Back on track

Ted packing ready for Nepal

Ted is back on track after an emotional month. After comming back from India Ted opted not to go to Morroco with Adele but to stay in the UK. Things had been difficult on a personal front recently and after much soul-searching Penny and Ted have decided to end their relationship.
Ted is now looking to the future (‘the undiscovered coutry’) with a trip to Nepal on a technical 6000m peak with Adele. Ted hopes to keep you up to date with his new adventures as a single bear.

Summit success in Ladakh

On top again, success in Ladakh

Yesterday morning at 8.54am Ted, Adele, five Sherpas and all the team members from RGSW stood (or sat ) on the summit of Samgyal 5850m.
Adele was in her element as the climbe proved to be a little more involved than expected. Adele and Mingma fixed a rope over a huge crevasse which allowed access to the upper final mixed ice and rocky slopes and small summit. Extensive views of more mountains and the odd glimpse of the Karakorum range through the clouds added atmosphere to what was a fantastic day and a great achievement for al the pupils and Robert Gibson the teacher from RGSW. Well done to everyone and thanks to all the Sherpas.

Ted apologises for the lack of news recently but there have been some dificulties with the e-mail connection.

Ladakh 1

Ted is now in India in the Ladakh region with a group from the Royal Grammar School Worcester. After a hot and sweaty stop-over in Delhi Ted is now in Leh where everyone is catching up with some sleep and acclimatising to the altitude.

Ted, Adele and Andy too!

Adele and Andy had arranged to meet up in the Lakes on the 15th of June with the intention of climbing Troutbeck Pinnacle one of the ‘Classic Rock’ routes from the book of that name so Ted decided to tag along for some exercise. They all met up at the Rheged Discovery Center before moving on to Borrowdale. The weather was indifferent and the first order of the day was coffee and flapjack at Shepherds Cafe. The wet weather and slippy conditions ruled out Troutbeck Pinnacle so an alternative plot was hatched to climb Jackdaw Ridge in the hope that conditions would improve in the afternoon.

Adele led off up Jackdaw Ridge which she had described to Ted and Andy as a 3S scramble, they should have twigged when Adele led off in Rock Boots!

Ted & Andy on the first pitch Jackdaw Ridge Direct (VDiff)

After a brief thrutch up the first pitch it was on to easier ground and a stop to look at the view.

Enjoying the view

After a brief rest and look at the scenery it was down to the foot of Brown Slabs. Ted had had enough for the day and decided to guard the bags while Adele and Andy climbed another route. With this completed and no prospect for an improvement in the weather it was into Keswick to do some shopping for dinner before a quick ascent of Cat Bells in some unexpected sunny weather. As the weather closed in again it was back to the hut in Grange and a steak dinner and wine.

After dinner it was time for Adele to do some preparation for her workshop the following Friday at the Rheged Discovery Centre entitled ‘ Coaching Outside The Comfort Zone’ followed by an early night.

Ted and Adele are off to India at the end of the month, follow their adventures on this blog and the Adele Pennington Mountaineering website.

More soon.

Ted’s Makalu pictures

Ted apologises for the delay between getting home and this post but he has been helping Adele catch up with the affairs of Adele Pennington Mountaineering and general personal admin not to mention a few days climbing here and there.

There are now a few photos of Teds Makalu trip. With many thanks to Bunter and James for the use of their photos.

The walk in started fine then someone stuck a tree in my ear!

Walking: in 'Who put that tree in my ear'

Then it started to get colder as we reached the snowline.

Starting to get cold now

As with most if not all Himalayan Expeditions we had a Puja Ceremony to placate the spirits and to bring good fortune to the enterprise. It doesn’t always work as I found out last year.

Puja ceremony

I don't fancy carrying that lot!

We spent some time aclimatising on the mountain and back at base camp.

At ABC with friends

At ABC with Makalu in the background

We steadily increased our height on the mountain but returned back down to stunning sights.

Makalu at Sunrise

And this from Camp 2:

Lhotse & Everest from C2

The final push was on and we steadily gained height.

The sun hits the slopes

Sunrise on Everest taken from the base of the French Couloir on Makalu

Onwards and upwards:

And It's not even the top

A series of false summits kept us guessing.

Adele heading for the Makalu Summit

And finally we were there, our 5th time together on a 8000m+ summit and our fourth separate mountain of that height.

Can you see my ears Makalu Summit my 4th 8000m+ peak

It was a thoroughly satisfying end to a great expedition especially after the disapointment and tragedy of last year.

Flying Home

After a short stop-over in Kathmandu Ted is due to fly back to the UK tomorrow, Icelandic Volcanoes permitting! Ted has had one bad experience with a volcano this year (admittedly not one actually erupting) and doesn’t want another epic.

Kathmandu

After an exciting helicopter ride from Makalu Ted is now resting his paws with a cold refreshing beer in the hotel bar.

Makalu 12: Flying Bears

Ted and the rest of The Team have just finished packing, after 35 plus days at 5700+ meters, there is no more resting and everyone is eager to see some green grass and breath air that contains enough oxygen to sustains the body.

Ted and the Team have opted for a helicopter flight out, the thought of a week’s walk up and down the hills of Nepal not being too appealing to anybody now.

With good weather Ted should be in Kathmandu for a late lunch on 25th May toasting the expedition success.

Early Photo of Ted spotted!

One of Ted’s early mountaineering sucesses was recorded in Summit 60 the BMC’s magazine for Winter 2010. In James Ellson’s account of his ascent of Ama Dablam with the assistance of some old socks the summit photograph on page 43 shows Ted and his climbing partner Adele Pennington with the summit party.

Makalu 11 ‘Success’

Ted succeeded in summiting Makalu yesterday and is now safely back at ABC. More to follow soon.