원정 개요

Himalayan Expeditions Manaslu, led by Russell Brice - 12 Oct 2008

From 18 to 27 September, there was heavy snowfall, and during this period Brice's expedition lost C2, C3, and C4 under 3-5 meters of fresh snow. (They lost 28 oxygen bottles, 22 tents with sleeping bags, mats, etc. inside the tents, but no personal gear). It was not possible to go above BC during this prolonged snowstorm. When it was over, this teams' Sherpas refixed the route (other teams did no refixing).

Many climbers went no higher than this expedition but claimed summit success. This team stopped about 50 vertical meters (more than 100 linear meters) short of the top on 3 October because of problems with the route above after days of heavy snowfall.

The summit party: Ballinger, Jones, Kuraoka, Parker, Robinson, Smith, Stefane, Van der Meer, Phurba Tashi, Dorje Sonam Gyalzen, Son Dorje, Ngima Chhiri and Pasang Kami left C4 for the top on 3 October at 6:00 am. Stefane turned back at 7800m because he was not strong enough to go higher; van der Meer turned back with Stefane becaue of cold toes; and deputy leader Kuraoka turned back with them. The rest of the party reached the team's high point at about 8125m at 12:30 pm. The members descended to C2 only, while the Sherpas went down to BC that day.

Other member's high points:

Obermeier and Janice Smith reached C3, left BC on 4 October. Smith had appointments back in Melbourne. Obermeier was too slow and left with her.

Ragan went to C1's 5502m once on 10 September, but did not sleep there, and left the expedition on the 12th. He had blisters on his heels and didn't really want to be on the mountain.

Fixed rope: 3500m C1->C2 lost in snow, later refixed.

Oxygen:

All members from C3 to their high points to C4 or C3 as their supplies ran out.

Sherpas: only Dorje Sonam Gyalzen and Phurba Tashi used oxygen; they used it from C4 to summit to C4. The others used none.

Sherpas:
Dorje Sonam Gyalzen, 24/5/81, Phortse, Cho Oyu X1, Everest X9
Ngima Chhiri/Nima Tshering, 22/4/72, Phortse, Everest X2
Pasang Kami, 26/7/79, Phortse, Everest X1
Phurba Tashi, 24/5/71, Khumjung, Cho Oyu X5, Everest X12
Son Dorje Sherpa, 22/5/63, Phortse, Everest X7