Older News archive

News for October 2008

High Passes to Everest - new photos

Jagged Globe Reservations Manager, Stephanie Hopkinson has just returned from trekking the High Passes to Everest. We have added some of Stephanie's photos to the photo gallery, including some great shots of the section from Namche up to Thame and over the Renjo La. Stephanie confirmed that the view from the Renjo La of Everest was "Stunning"... [read more] or [read more about High Passes to Everest]

Slovenian Ice images

We have added a few photos of ice climbing in Slovenia to our photo gallery. This winter we are running our second course in Slovenia, based from our hotel in Kranjska Gora. Guides on the course will include Tomaz Jakofcic. Dates: 25 Jan to 1 Feb '09... [read more]

Scottish Winter has arrived!

UKClimbing.com report of winter ascents in Scotland on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Ian Parnell and Jon Winter climbed in The Nothern Corries of the Caigngorms, renowned for being some of the first 'mixed' routes to come into condition. Check out the photos on Ian's excellent website... [read more]

Aconcagua last few places

We have a few spaces remaining on these three Aconcagua departures this coming season:

Aconcagua - 7 to 31 December '08 (Leader: John Armstrong), 3 spaces
Aconcagua - 8 Jan to 1 Feb '09 (Leader: Mic Rofe), 1 space
Aconcagua - 22 Jan to 15 Feb '09 (Leader: Phill Thomas IFMGA), 3 spaces

[read more about Aconcagua]

Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades (Xmas, 1 place)

There is now just one place remaining on our Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades trek (26 Dec - 4 Jan '09). Alternatively, if you would like to climb Africa's highest mountain by an exciting scrambling route, we also have places on our Kilimanjaro - Western Breach expeditions 15 - 27 Dec and 26 Dec to 7 Jan '09. [read more about Kilimanjaro - Lemosho Glades]

Mexican Volcanoes - 1 place

There is now just 1 place remaining on our Christmas and New Year Mexican Volcanoes expedition (19 Dec to 3 Jan). This itinerary is suitable for anyone interested in a first big mountain experience, who has used an ice axe and crampons before. It's a great opportunity to get away over the festive period to a really interesting part of the world, to combine mountaineering with plenty of cultural sights and sounds. Please contact us if you are interested in joining the team. [read more about Mexican Volcanoes]

Ski Morocco - 2nd departure

Due to demand for this tour next February/March, we are offering an additional week, skiing with Jim Blyth in the High Atlas (Sat 7 - Sat 14 March). The tour starts and finishes in Marrakech, and includes as ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167m), North Africa's highest peak. The trip is suitable for experienced off-piste skiers/ski mountaineers, who are able to ski in control in all snow types.

Jagged Globe sponsor ShAFF

We are pleased to be a sponsor of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) 2009 (27 February to 1 March). Next year's festival will include a whole host of films, as well as a series of lectures. Speakers will include Adele Pennington, who will talk about leading teams on 8,000m peaks and her ascents of Everest, Cho Oyu and Manaslu, all within an astonishing 12-month period. Make a note in your diary and look out for more news on the ShAFF website leading up to Christmas.

Alpine Ice & Skiing with Andy Owen

Andy Owen will be joining our regular guiding team in the Alps this winter/spring on our Alpine Ice - La Grave, Alpine Ice - Chamonix/Cogne and a number of our Ski Mountaineering courses and tours. Andy has been a key figure on our summer Alpine Courses and Scottish Winter Courses since he first qualified as a Guide. He is superb fun to be with on the hill and is looking forward to venturing into the Alps this season. For details of the courses that Andy is working on... [read more]

Petzl Myo headtorches and rechargable batteries

Press release from Petzl:

Due to advances in the performance characteristics of AA/LR6 rechargeable batteries (especially their higher output during discharge), they can in certain cases of intensive use, cause quality and safety problems with MYO-series headlamps. When the headlamp is used with AA/LR6 rechargeable batteries, if a short-circuit appears in the cable connecting the battery case to the lamp, the cable can spark, melt, or catch fire. This poses a burn hazard to the user... [read more]

