Amadablam

The Matterhorn of the Nepal: Amadablam, 6856m

After only a few days rest in Kathmandu turning back from Manaslu, Norbu, Gilles, Valentine (Gilles' wife) and me started for a further Adventure in the great Himalaya. The start was however reported of one day due to the massive cyclone in the Indian Ocean which brought lots of rain and snow in this part of Nepal for this season. Accordingly, instead of taking the plane to Lukla, which is considered as the most dangerous airport in the World, we could enjoy an impressive one hour helicopter flight in the windy and cloudy mountain atmosphere.

We were so excited to be in Lukla that even the bad weather did not stop us going on with our first hike in the Everest Khumbu region as planned. Our aim this time was to climb the so-called Matterhorn of Nepal: Amadablam, 6856m.

Amadablam, an impressive, stunning pyramid,  is located in the hearth of Everest's Khumbu region, well-worn path to the Everest Base Camp. The Mountain derives its name from the glacier lying on its southwest face. The suspended glacier looks like a jewel box hanging on the neck of the Mountain, hence the name Amadablam, literally meaning 'the mother's jewel box'. 

After a few days in the full of snow but sunny base camp at 4650m and two nights in Camp 1, at 5600m, we were ready for the technical Summit ascent of Amadablam. However this was without counting the amount of fresh snow brought by the cyclone just before our arrival, which rendered the whole ascension much more dangerous. The nights were so cold that the snow did not have time to melt during the day.

As we progressed towards Camp 2 on the technical ridge, we were conscious that the Summit will not be reachable that time. The accumulation of snow on the great couloir and   narrow mushroom ridge and final vertical flank was too important and rendered any tentative to go to the Summit too dangerous. 

As all the other expeditions present, which had the same aim and program for the Summit than us, we had unfortunately to renounce.

This was the third successive expedition of my personal 2013 Himalaya Challenge. Despite the fact that I could not reach any of the summits I had foreseen this year due to the particular weather conditions, the experience to be so close to each of these summits in these altitudes and to live during three months in the highest chain of mountains of the World, adapting the body and mind to the rough conditions of the mountains was a fabulous and great gift.

Namasté!

Some pictures will follow.