During the post-monsoon season of 2015, Adventure Consultants operated a Three Peaks Nepal Expedition setting out to scale the trekking peaks of Island Peak, Lobuche East and Pokalde.
Three Peaks Nepal 2015 Dispatches
The expedition is led by Da Jangbu Sherpa from Pangboche, Nepal. Da Jangbu has been working with Adventure Consultants for many years and is now the lead Climbing Sirdar on our Everest expeditions. He has summited Everest an impressive 12 times. He always has his friendly smile beaming at you and his fantastic relaxed but professional attitude earns him much respect when leading our Sherpa teams.
Please join us in following the team's progress through their regular dispatches which will be posted to this page. Thanks for joining us!
Three Peaks Nepal 2015 Team:
Expedition Leader: Da Jangbu Sherpa - Pangboche, Nepal
Expedition Team Members:
Peter Blackshaw – Australia
Sam Beamish – Australia
10 November 2015 - Three Peaks Nepal Expedition Begins
Members of the Three Peaks 2015 Expedition have congregated in Kathmandu, ready to begin the expedition. They were met by their guide Da Jangbu Sherpa, 12 times Everest summitteer!
After checking their equipment and sourcing a few additional items from the many equipment stores in Thamel, they met in the lobby of the Hotel Radisson for their expedition briefing.
They were then joined by AC's Nepal Operations Coordinator, Chhiring Sonam Sherpa, and Ama Dablam Expedition Leader, Dean Staples, for a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant.
12 November 2015 - Flight to Lukla
After an early start to get to the airport at 5.15am, the Three Peaks team flew to Lukla. The weather was good and the flight arrived with no problems.
After a stop for tea at the Paradise Lodge with our friends Dawa Futi and Ang Pasang they were ready to hit the trail and begin the day's walk to the small village of Phakding. The team had glorious conditions and are excited for the challenges ahead!
14 November 2015 - Namche Bazaar
The weather gods are certainly smiling on the Three Peaks team who spent a rest day at Namche Bazaar acclimatising to their new altitude.
The main objective for their acclimatisation hike was the Everest View hotel, situated above Namche at 3,800m.
All is well and Sam and Peter are both healthy and feeling good!
15 November 2015 - Khumjung & Khunde Peak
A short walk over the hill took the team to the village of Khumjung, where they took the opportunity to further their acclimatisation by climbing Khunde Peak (4,200m).
They then still had enough energy to visit the Khumjung Gompa, which if you believe the locals is home to the famous yeti skull! The team is still enjoying great weather and are making the most of expedition life!
16 November 2015 - Crossing the Mong La
Today the team crossed their first high pass of the expedition, the Mong La, which links Khumjung to the village of Phortse. Once again they enjoyed stunning weather and fantastic views of Everest and Ama Dablam. This is what expeditions are made of!
Having reached Phortse, the team then traversed the high track to the village of Pangboche - a seldom-used alternative to the standard route via Tengboche. This is a spectacular trail which is etched into the hillside and often reveals wildlife such as the Himalayan thar.
17 November 2015 - Puja
Last night was spent in Pangboche, the home village of Expedition Leader Da Jangbu. In the morning he organised a puja ceremony to ready the group for their upcoming climbs - receiving a blessing from a lama who asks the gods for safe passage on the mountains for the climbing team.
They then set off on the trail to Dingboche, leaving the trees behind and heading up into the open valleys and ever increasing altitude. At this elevation you begin to feel the thinner air! Tomorrow they will climb Dingboche hill to 4,700m, which will further aid their preparation. Both Sam and Peter are feeling well and healthy and confident in the climbs ahead.
18 November 2015 - Acclimatising in Dingboche
The Three Peaks team continue to enjoy amazing weather as they climbed to 5,090m on Nanggachong Peak, above the village of Dingboche. This is a decent elevation in itself, but there is more to come! Tomorrow they will move to Chhukung, the last village before Island Peak, which will serve as the first of their Three Peaks.
19 November 2015 - Ropes Training
Today the team made the short trek to Chhukung and were able to see their first objective, Island Peak, looming ahead of them for most of the hike.
The team enjoyed a hearty lunch but there was no time to relax! Da Jangbu set up a fixed rope to allow some practice of jumar technique prior to the climb of Island Peak. This is a valuable session to ensure the team are comfortable with the techniques they'll need to scale the mountains. Tomorrow they will undertale another acclimatisation hike on Chhukung Ri.
20 November 2015 - Chhukung Ri
The team enjoyed fantastic views from the summit of Chhukung Ri (5,550m), their final acclimatisation hike before they begin the climbing phase of the expedition.
They were joined by climbing sherpa and cook Rinjin, who will accompany the team on their Three Peaks, ensuring they are well fed and providing additional support on the climbs.
Tomorrow the team moves to Island Peak Base Camp where they will stage themselves for their summit attempt. We will have more news in a couple of days, after their climb. Good luck team!
22 November 2015 - Island Peak Summit
The AC team have just received news that Sam, Peter, Da Jangbu and Rinjin summitted Island Peak at 9am on Sunday morning. Everyone is doing well and Da Jangbu commented that both Sam and Peter are very strong. Well done!
Their next objective is Pokalde.
25 November 2015 - Pokalde Summit Success!
A call from Da Jangbu announced that the team have reached the summit of Pokalde at 10.15am. They are going to stay overnight at Pokalde Base Camp, then head down towards Lobuche tomorrow, crossing the Kongma La pass.
26 November 2015 - Kongma La
After yesterday's climb of Pokalde, the team spent a further night at Base Camp, before crossing the Kongma La Pass and descending to Lobuche.
The great weather continued and the team are psyched for their climb of Lobuche which is planned for the 28th. Good luck!
28 November 2015 - Lobuche East Summit
At 6.50am Sam and Peter topped out on Lobuche East along with Da Jangbu and Rinjin - congratulations to all!
That's a fantastic 3 for 3! The team have definitely earned themselves some thicker air as they make their way down valley again.
29 November 2015 - Heading Down Valley
After a well-deserved rest and celebrations at Lobuche Base Camp, the team packed up camp for the last time. They bade farewell to Rinjin who has headed off with our yak drivers to return the expedition equipment to our stores and continued on down, making great time in good weather.
1 December 2015 - Return to Namche Bazaar
Over the past couple of days, the team have returned to familiar ground as they descended to Pangboche and onto Namche Bazaar. Here they enjoyed the delights of the Khumbu Lodge - hot showers and chicken sizzlers were sure to be on the menu!
After some morning shopping, the team then descended to Monjo for the night. This is the penultimate leg of their epic journey, with just a short trekking day to Lukla to complete tomorrow.
Trek on!
2 December 2015 - Journey's End
A final day's trekking took the Three Peaks team back to Lukla for their final night in the Khumbu valley. They are enjoying the hospitality of Dawa Futi and Ang Passang in the Paradise Lodge and, all going to plan, will fly to Kathmandu early tomorrow morning.
Congratulations to Sam and Peter on a fantastic and successful expedition to the Three Peaks of Nepal! It was a fabulous expedition with a great team and a testiment to hard work and a great attitude.
3 December 2015 - Weather clears for a flight to Kathmandu
A cloudy start to the day in Lukla resulted in a few nervous hours waiting for the skies to clear enough to allow flights between Lukla and Kathmandu to operate. However, by 11am the team were back in Kathmandu, with the expedition officially drawing to a close.
Thanks for following this incredible journey through the heart of the Khumbu!
