Annapurna isn't the only mountain by that name that could see a summit bid in the days ahead. The latest dispatches from the Annapurna IV Team reveals that they hope to begin their ascent tomorrow, May 8th. The plan is to go light, and fast, alpine style to the summit, and hopefully reach the top in as little as 4 days.
Of course, in the case of this expedition, reaching the top is just part of the story. Once they stand on the 24.688' summit, they'll stop, take some photos, admire the view, and pat each other on the back for a job well done, just like on any other mountaineering team. Then they'll strap their skis to their feet, drop off the summit and face 9000 feet of vertical fun as they make the first ski descent of the mountain.
The team consists of Ben Clark (of The Rest of Everest fame), Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke. Each of them are experienced climbers with considerable time on big mountains, and obviously great skiers as well, as this is not the kind of hill you want to learn on. The trio has spent their time in BC preparing their gear, watching the snowfall, and climbing near by peaks to acclimatize and enjoy the skiing. After all, how often can you go skiing in the Himalaya right?
The Annapurna IV website has been an excellent resource for following the team's journey. The regular dispatches have painted an excellent picture or what the expedition has been like since hitting the ground in Kathmandu, and there have been some cool photos and one or two excellent audio dispatches as well.
With any luck, we'll have word on a successful weekend summit from this team too. Good luck guys! Climb safe and enjoy the ride down! :)
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