Annapurna’s spring climbing season is once again marked by simultaneous summit pushes by climbers. Their anticipated arrival at Camp 3 today with the goal of reaching the summit by Thursday has been impeded by unfavorable weather conditions.
Yesterday saw teams embarking on a strenuous journey from Base Camp to Camp 2, situated at 5,700 meters. The forthcoming stretch between Camp 2 and Camp 3 poses the greatest challenge, characterized by steep terrain, precarious passages amid seracs and crevasses, and a continuous risk of avalanches from the upper glacier, extending until Camp 3, approximately at 6,600 meters.
Today, climbers opted to remain at Camp 2 due to heavy snowfall, prompting them to reassess their strategies. Whether any attempted to proceed further remains unclear.
The absence of ropes beyond Camp 3 poses a concern, with plans underway to address this issue tomorrow. The establishment of Camp 4 remains uncertain.
Fortunately, the mountain is witnessing reduced crowds compared to previous years, with Nepal’s Department of Tourism reporting 25 foreign climbers divided among three teams.
Modern Climbing Tactics
Many of the climbers currently pushing for the summit have likely completed one rotation up to Camp 2 since the ropes were fixed two weeks ago. Subsequently, many returned to the lower altitude and amenities of Pokhara, situated at a mere 822 meters above sea level, via helicopter.
The reliance on supplementary oxygen is ubiquitous among climbers, with provisions expected to be available at Camp 3. For insights into evolving climbing methodologies on Annapurna, refer to our previous coverage on the subject.
No-Oxygen Climbers
A subset of climbers on the mountain is resolute in their decision to forgo supplementary oxygen. Their approach necessitates gradual and meticulous acclimatization. Domi Trastoy of Andorra, accompanied by partner David Nosas of Spain, arrived at Base Camp on Sunday. After completing their initial acclimatization journey to Camp 1, they have returned to Base Camp. Their plan entails ascending again tomorrow, spending a night at Camp 2, and potentially reaching Camp 3.
Alli Pepper’s tracker indicates her presence at Camp 2. Pepper, who had previously acclimatized in Langtang alongside partner Mikel Sherpa, embarked on an acclimatization journey to Annapurna Base Camp. Following two nights at Camp 1 and a day trip to Camp 2, both climbers retreated to Pokhara for a week.