Summit push on Makalu!

This message was written on May 16th shortly before we headed up for our final summit push although was never published on the blog, I have included below for completeness:

Following my last dispatch the weather has improved and the recent forecasts suggest that the late May summit window is finally here!

The Basque team set off up the West Ridge/ Pillar yesterday and this morning Spanish Carlos and Hose Marias left Base Camp for their summit attempt.

Tomorrow Mick and myself will also leave for a summit push dates as follows Camp 1 May 17th, Camp 2 Makalu La May 18th, High Camp 19th and summit 20th.

I understand that the large Indian team from HMI Darjeeling will also move up tomorrow, however as they using supplemental oxygen they might go direct from the Makalu La to the summit.

Makalu Expedition Photos 4: Makalu summit!!

Photo: Camp 3 on edge of icefall

Photo: climbing through icefall

Photo: snowslope after icefall

Photo (Mick Parker): Roland on snowslope

Photo: Mick approaching French couloir

Photo: French couloir

Photo: Mick above French couloir

Photo: Everest and Lhotse

Photo: corniced summit ridge

Photo: Mick climbing false summit

Photo (Mick Parker): Roland climbing false summit

Photo: Mick on final summit ridge

Photo: Roland on the summit!

Photo: Mick on the summit!

Photo: descending summit ridge

Makalu Expedition Photos 3: Climbing to Camp 2 on Makalu La at 7,300m

Photo: Makalu La

Photo: Mick climbing to Makalu La

Photo: snowfield half way up to Makalu La

Photo: ice couloir above snowfield

Photo: mixed ground below Makalu La

Photo: below Makalu La

Photo: Camp 2 on Makalu La at 7,300m

Photo: view of Makalu Two

Photo: view east from Makalu La

Photo: Makalu La

Photo: view of summit from Makalu La

Makalu Expedition Photos 2: Makalu Advanced Base Camp, Puja and Camp 1

Photo: porters approaching Advanced Base Camp

Photo: Makalu West Ridge

Photo: trail to Advanced Base Camp

Photo: Advanced Base Camp

Photo: Puja ceremony

Photo: Puja ceremony

Photo: Puja ceremony

Photo: Puja ceremony

Photo: Deposit camp on edge of glacier

Photo: serac en route to Camp 1

Photo: route to Camp 1

Photo: route to Camp 1

Photo: Camp 1 with Everest & Lhotse

Photo: view of Tibet from Camp 1

Photo: view of Chamlang and Baruntse from Camp 1

Photo: Makalu La

Makalu Expedition Photos 1: Trekking to Base Camp

Photo: Mick at Tumlingtar

Photo: terraced fields at Maneybhanjang

Photo: ploughing fields

Photo: Paul and Shekhar

Photo: mani wall

Photo: farmhouse near Seduwa

Photo: suspension bridge over Arun River

Photo: Shipton La

Photo: Shipton La

Photo: lakes near Shipton La

Photo: Shipton La

Photo: Shipton La

Photo: descending Shipton La

Photo: Barun Valley

Photo: campsite at Langmale Kharka

Photo: campsite at Mera

Photo: walking near Sherson

Photo: Sherson

Photo: Hilary (lower) Base Camp

Photo: Mt Makalu