Cho Oyu – the turquoise goddess

The Missing Link Cho Oyu Expedition 2006 lasted for five weeks from September 2. to October 10. last year, but it took a whole year to prepare for the climbing expedition. Jan Arve Andersen (58), Dag Braanasas (41), Sidre Kinnerød (31), Ragnar Lien (58), Geir Lysfjord (58) and Petter Nyquist (28) took the preparations seriously – and it paid of.

Up to ABC

The second of September the gang left Norway, landed in Kathmandu and made their way to Tibet. It was a huge transition going from open and friendly Nepal to strict and closed Tibet, but they continued through mountain villages and deep valleys from 2500 to 3000meters above sea level. After a few days they were at Drivers Base Camp that is around 5000meters, where they swapped the cars for yak-bulls. Their main Sherpa was one of the best, Dawa Shiiri Sherpa. He is the Sherpa that has been the most times at Galhøpiggen and he has been six times at Mount Everest and eleven times at Cho Oyu.

Good chemistry

Already at 3000meters the headache started and it was no better at Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 5700meters. The winter came three weeks early, and they were stuck at the ABC for 21 days. Many expeditions was bad equipped and had to abort, as did Ragnar. They were very aware that they had to stay active and keep the mood up. Fortunately they had worked a lot on the chemistry in the group before they left and that really paid of. Geir also chose to abort the expedition during these days.

When the weather cleared the four that where left continued towards Camp 1 at 6200meters. But the problems continued, Sidre got really bad headaches and the Sherpa recommended that he abort the expedition. But Sindre amazingly managed to pick himself up and continue. On their way to camp 2 Jan Arve had to turn and go back down. In great altitudes its common to get sleepy and careless, which can be life threatening. This is what Jan Arve experienced when he chose to abort.

Then there where three of them left that made it to camp 2 at 7100meters.

After camp 2 Dawa recommended that they’d go straight for the top. They split up to find their own individual tempo and rhythm to manage the little strength they had left in the best possible way. They climbed all night with headlights under a clear sky. Sindre was the one who made it first to the top, half an hour later Petter came climbing over the edge. It was a fantastic view, the pink sky, the Himalaya Mountains under them and Mount Everest 40km away.

After their return they have held presentations and multimedia shows, in addition to the production and sale of a picture book. All the incomes are to support a school right outside Kathmandu. They have currently collected 80 000Norwegian kroner.