NEW Dhaulagiri Circuit

Next year (17 Oct to 8 Nov) we are going to run our first trek around the Dhaulagiri Circuit. Sadly, the Annapurna Circuit now so overdeveloped that we have decided to drop it from our trekking programme. Instead, we will be trekking around Dhaulagiri and Manaslu - the world's seventh and eighth highest mountains. The Dhaulagiri Circuit is a really tough trek, with the crossing of French Col (5,300m) into the Hidden Valley being on snow. We are also offering a climb of Dhamphus Peak (6,012m), from our camp in the Hidden Valley, for those with some mountaineering experience. In fact why not join us in Scotland on one of our Scottish Winter Courses as the perfect way to prepare? This autumn, Mungo Ross (who will also be instructing on the Scottish Winter Courses) is doing a reconnaissance of the trek, with a view to leading our first trip next year. [read more about Dhaulagiri Circuit]

2009 NEW Expeditions and Treks

Next year we are offering the following new trips. The details for most of these expeditions and treks are now on the website, and all are now available to book:

Baruntse. 3D. 17 Oct to 20 Nov '09
Dhaulagiri Circuit & Dhampus Peak (6,012m). T3. 17 Oct to 8 Nov '09
Manaslu Circuit. T2. 16 Oct to 7 Nov '09
Silk Route to K2. T2. 29 Aug to 27 Sep '09
Manaslu. 4E. 18 Apr to 31 May '09

[read more]

Scottish Winter Courses update

The first flurries of snow have already fallen in Scotland and their are rumours that the odd winter route has already been climbed! Once again our base is the Ballachulish Hotel, which is a brilliant location for accessing Glencoe, Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor. Courses during February Half Term are beginning to fill up, so if you would like to discuss any aspect of our Scottish operation, prior to booking, please contact MIC instructor, Adele Pennington. Adele is back at Jagged Globe HQ, having recently returned from Manaslu, and is ready to talk to you about the thrills and spills or Scottish Winter Mountaineering! [read more]

Manalsu expedition report

Manaslu expedition leader, Adele Pennington, has posted up her report:

"Without the Sherpa team no-one would have summited Manaslu this season. Their strength and willingness to push out the boat was awe inspiring. Thank you to Mingma Tsri Sherpa; Nima Gyaljen, Pema Tsering; Pema Tsering; Pemchhiri, Tsering Pemba; Phurba; Ang Dawa; Tashi, Pasang Kami; Thundu and Pema Tharki, our Sirdar..."

[read more]

Tom Briggs climbs E9

It's been a remarkable week for Jagged Globe staff. Last weekend, as full-time expedition leader Adele Pennington, was climbing above 8,000m on Manaslu, Jagged Globe Marketing Director, Tom Briggs had his own (much smaller) mountain to climb. On Sunday 5 October, Tom fell from the finishing moves of Parthian Shot (graded E9 6c), an iconic 'hard grit' rock climb on the gritstone edges of the Peak District. Tom hit the ground on the stretch of the rope from 12 metres, but was unhurt. On Wednesday evening, he returned to complete the climb and make only the 6th ascent in 20 years of Parthian Shot (see photo).

Manaslu team in Kathmandu

The Manaslu team are back in Kathmandu and are down in Thamel celebrating their climb. Other news today from Nepal is that 15 flights landed in Lukla this morning.

Manaslu team in Samagaon

The Manaslu team are in Samagaon, awaiting a helicopter to fly them back to Kathmandu. All helicopters have been diverted due to the accident in Lukla. No Jagged Globe teams have been affected directly by the Lukla crash. Our thoughts are with those who have lost friends and family.

2009 Ski Mountaineering

Details of our 2009 Ski Mountaineering programme, including dates and prices are now on the website.

Courses and tours in the Alps next year include our Introductory Ski Mountaineering, Haute Route, Haute Maurienne, Gran Paradiso, Miage Weekend and Chamonix Day Tours. Further afield, we are visiting Morocco's High Atlas and Japan. Please note that some of these tours are already fully booked. Contact us for the latest availability. [read more]

Manaslu summit blog

The dulcet tones of Expedition Leader Adele Pennington at 2am 4 October shouting "Jagged Globe team get up NOW!" woke the team from a restless slumber at Camp 3 (7400m.) All members and Sherpas were down suited and fitted with oxygen by 3am, except for Bunter whose fashion requirements meant the departure was delayed to 3:15 am.

