Dear friends of AC,
It's always an exciting time for us as an Everest expedition is about to start, as there are so many more components to this trip than any other expedition that we do. So it is with great satisfaction that we have seen the guides depart for Kathmandu and embark on the trek to base camp. Join them (in a virtual sense) by following their daily progress through the Everest 2005 dispatch page.
Our people on the ground in Nepal report that all is peaceful in Kathmandu despite the efforts of the international media to give a different impression of the situation there. At the same time, western governments are being a lot more conservative in the travel advisories to protect themselves from anything that could be considered a terrorist act, and hence they have lost their ability to be relevant. The Maoists have never targeted westerners and consequently we are still running our programs throughout Nepal.
Personally, I believe that democracy can be elusive in these central Asian countries and if the King of Nepal can bring peace and stability through a benevolent dictatorship, then maybe that is better than a lot of bloodshed for the sake of freedom of speech. The international community decried General Musheraf taking control of Pakistan yet he has brought an optimism that has never been seen in Pakistan before. Read about his efforts to bring peace and stability on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5081-2004May31.html
One of the great personal benefits I have found throughout my international climbing exploits is that by being in foreign countries you get to relate to the locals as if they were your own people. Sure there are differences between us - yet when traveling you cant help but appreciate the colour and diversity these differences bring to us as the human race.
So if we travel more and meet more people with different belief structures to our own, the world would become a better place. And hey, if it doesnt, at least you got to climb some amazing mountains!
Happy expeditioning,
Guy Cotter
SOUTH AMERICA UPDATE
The Adventure Consultants Aconcagua expedition reached the summit in perfect weather on 12 January this year. Climbers Len Stanmore, Peter Browne, James Carpenter and Tom McClurg along with guides Paul Rogers and Steve Moffat summitted and returned back to camp 2 that night, tired but elated. Several other members of the group achieved high points on the trip so a hearty congratulations to everyone! Their climb is documented with daily dispatches at Aconcagua 04/05.
We return to South America this (southern) winter, there are still spaces available on our Ecuador Volcanoes Expedition in June. This is a wonderful trip to combine some intermediate mountaineering, the high points of the Ecuadorian Andes and some fascinating culture. Our trips in June in the past have succeeded with good conditions/ weather allowing ascents of all the peaks.
NEW ZEALAND SUMMER OVERVIEW
It's fair to say the weather is not always perfect in the New Zealand mountains and for some reason the early part of our season was exceptionally bad, with an unusual number of storms coming through. Several trips did have the good weather and an example of this was Louis Kosztelny from Australia, who climbed Aoraki / Mt Cook and Mt Aspiring with guide Mark Sedon in a 6 day period in late January. Congratulations Louis!
WINTER IN NZ
We have a new Ski Mountaineering / Snow Boarding Course this winter, the SMC is a 5 day course on glaciated terrain in NZ's Southern Alps - one in August and one in October. Check the SMC page for details.
Our popular Ice Climbing Courses coming up, running for six weeks from July 11 to August 19. The courses are 5 days, run Monday to Friday, and lead guide for the program is Paul Rogers. The courses are based at our Expedition Tent in the Wye Creek basin, Remarkables Range in Queenstown and by camping in situ this allows more time to get to the fabulous water ice routes there.
NEW EXPEDITION BROCHURE AND 2005-2007 PROGRAM
We have just produced our new expedition brochure (2005-2007) that should have arrived in your mail box by now. In addition to our existing range of expeditions the brochure showcases some exciting new trips to new destinations; Peak Lenin, Boliva, European Ascents, Kilimanjaro via the Machame route. Let us know if you have not received the brochure, or would like additional copies, and we'll dispatch these to you.
ADVENTURE CONSULTANTS GEAR SHOP
You can now purchase Adventure Consultants merchandise online via our new Gear Shop. Here you will find our classic AC caps and T-shirts along with a new range of merchandise including AC Nalgene Bottles, Glacier Shirts, sunhats and exclusive expedition T-shirts.
As a special introductory offer we are giving away a free AC Nalgene Bottle to the first 30 orders received from AC clients and friends - so email us now!
