The Himalaya expeditioners are now on their way home. You can welcome them home at Heathrow Terminal 3, tomorrow (28th) at 17:55, flight number VS301.

BSES has had an update from Chief Leader Mick. The two sections of the expeditons were reunited on 20th August in Leh. With so much that has happened since they last saw each other emotions were high, and the group has enjoyed being back together and sharing experiences and achievements of conquering towering mountain summits and the work in Hundar Dok. The journey out of the mountains was a further challenge, as the expedition discovered that some of the crossings on their planned path had been washed out by the storms. Instead they took a higher level route, which was successful but took 9 hours to complete!

The first two days in Leh were spent resting and catching up on domestic chores, including some necessary clothes washing (!). On the following two days (23rd and 24th), to make good use of their extended time in Leh, the expedition took part in a cultural tour of the area. This included a visit to the Alchi Monastery, which at over 1000 years old is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, and is famous for its stunning wall paintings. They also visited the ancient capital of Ladakh, Tingmosgang.

The monastery at Alchi

Leader Frances tells us the group is now relaxing and reflecting on their adventure, and getting ready now for their journey home via Delhi.
The expedition arrives at Heathrow Terminal 3 on Saturday 28th, at 17:55.

“Whilst we were camping in Hundar Dok, Alex, Phil, Becki, Lina, Scott and Gemma along with our resident Science teacher Jonny and Science Leader Frances visited the local school. Here we met the two young students of Hundar Dok. We whitnessed the limited facilities that they have – just one small, dark classroom so they do most of their teaching outside on the patio.

As part of our ongoing dedication to thank the people of the village we donated all of our excess writing material, pens and measuring equipment. We also brought along some of the science equipment to show them what we had been doing up in the mountains – they hadn’t seen many of the items before and they especially loved the magnifying glasses!

We also showed them on a world map where we came from and played several games – language barriers were not a problem.

Overall we hope we made a difference to the current and future students of the village and hope BSES will continue to have a worthwhile relationship with the school for years to come. All the YEs felt amazing meeting these kids and seeing the children laugh and smile was better than climbing a mountain!”

Over the weekend BSES recieved the following update from the group in Hundar Dok that has been helping with irrigation channels. The report is as follows:

“In Hundar Dok the recent excessive precipitation levels had resulted in large floods throughout the village, so we concentrated on fixing the damaged irrigation channel to the village. This channel provides the village population with water for drinking, cleaning and most importantly for crops; the sole source of the villages food.

Crop irrigation

As a result of the high water levels the irrigation channel had burst its banks and nearly half the water was flowing back into the river; water levels in the village were running very low.

A team of YEs consisting of Henry, Connor, Richard and Duncan along with Team leader Will and our valley’s three Sherpas rebuilt the irrigation channel walls. A noticiable improvement in the water levels in the village has been observed since.

A much larger team of YEs and leaders also helped to gather large rocks from around the village into one central pile. These rocks will serve to reinforce the irrigation channel and the only bridge that provides access to Leh for the village in the future. It was this same bridge that the locals rebuilt for us to evacuate from our Base Camp – without their help we would have found it very difficult to walk out and perhaps would have had to have been rescued by the Indian army like so many other foreign visitors in the area.

These actions have proven to be extremely fulfilling and the village of Hundar Dok have expressed their thanks by presenting the entire Thanglasgo Valley team with hand made scarfs – the highest honour the village can afford.”

Entry by Thanglasgo Valley YEs

Three YEs and our Expedition Doctor, Fionna set up a medical centre in response to the recent floods in Ladakh. Niall Armsden, Matthew Wood and Sam Pattison carried out full observations on the patients learning to take; heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, manual blood pressure and respiritory rate.

After the YEs took observations the patients were then assessed by the doctor and given appropriate treatment. Over the two days we treated sixteen local people with the majority who had never seen a doctor before.

It was great to help out the local people of Hundar Dok as this was more important at the time of a natural disaster than climbing the mountain and all our leaders and YEs felt the same.

Chief leader Mick Pawley made a brief call to HQ while sat in his tent looking out at a sunny late afternoon on the Himalaya. Mick confirmed that Palzampiu fires were on track to complete their descent from the high camps on Thursday, with a night at Hundar Dok before continueing in 4×4 to Leh on Friday.