Oxygen and Sherpa Tea gave the team a necessary boost after the tiring climb through ice ramps and seracs of the previous day. For once the weather was cooperative and while clouds lay on the surrounding mountains there was clear skies and no wind. This led to a straightforward climb through the undulating snow slopes and up to the summit itself which was reached at 9:08 am [ see photo - left ] . Breathtaking views were to be had all round and the team gathered on the snow peak for many photos.

The efforts of many weeks having come to fruition, the team then had a long descent past Camp 3 and further down to Camp 2 (6,750m.) Ron "The Old Man of Coniston" Rutland led the charge belying the fact that he was the oldest Brit to summit. All were exhausted on reaching Camp 2 through the deep and soft afternoon snow. Some used their feet, some slid on their backsides and some were dragged kicking and screaming by the leader.

Particular thanks to the whole Sherpa team without whom the team would have been nowhere near the summit.

The next day the team, carrying heavy loads, made the exhausted stumble to ABC, to be greeted by an inspired Helen Dickens designed mess tent, filled with goodies including fresh bread. (The tent meeting even the exacting standards of the base camp manager!)

Summit Team: Mingma, Nima Gyaljen, Pema Tsering, Pemchhiri, Tsering Pemba, Adele Pennington, Ronald Rutland, Philip Timms, Adam Potter, Jeremy Anson, Mara Larson, Michael Phethean

The Jagged Globe team

Wow Manaslu!

At 0600 GMT 4th October 2008, Adele Pennington, Leader of the Jagged Globe Manaslu Expedition called by satellite telephone from Camp 3 (c7,400m). She reported that, along with Mingma Tshiri (Nepali, 13 Everest Summits) plus one New Zealander, one American (Mara Larson), four more Brits, and 5 Sherpas, she had climbed the world’s eighth highest mountain.

Until this expedition, we were only aware of Al Hinkes having made a solitary (and solo) British ascent of the mountain. Al did so by climbing the SE Face in1988, on his way to becoming the only British Mountaineer in all time to have climbed the World’s 14 Eight Thousanders. So, this morning, records tumbled, with Adele completing the astonishing feat of becoming the first British Women to climb the mountain, as well as first leader of a successful British Ascent of the NE Face, and what we think is the first ascent by a New Zealander. Ron Rutland (Coniston) also lay down the gauntlet to the Saga Generation with his ascent setting a very credible benchmark of 60 as being the oldest Brit.

After such a battering by the weather for much of their time on the mountain, it is an amazing feat by all the team, and most especially by the Sherpas who were with them. Those that reached the top where helped enormously by the unstinting efforts and selflessness of all fellow team members. Unfortunately not everyone could stay on the mountain beyond last week’s storms because of commitments back home, so were denied the laurels they too would surely have collected this morning.

Beyond the Jagged Globe team, the story of Manaslu 2008 has been one of sheer single-minded determination and outstanding cooperation between international teams. We would like to say thank you to Henry Todd (Himalayan Guides), to Russell Brice (HIMEX), and to Kari Kobler who shared the effort with us to make the route to the summit, especially after the alarming amount of snow fell last week, and obliterated the higher camps. We can only imagine that next time the Manaslu teams come together, there’s going to be one hell of a party! [read more about Manaslu]

Manaslu team in Camp 3 (7,400m)!

Adele, plus five team members, plus five Sherpas are currently in situ at 7,400m on Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain. The first climbers of the season summited this morning. Adele and her team are planning to use oxygen on their summit bid tomorrow. We wish them the very best of luck! Check out Chris Groves' photos from lower on the mountain... [read more] or [read more about Manaslu]

Manaslu team still in camp 2

Adele called in to say that the team tried moving to camp 3 today, but returned to camp 2 as it was fairly windy. Other climbers went to camp 3, and she would hope that our group will move on up tomorrow. We have also posted some of Chris Groves' photos today from Base Camp - C2... [read more] or [read more about Manaslu]

Manaslu team poised in Camp 2

Adele Pennington just called in from camp 2 on Manaslu (8,163m). Adele, Mara Larson, six team members and nine Sherpas are bedded down in Camp 2 (6,700m) with the aim of moving up to establish camp 3 tomorrow. This would be the launch pad for the summit. The weather is currently good, though there is some light snow fall. Watch this space! [read more about Manaslu]

Older News archive