Message from Stephan who arrived in Kathmandu yesterday

Dear All,

We've all arrived safely in Kathmandu along with all our kit. Rain, power cuts and strikes - it's great to be back!

We've had an extremely productive day. We've sorted oxygen, checked the barrels, spoken to the Nepal ethics committee, got Nepal Sim cards and bought the final kit for the medical kits. Tenji and Furba have been extremely helpful.

Doug, your samples arrived yesterday 1hr after me! Ice packs were still cold. The reagents are in a freezer under the ice cream and remained cold during power outages.

Our Nepal contact details are:
Stephan: 9841017278
Zoe: 9841017274
Sam: 9841017272

To dial from the UK add ++977. Feel free to distribute these as emergency contact details.

Happy packing!

Stephan

Yala Peak adventures...

Dear All, I did write a little account of this trip but can't seem to figure out the Nepalese technology to attach it! So, these are just a few pics in the meantime. For the Medex guys, this is what's been keeping me out of too much trouble for the last week or so...in the Langtang region on an ascent of Yala Peak at 5732m. Brilliant trip, really looking forward to more adventures in the Hidden Valley...Best wishes to you all, Zoe.

Yala Peak (5732m) in the Langtang region

Expedition Medical Officer, Zoe Smith, is now back in Kathmandu following a very successful ascent of Yala Peak (5,732m) in the Langtang region. She has been climbing there with Chomba Sherpa who will be one of the High Altitude Climbing Sherpas that will be taking part in next month's attempt on Sita Chuchura 6,616m. She has promised to post some photos and an account of her trip on this blogsite once she has reacclimatised to Kathmandu living.

Nepalese Customs

I’m very pleased to announce that nearly all of our equipment has now cleared customs and is being transported to our Hotel awaiting our arrival in Kathmandu. The Hotel’s contact details are:

Hotel Manaslu (P) Ltd.

Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel : 4410071, 4413470, 4417400, 4429571, 4429671

Fax : 977-1-4416516,

Email : hmanaslu@mos.com.np

Website : http://www.hotelmanaslu.com

How to send a text message to members of the Expedition

Whilst in the field friends and family will be able to send text messages to the expedition free of charge via the Iridium website. To do this visit www.iridium.com then select the link “send a  satellite text message” and then type in our number which is 881631669155. You can send upto 160 characters. Please note that messages will be picked up once daily and that the phone will not be switched on all of the time. We will do our best to pass messages onto individuals by VHF if required. I hope this makes sense.

Expedition Freight Arrives in Kathmandu

Over a 1,000kg of freight has arrived today in Kathmandu. Our local agent, Tenji Shepra of Sherpa Brothers Treks and Expedtions, is beginning the task of extracting all of this from Nepalese Customs. All will be stored at the Hotel Manasulu where it will be checked by Stephan Sanders, Zoe Smith (already in Nepal), Jamie MacDonald and Sam Oliver.