Morale is high as the fires reconvene in Leh tomorrow, 20 August. The expedition will now have three more days than the original plan to be in Leh. There they will be looking to access the mountain environement for day trips on the surrounding peaks and valleys.

Chief leader Mick Pawley gave the following report via sat phone at 1400h today:

Following devastating storms in the area, the Thanglasgo groups descended to the village of Hundar Dok.  The weather conditions have cut them off from the mountain climbing areas. Projects are presently being run in conjunction with the local villages.  One is to set up a medical clinic [to care for victims of recent flooding]; a second is to assist with repairs of the local water supply; the third project is making visits to schools in nearby villages; and fourth the two fires are transporting stones for the repair and rebuild of damaged bridges.

All of these projects are proving a fantastic success and are providing YEs with a personal development opportunity potentially more significant than any summit attempt would provide them.

Palzampiu fires moved up to advanced base camp on the 13 August to establish high altitude research stations. From this location Zanskar and Karakorum fires acclimatised and reccied climbing routes for Dawa (approx 6000m). At the high camp we were camped close to a colony of marmots but otherwise there is not much up there. Science recordings have taken place on the three glaciers close to the camp.

I am pleased to report that yesterday [16 August] all members successfully climbed mount Dawa, after a 2am start and 14 hours of determined effort.

Both valleys will soon be heading out toward civilisation, having to cut short the mountain period of expedition due to the effects of the floods. Palzampiu fires will be leaving the high mountains three days early with a team of porters to help get the kit down. Mountain leader Anna Carlisle went all the way back to Leh last week and was able to confirm that it is no longer a bad situation in Leh. We will all be in Leh on Friday.

Below: Marmots in the Ladakh mountain range

Deputy chief leader David Burke called by sat phone over the weekend to report that his team has hiked with all of their equipment and Sherpas into Tanjarta valley in preparation for descent to Hundar.  They are all doing well and wanted everyone at home to know that they have been keeping safe!  Over the past week the water level of rivers in the low valleys has caused damage to several bridges.   It was thought that pack animals would not be able to transport the food supplies last week, but in the end Sherpas were able to reach the mountain camps with the aid of their ponies as hoped.

The logistical plan of the expedition has been adapted accordingly to ensure that the resupply of food would keep on schedule.  With a proper supply of food and fuel, the expedition remains autonomous to move and trek in the Ladakh range.  In their recent calls the teams were clearly hopeful of achieving one more big ascent. They are also moving gradually in the direction of the best possible descent route when it comes time to leave the Ladakh range.

To read more about the extreme weather of the Ladakh Himalaya, click here.

Since the  team split 4 August , the Himalaya Expedition has been operating as two independent units with unique mountaineering and science objectives.

The storms have not caused any concern as most have passed us by. We have had a couple of spectacular sound and light shows in the valley. Most fires have reccied routes to advanced base camps and are preparing for attempts of 6000m peaks.

All members of expedition are in good health and looking forward to high altitude climbing. Meanwhile the science programme is progressing well. The ecology study has gathered strong signs of snow leopard presence.

- Expedition chief leader, Mick Pawley

Heavy rainfall of the past few days has caused havoc for the town of Leh, especially for residents living along the Indus.  From BSES’ London office we have had contact with the team each day to keep them informed of conditions in the nearby towns (and of course to hear their stories).  Due to the significant elevation difference, the flood conditions have been largely unapparent to them while camped up in the mountains.  To the north, the expedition logistics team in the lower valley have also been in contact with us each day to ensure that collectively we maintain up-to-date watch of road conditions, staff movements and flight status in/out of Leh airport.

Up in the mountains, their mornings have been mostly clear and conducive to field work in the Thanglasgo and Palzampiu valleys.  On Sunday morning, mountain leader Anna Carlisle and YE Zoe Sayers were able to make a swift hike all the way down from Palzampiu valley to the village of Hundar Nok (pictured).  The effects of altitude occasionally lead expedition doctors to recommend a team member have additional acclimatisation time at lower elevations. See the terrain layout here: