After some days in Kathmandu, waiting out the quarantine period and testing negative for COVID-19, the Bahrain Royal Guard team is finally on its way. Members will acclimatize on 6,119m Lobuche before moving to their main goal, Manaslu. They flew to Lukla yesterday and immediately set off for the Khumbu Valley.
Their expedition permit includes 15 Bahrainis, three Europeans and three Brits. One of the Europeans is Dutch guide (and current Nepal resident) Arnold Coster, who is one of the expedition leaders. No word yet on the identity of the other non-Bahrainis.
Arnold Coster en route to the Khumbu.
So far, they are the only foreign team with a permit to climb in Nepal’s Himalaya. However, a six-member Nepali expedition is on its way to Baruntse (7,129m), led by Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa. He says that their project is dubbed, “Tourism Recovery Nepal 2020”.
Baruntse team’s climbing permit
Meanwhile in Pakistan, Colin Haley and the Wrights have begun their climb up K6. They established Camp 1 at 5,800m on the south wall, according to Ali Saltoro of Alpine Adventure Guides. Previously, they attempted Drifica Peak (6,447m) but didn’t summit.
Ammar Moshin on Goshar Gang Peak. In the Balti language, Goshar Khan means “Ice Pumpkin”.
Good luck… Finally, I’m happy for Nepal that things start to move a little bit. It breaks my heart when I read the reports I get from my friends there and the loss of life (suicide…) due to the corona madness. Nepal has “only” 472 deaths for millions, whereas we, in a “developped” coutry, Belgium, have over 10.000 for an 11 million population.
The proud and tough Nepalese do not need yet another season cancelled!
Just got the news that the travel restrictions were lifted here and I might be in Nepal as of October 17th (Island Peak, Ama Dablam).
Have a safe trip and enjoy the mountains if you finally make it there!
Dheira danyabhat, Tujichey!
Anyone interested? I’m going with EVER QUEST (Jamling Bhote, Sankhuwasabha).
We are looking at MAKALU for Spring 2021…
Nepal= 35 millions