Latest News

Cho Oyu team fly to Lhasa

The Cho Oyu team convened in Kathmandu over the weekend and this morning flew up to Lhasa. Matt Parkes has sent this update:

"We all met up OK in KTM on arrival at the Summit Hotel. I spent yesterday checking equipment, going through food and oxygen systems. Gavin is shopping today for a few last minute kitchen utensils etc. I have spent time going through all arrangments with Kit [our in-country manager - Ed] and we are all set and ready to go! The team left with Robert for Lhasa today at 8.00 and myself, Tomaz and Gavin depart tomorrow at 10.00 with all Sherpas and equipment to drive to the border. We will update as we go. Stay tuned!"

The 2010 expedition is led by Robert Mads Anderson, who is supported by Tomaz Jakofcic and Matt Parkes. Our Base Camp Manager and Chef is Gavin Melgaard. There are 15 team members from the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Slovenia and the USA. Keep up-to-date with the progress of the expedition in the 'Live Despatches' area of the website [read more about Cho Oyu]

Alpine Summer - Places Remain

We have had a great season in the Alps this summer, with a lot of positive feedback and, more to the point, many mountains climbed, passes crossed and skills learnt. We have been, more or less, full to capacity across the board, so we are very grateful to the many climbers who came to us anew, but especially to those who returned having climbed with us previously in the Alps or on expeditions - thank you everyone!

We do have a very few spots left so, if you want one, please phone quickly on 0845 345 8848, or book on-line.

Alpine Introduction - 11th -18th September (1 place)

Zermatt 4000ers - 4th to 11th September (1 place) [read more about Alpine Introduction]

Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades 100%

Today's news from East Africa, is that all ten people of David Haygarth's team reached the top of Kilimanjaro 3 days ago. Well done to all of them!

Next up, Paul Westwood who leaves on 4th September. This will be Paul's 5th trip to the mountain in only 2 years, and he has one place left if you would like to join him. After Paul, comes Simon Lowe, who will be doing the Lemosho Glades, departing the UK on 11th September, before taking on the Western Breach with the team that starts from the UK on 20th September. Places are available on both of Simon's trip, if you would like to join him.

Please call to speak to Simon on 0845 345 8848 if you have any questions about an ascent of Kilimanjaro. [read more about Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades]

Watch latest 737 Challenge video on WRU online

You can watch the video of Richard’s testing 24 hour training challenge up Pen Y Fan online now, just click below to see the highlights.

Richard climbed Pen Y Fan, the biggest mountain in South Wales, 7 times in 24 hours as part of a deprivation test as his preparation towards his 737 Challenge enters its final stages. The 737 Challenge kicks off officially in December.

This weekend Richard leaves for Cho Oyu. He will be joined on his final training expedition by former rower and two-times Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve Williams OBE. Matt Parkes, fresh from his award winning film-course, will be joining them and swinging the camera to ensure we have lots of good video of Richard's and Steve's climb in the autumn.

Watch Richard on Pen Y Fan: 737 on the Welsh Rugby Union website.

Muztag Ata - 7440 / 7546

Well close enough for the team, but astonishingly for the desert mountain of Muztag Ata, the influence of an extraordinary monsoon and jet wind denied them the last 106 metres. But there's only so much tramping around on a summit plateau one can do, whilst chasing down the last 1.5% of a mountain.

The team are now en route home via Kashgar and over the border to Kyrgyzstan, before flying from Bishkek this weekend. [read more about Muztag Ata]

14/14

Andy Chapman has called from Africa, to report yet another 100% success on Kilimanjaro. 14 out of 14 team members reached Uhuru, the highest point on Kibo's crater rim, as the sun rose on Saturday morning.

Well done to Andy and everyone with him for a spirited ascent - a good team effort.

We have three Lemosho Glades ascents departing in September, with a few places left - please contact us if you would like to be part of a Jagged Globe Kilimanjaro Team as it climbs to the Roof of Africa this summer. [read more about Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades]

Bob Creswell 1948 to 2010

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Bob Creswell on 21st July 2010. Bob had been suffering from a brain tumour since October 2008, when it became apparent that all was not well during a rock-climbing weekend in North Wales.

Bob was a friend and the most prolific of Jagged Globe's climbers. Since 2003 alone, he had been on 17 expeditions and courses. His climbing record with us goes further back to the Mera Peak and Mingbo La Expedition of 1993. Bob crammed an awful lot of mountaineering into his life, considering he reached the highest levels in his career as well. We will miss him deeply, as a friend and as a climbing companion.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on 23rd October. Donations, if desired in his memory, made payable to “The Himalayan Trust (UK)”, sent to Mary Lowe, Danewood, High Lane, Upper Holloway, Matlock, Derby, DE4 5AW. Please include your name & address for Gift Aid recovery.

[Bob Creswell - Obituary]

A Lot of Weather

Having reported early last week, 100% success for our Stok Kangri team, the week ended on a sad note for the city of Leh, where our teams are based on the way to and from the mountain. Whilst Ladakh has almost nil precipitation, the unusually strong monsoon breached the Himalayan wall to the south of the province, to send deluges down upon the city. This brought a number of old buildings down and caused a significant number of fatalities last Thursday night.

We did have an Adventureworks school group in base camp at the time, but they have been brought out via Leh without incidence. The heavy cloud and persistent drizzle from the monsoon's overspill made an ascent of Stok Kangri impossible for them, however.

We are grateful to our expert ground-handlers (Motup and Yangdu) in Leh for their help with this group of youngsters, despite what must have been very hard times for them personally and for the city of Leh. [read more about Stok Kangri]

Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades

Another 100% success for Jagged Globe on the Lemosho Glades Route to the Top of Africa: Rhys Jones, who climbed Everest in 2006 to become the youngest person in the world to have climbed the 7 Summits, has led a private team organised by his Everest team mate, Harry Farthing, to the summit.

Because of our experience on mountains such as Everest, we focus on acclimatisation, to maximise each person's chances of getting to the of Kilimanjaro. We have another team in-country now, following in Rhys' footsteps. There are 2 more departures in August and 2 in September, if you would like to join a Jagged Globe Team to Africa's Highest Point. [read more about Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades]

Muztag Ata Team - Latest News

They've been up, then down, now they're up again. Today to Camp 2, according to the latest text from the expedition leader, Chris Groves. He reports great mobile phone signal strength, even perched, as they are, like "sparras on t'gutter!" at 6,200 metres overlooking the Takla Maklan desert. [read more about Muztag Ata]

Parksy gets Parky - More 737 Preparation

Anticipating the potential for a swim in the Arctic Ocean as he leaps from floe to floe, on his way to the pole, Richard Parks has been dunked in an ice bath, all for the sake of science and survival!

You can help Richard achieve his goal by sponsoring his expedition, by donating as he goes around the world to Marie Curie Cancer Care (his chosen charity), or by joining him as he walks to Everest base camp or climbs Kilimanjaro. For further training, before the challenge begins, Richard leaves for Cho Oyu on 28th August, with Matt Parkes who will be sending back video of the climb.

See the dunking: 737 on the Welsh Rugby Union website.

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