An expedition report from Steve Hyde, Master Cobbler at Dave Page, Cobbler.
Namche Bazzar - 30 October 1998
We've
had
fantastic
weather
for
the
entire
month
of
October.
The
SW
ridge
of
Amadablam
was
a
spectacular
climb.
After
gearing
up
in
Kathmandu
we
traveled
by
bus
to
Jiri.
In
Jiri
we
hired
19
porters
to
carry
our
equipment
and
provisions
to
the
base
of
the
mountain.
The
trek
to
base
camp
was
approximately
150
miles
and
took
11
days.
We
spent
every
night
in
Sherpa
tea
houses.
A
bed
cost
about
50
cents
per
night.
We
made
many
new
friends
and
even
acquired
a
taste
for
rice
beer.
At
base
camp
(15,000
feet)
we
had
a
Puja
(pre-climb
prayers)
with
Lam
from
Pangpocha.
After
a
couple
of
nights
at
B.C.
we
began
carrying
loads
to
the
higher
camps.
Once
we
were
established
at
camp
one
(20,000
feet)
we
returned
to
Base
Camp
for
a
rest
day.
We
had
clear
weather
and
we
were
ready
for
a
three-day
push
for
the
summit.
The
next
day
we
climbed
to
Camp
One
and
spent
the
night.
The
technical
climbing
begins
above
Camp
One.
We
spent
most
of
the
day
rock
climbing
on
great
sun
warmed
granite
to
Camp
Two
(20,750
feet).
The
next
day
involved
climbing
the
crux
grey
tower
through
ice
and
rock
and
a
tangle
of
fixed
ropes
left
by
previous
expeditions.
Once
through
the
grey
tower
we
climbed
the
spectacular
Mushroom
Ridge
that
leads
to
Camp
Three
(21,300
feet).
After
a
fitful
of
night's
sleep
we
awoke
to
clear
skies
and
bitter
wind.
It
was
damn
cold
but
warm
by
Arctic
standards.
We
spent
most
of
the
morning
ascending
the
Firn
Ridge
that
lead
directly
to
the
summit
of
Amadablam.
When
we
reached
the
summit
we
were
rewarded
with
views
of
Makalus'
west
ridge,
Baruntse,
Lhotsa
and
Everest.
We
could
see
Kangchenjunga
and
also
the
vastness
of
China.
After
my
friends
started
the
descent
I
spent
about
ten
minutes
alone
on
the
summit.
If
all
goes
well
we
should
be
back
in
Kathmandu
in
a
few
days.
Lara
and
I
are
flying
to
Thailand
to
go
rock
climbing
and
to
fatten
up
on
seafood
and
Phad
Thai.
I'll
be
back to work in mid-November.
Hope all is well at home.
Sincerely, Steve
Photos by Steve Hyde
