The rope-fixing team reached the top of Annapurna around noon today, and clients followed shortly after. It was a long summit day. The sherpas fixed ropes as they went, while other climbers and their supporting guides followed closely.
This time, expedition leader Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks was part of the summit team, accompanying his nephew Nima Rinji. It was the 11th 8,000’er for the 17-year-old Rinji. He reportedly went without supplementary oxygen.
They climbed with Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, Mingtemba Sherpa (one of the guides supporting Kristin Harila of Norway last year), and Ngima Tashi Sherpa, who helped with the rope fixing.
Three foreign clients completed the summit list: Klara Kolouchova of the Czech Republic, Iryna Karagan of Ukraine, and Samiur Rashid of the UK. Their Nepalese guides were Pasang Sherpa, Pemba Thenduk Sherpa, and Lakpa Temba Sherpa.
Interestingly, the current summit push included another Ukrainian, Irina Galay. She climbed with Mingma Dorchi Sherpa of Pioneer Adventure and summited just after noon.
Weather conditions were good but windy.
Climbers on the move
The summiters are currently on their way down. They will try to take advantage of the colder temperatures after nightfall to descend the avalanche-prone sections between Camp 3 and Camp 2. After resting in Camp 2, they will proceed to Base Camp tomorrow. Check a video that Galay shot at the sections above Camp 2:
Meanwhile, Allie Pepper of Australia and Mikel Sherpa are progressing on their no-O2 climb. Yesterday, they reached Camp 3 after a 10-hour climb. Today, they intend to go to what they call “higher Camp 3.” It is unclear whether this is the Camp 4 that other climbers mentioned.
Once there, they will decide whether to attempt the summit or retreat to Base Camp to rest and recover. The weather is expected to worsen from Saturday evening onward.
