jeeps or 4 x 4s to the showers.
Cadets reported to be eating anything and everything in Kibber so guess they are a bit peckish.
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Sun 08 Aug:
1100 hrs |
Mount Kanamo
N: 032 Deg 023 min
E: 078 Deg 006 min
Alt: 5986 m
|
All
At 1220z all 24 members of the team stood on the summit of Mt Kanamo at 5986 m.
The team made the ridge in less than 2 hrs from ABC, then progressed on snow, with Nir Sherpa and Roy making the route through knee deep snow.
Photographs being taken the team left the summit at 1330 for ABC, with the last of a very tired team reaching ABC at 1515.
Good weather with great views.
Will move from ABC tomorrow for Kaza and hot showers.
All now taking a well deserved sleep.
Congratulations to all of the team members who have worked so hard to reach their aim.
|
Sat 07 Aug:
0900 hrs |
Advanced Base Camp
N: 032 Deg 021 min
E: 078 Deg 004 min
Alt: 5130 m
|
Message from team early today 07 Aug 10 and numbered No 14 to ensure no jinx!
Moved up to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 5130 m. Rain hammered down all night only stopping at 0600. Left BC at 0945 and reached ABC at 1215.
If weather holds and conditions ok will try for the summit at 0400 tomorrow 08 Aug 10.
|
Fri 06 Aug:
1100 hrs |
Base Camp
|
Message received from the team today.
Rained all night, and cleared at 0900 hrs. Carried out acclimatisation walk to 5200 m and found site for High Camp (HC).
If weather holds will move up to HC tomorrow.
The area the team are in is a spectacular unspoiled area.
Location as yesterday for BC.
An interesting link to read
http://www.rockclimbing.com/Articles/Trip_Report/Climbing_Mount_Kanamo_Alone_in_the_Indian_trans-Himalayas_705.html
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Thu 05 Aug:
1630 hrs |
Base Camp
N: 032 Deg 020 min
E: 078 Deg 003 min
Alt: 4850 m
|
The team are now at Base Camp and the weather held out until they made it to BC. Reported as pouring down now with snow on the peak of Kanamo.
Plan is to hold acclimatisation walk tomorrow to High Camp and return to BC to sleep and the day after move up to High Camp, weather dependent.
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Tue 03 Aug:
2330 hrs |
Kibber
N: 032 Deg 019 min
E: 078 Deg 000 min
Alt: 4138 m
|
Team report from last two days below:-
The team has moved from Mud by vehicle stopping off at Dhankar Gompa, where some managed a quick call home on the land line.
The plan was to move up to Base Camp (BC) today (04 Aug). However, heavy rain this morning put a dampener on the plan and the team are waiting for the rain to clear and weather forecast indicates it will be clearing and ok to move up to BC tomorrow.
All fine but a bit tired after exciting days recently, relaxing today and filing up on food.
|
Mon 02 Aug:
1700 hrs |
Mud
N: 031 Deg 057 min
E: 078 Deg 002 min
Alt: 3730 m
|
Team report as follows:-
Arrived at the village of Mud after an epic day! Recent rain made river crossings interesting to say the least and the training carried out by the team made the task much easier and safer.
Followed another expedition who were not as prepared as us and they got wet!
Arrived at Mud to find all equipment on the wrong side of the river and 2 km from camp so had to cross another river with tents and pony bags, then carried in relays to camp site.
The short day we expected then became 10 hours.
All did very well.
|
Sun 01 Aug:
1630 hrs |
Near Bara Bulder
N: 031 Deg 050 min
E: 077 Deg 059 min
Alt: 4105 m
|
Report from the team this evening as below:-
Arrived in the Pin Valley and now at 4105 m. What a day; up at 0400 and away by 0600. A steep climb for 5 hours to the summit of the Baba Pass at 4865 m. There is snow on the pass and upwards from 4500 m.
Arrived at the camp site at 1700.
All in good spirits but all very tired!
|
Sat 31 Jul:
1530 hrs |
Baba Pass
N: 031 Deg 045 min
E: 077 Deg 059 min
Alt: 4085
|
Report from the team as below:-
Camping below Baba Pass at 4085 m, light rain during the day.
Early start tomorrow to complete the crossing and will be a big day for all of the team, still not impressed with rubbish left at camp sites by other teams.
