The Taj…………………
Yes, the Taj Mahal really IS that amazing!!
Peak Mountaineering
The climbing blog of Paul LewisArchive for July, 2009
Dripping in Delhi….
What an amazing flight down from Leh to Delhi this morning. The Indian Himalayas looking amazing and I even got a window seat!!! I’ve taken about 100 photos from the plane window and can’t wait to get them into the gallery as soon as I’m back. I felt very heavy hearted to be leaving Leh and its wonderful landscape and people but Delhi is a whole new adventure so no time to reflect too much just yet……….
We walked out of the airport into the hustle and bustle of a super hot and humid Indian day. The usual taxi wacky races got us to the hotel (a generous term for it really!) and this afternoon we’ve been soaking up the sights and sounds of the city……….as well as bartering on a few souvenirs. Delhi is a very exciting place and soon gets under your skin.
Tomorrow we leave for Agra and the final bit of sightseeing before the team head for home and I head back to the mountains - but that’s a story for another time. Now, back to that market!!
Cheers,
Paul
Yak, Yak, Yak, Ladakh!
Phew, that was a busy couple of weeks! Just arrived back in Leh after a very successful couple of weeks. 9 of the team summitted Kang Yatse in marginal conditions and, most importantly, everyone is fit and well apart from a bit of high altitude sunburn.
The walk in via the Markha Valley was awesome and after a couple of days at KY basecamp and some additional acclimatisation walks we took a chance on the snow conditions and made a 1am start for the top. The team climbed strongly but unfortunately Curtis was suffering with some worrying symptoms at just over 6000m so I had to bring him down and leave Norgay to take the team the final couple of hundred metres to the top. No summit photo for me but then the cloud cover meant there were no views anyway - I might just take one of myself at the top of Tryfan when I get back and it will look the same!
The team were elated, but very tired, and we’ve strolled through the last 4 days to the village of Lato where the 4×4’s were able to pick us up for the long return to Leh. This afternoon we’ve got a celebration party with our agent Dawa then tonight there’s another celebration meal before we fly down to delhi tomorrow for the last few days.
As usual, I’m filling my last spare time in Leh bartering for bargains and the title of the posting comes from some very cool t-shirts I’ve just got for the boys. A sense of achievement at getting the price down by 80 rupees was tempered by the smiling shopkeeper saying “do call again sir!” I think I’ve been had…but at the equivalent of 1.30 per t-shirt I’m not too downhearted!
Cal reports a busy few weeks with the UK based Peak activities but I’ll have to report more fully on those when I get back to Blighty. Now I’m off to press my shirt for the afternoon party and I hope you’ve been having fun wherever and whatever you’ve been up to. Cheers, Paul
I’m sitting in an internet cafe, got 26 horses for my destination. Ooh wo ooh!
Get the title? A clever play on the words of that famous Simon and Garfunkel number? It’s amazing what a bit of Diamox can do to your creativity! Or maybe not!
Oh well, my time in Leh has almost come to an end - until we fly out from here that is. The last few days have flown by with with serious kit organisation, acclimatisation walks and a lot of admin (permits, maps and all that sort of faff). Large bundles of Rupees have been counted out to various characters and I’ve almost been inspired to adopt several very cute Ladakhi children in a Madonna stylee (but resisted - so far!!!). Tonight the team face their final awesome meal at what has become our restaurant of choice (the Lamayuru in case you head this way yourself). A belly busting curry, rice and naan for the princely sum of 110 rupees (77 rupees to the pound). A bargain by anyone’s standards. It also happens to be the best curry I’ve ever tasted (apologies to Gurpreet at my local curry house).
Tomorrow at early o’clock we’ll be heading by 4 wheel drive to meet our porters and 26 horses for the walk in of about 8 days (the horses are for our kit…unfortunately!). Then it’s uphill all the way! The approach sounds like it has a fair few adventures of its own - 12 rivers crossings and a lot of ascent. Still, we are up for a challenge and team spirits are high.
Give my a couple of weeks and I’ll let you know how we got on…………………….
Have fun yourselves,
Paul
Leh
Its been a busy week! First I spent 2 days running the final training for my Ladakh team in Hampshire then we headed to Heathrow for the flight to Delhi. Next a day getting organised in the hustle and bustle of Delhi before we flew up to Leh this morning. It wasn’t plain sailing as poor weather in Ladakh almost got the Leh flight cancelled, but eventually we were on our way and we swooped into Leh for a very exciting landing.
For the next 3 days we are going to be acclimatising in Leh and organising the details for our departure to Kang Yatse. Leh is an amazing place. Nestled in a beautiful position among the mountains and with a laid back atmosphere that makes you feel immediately at home. I love the place. Roll on more exploration tomorrow.
Cheers,
Paul
It never rains but it pours………….
What a contrast. Yesterday, a sunkissed day family cragging at Stanage. There was enough breeze to cool us down and keep the midges at bay, the children were loving the climbs, a few great friends had come up to spend some time with us (and try climbing again for the first time since they deserted to sea kayaking 5 years ago!) and it was just one of those all around special days where everything fitted perfectly into place.
Today, a mobile climbing wall session at a local school and the weather couldn’t be more different. Heavy showers mid morning turned to persistent rain for the rest of the day. Fortunately children living anywhere near ‘the rainy city’ of Manchester aren’t put off by something like a bit of rain and we’ve had a great day with lots of enthusiasm and great teamwork all around.
I’ll be with the school for the rest of week but my evenings are currently filled with sorting things out for India and trying to make sure everything at Peak Mountaineering is left in a reasonable shape before I abandon it completely in the middle of the season! Fortunately the office will be manned while I’m away so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you fancy a late summer adventure.
Tradition states that everytime I’m due to go on expedition some problem will arise at home. There was the time Cal called me to say the boiler had given up as I blasted up the M74 to start a winter season in Scotland, the time the lights on the car all stopped working the night before I headed to Spain and, with India looming, the other day water from an unknown leak started dripping through the kitchen ceiling!!!!!
Oh well, I hope your weekend was as good as mine and make sure you are getting out there.
Cheers,
Paul