Climbing Manaslu

Domhnall and Lucille are doing it again - trying to climb their next 8000 m peak in the Himalayas. This time it's Manaslu in central Nepal, not far from the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains, which I saw from a distance 20 years ago from the town of Pokhara, while rowing on Pokhara lake and relaxing in the Moondance cafe listening to Van Morrison. But naturally they'll be no such relaxing pursuits for these two. This is the third Nepalese 8000 m peak that Domhnall's attempted (he summitted Lhotse in 2009 and Everest in 2010) and the second for Lucille (also an Everesteer in 2010!). They also got Denali under their belts last year, the highest mountain in North America. You could say they're overachievers, but I think they're just easily bored....! Oh, and driven by a desire to push themselves to their limíts and live life to the absolute fullest.

This expedition is probably going to be the biggest test yet of their mental and physical strength and experience, and they'll need a good dose of luck as well, from the weather and their health among other things. They will be attempting to climb Manaslu - 8163 m high, I think - on their own, self-guiding, carrying and setting up all their equipment on the mountain, and without oxygen. They have base camp support, so they'll be cooked and cared for at the bottom of the mountain, but above that they'll be on their own.

They flew into Kathmandu last week and for the last few days have been trekking into basecamp, arriving there yesterday. They're hoping to summit sometime in May. You can follow their adventures on Lucille's fantastic blog (ably assisted by Lucille's husband Ted back in Edmonton, Canada). And here's a reminder of ones they did earlier (photos courtesy of Domhnall and/or Lucille):

                                                    Lhotse 2009                                                      Everest 2010

Denali 2011

Easter holidays

The last few weeks have been distracting, hence no posts. Mainly because I have been on an English tour for the Easter holidays. Also partly because work is stressful, and because I put my back out so have been struggling to do complicated things like get dressed and walk, but happily, mainly because of the holidays. I have laid new turf and frequented childrens' play places in Bristol; eaten fish balls, taken kids to the movies, discovered I love formal gardens, and had convivial meals with friends in London; mountain biked and touristed in Sussex (Battle and Hastings, which are quite far apart and not to be confused if you are an 11th century army); and walked 10K and ate cakes in memory of my uncle Paddy and in support of Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield. Here are a few illustrations.

Playtime destination of choice for Bristol toddlers

Hastings, which has both a traditional fishing quarter and a plethora of amusements, fish & chip shops and tattoos

Walking along the edge of the Huddersfield moors

Kielder

I drove down to Kielder on Saturday to meet Jo for our annual (if we manage to make it) girly outdoor weekend away. This year it was biking around Kielder Water and the mountain bike trails in Kielder Forest. Kielder is quirky but friendly and a huge playground, clearly geared up for large numbers of visitors but still practically empty on a sunny but cold weekend just before Easter. The Lakeside Way that we cycled round on Saturday afternoon is over-endowed with gratuitous health & safety notices (Caution! Sharp bend! Steep slope! Loose surface! Inexperienced cyclists dismount! Overhead cables! Fishermen hold your rods parallel to the ground!), while the mountain bike trails we hit on Sunday are under-endowed with directional signage (so that we rode a fair distance the wrong way round a red trail before finally discovering the start of the blue run we wanted). But my favourite notice was in the youth hostel car park. God only knows what has previously gone on there to warrant this sign; or maybe it's just that someone on Kielder Parish Council has a thing about the naked knees of cyclists changing out of their shorts. It's all very Vicar of Dibley.

 

Anyway, we had a fabulous time, touring the lake, taking in the public art sculptures, getting sunburnt, doing a bit of cycle maintenance, drinking beer, eating fish & chips, chatting to other people in the pub and the youth hostel, hardly meeting anyone on the trails, swinging along swoopy single track through the forest. And all only 2 hours drive from home. Brilliant.