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Fri 30 Jul:
1830 hrs |
Kara
N: As 29 Jul
E: As 29 Jul
Alt: As 29 Jul
|
Report from the team last evening as below:-
Good walk today, team ascended to 3900 m and have crossed 6 rivers en route.
All reported as fine.
It is expected that the team will cross the pass to Fustiarang today, 31 Jul 10.
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Thu 29 Jul:
1630 hrs |
Kara
N: 031 Deg 044 min
E: 077 Deg 059 min
Alt: 3585 m
|
The team are now at Kara at 3585 m altitude. Great walk today and all team well. The weather has been fine today but may rain later. Plan for move to the pass tomorrow and carry out acclimatisation walk to 4000 m.
|
Wed 28 Jul:
1600 hrs |
Mulling
N: 031 Deg 041 min
E: 077 Deg 059 min
Alt: 3244 m
|
The team have now arrived at Mulling at 3244 m and have had a good day today. The weather has been mostly fine.
The camp site has been a disappointment as previous users have not cleaned it up.
|
Tue 27 Jul:
1600 hrs |
Kafnoo
N: 31 Deg 037 min
E: 78 Deg 001 min
Alt: 2484 m
|
The team are now at Kafnoo and set up with their campsite. It has rained all of last night and today on and off.
They have had an interesting drive from Shimla to Kafnoo and the trek really starts for them tomorrow and they are all looking forward to getting going.
Info taken from http://www.india9.com/i9show/Kafnoo-68512.htm
Kafnoo is a picturesque hamlet located 18 km from Kara in Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh. It lies at an altitude of about 2,427 m along the Bhaba- Pin valley trek route. Surrounded by lush green meadows, deodar and pine, Kafnoo offers panoramic views of snow-capped peaks all around. Bhaba River flows through the village. Nearby tourist destinations include Bhaba Nagar, Molling, Kara, Futi and Kalpa. Kafnoo is an ideal base for trekking. Base camps are available. The nearest railway station and airport are at Shimla. Kafnoo is connected with Rekong Peo, Sarahan and Kalpa by road.
|
Mon 26 Jul:
1945 hrs |
Shimla
N: 031 Deg 006 min
E: 077 Deg 010 min
Alt: 2149 m
|
The team stayed at the Royal Oaks, Shimla for last night and tonight and spent a day on acclimatisation walking locally to get used to the higher altitude, where some found it markedly different from anything they have tackled before, whilst others chatted away merrily to the Sherpas.
They have visited the Monkey Temple and British Simla and managed a bit of shopping too.
They plan to leave tomorrow at 0800hrs in 5 off 4 x 4 vehicles and have sent Recce party ahead to check out the pass in advance.
An interesting story from the Monkey Temple which you may find amusing if you follow the link
http://travel.ciao.co.uk/Jakhoo_Temple_Shimla_India__6881553
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Sun 25 Jul:
1530 hrs |
Shimla
N: 31 Deg 06 min
E: 77 Deg 11 min
Alt: 1712 m
|
The team have now arrived in Shimla after a very interesting train ride! On arrival they are partaking of tea at the hotel. Plans for tomorrow include a visit to the Monkey Temple for an acclimatisation walk. All having a great time.
They should now be able to get their first views of the Himalaya, for pictures visit Google Earth and see what is around Shimla.
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Sat 24 Jul:
2345 hrs |
New Delhi
N: 28 Deg 38 min
E: 77 Deg 13 min
Alt: 217 m
|
The team arrived at the Ginger Hotel at 0045 hrs with all luggage arriving in New Delhi. Temperature 32 Degs and very humid. Team spirits high and all looking forward to the train journey in the morning with another early start at 0600 hrs. Brew and bed ready for the off and the challenge of New Delhi Railway Station.
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Sat 24 Jul:
0745 hrs |
Schipol Airport
N: 52 Deg 18 min
E: 04 Deg 45 min
Alt: -2 m
|
The team left Humberside, albeit 40 minutes late and have arrived safely at Schipol Airport, awaiting the flight to Delhi. No dramas at check in even for those members with overweight baggage; had some of them packed a kitchen sink?
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Fri 23 Jul:
1700 hrs |
CTC Driffield
|
The team are all assembled at CTC Driffield, ready for the off before dawn tomorrow.
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