Mera Peak Day 8 Tangnag Acclimatisation

Still at Tangnag and today is one of our two acclimatisation days before summiting next Saturday morning. I'm lying in my tent early in the afternoon having finished the acclimatisation walk this morning, have had my first shower of the trip and eaten a large if slightly strange lunch. The tent is lovely and warm, the weather is a mixture of sun, cloud and wind, just a bit too cold outside but in here it's perfect.

We are at about 4,150 metres and you can feel the effects of the altitude. I now have a huge Exodus Five Season sleeping bag and cold nights are no longer an issue.  Although it was seriously cold outside last night I slept with my head out the bag and without all the cords being pulled tight, unthinkable with my old bag. My sleep however is now broken by the need to get up, get dressed and leave the tent for a piss - it's also broken by uneven breathing. Apart from that I'm feeling really good, still no headaches and no need for medication any sort.

Mera Peak - Day 9 Khare

Was a bit suspicious about the weather this morning. Instead of the usual bright start clouds had already formed and it didn't feel at all settled.  Sure enough, after we had been walking for an hour it started to snow and by the the time we reached Khare at miday - after walking about 3 and half hours - there was about 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and it was still falling.

Sabai Tsho Lake and the Sabai Glacier

Mera Peak - Day 10 Khare Acclimatisation

Had a dreadful night's sleep last night, a combination of the altitude and thoughts going through my head just kept me awake.

The weather this morning was much the same as yesterday, it continued to snow. None of this helped my mood.

Today is the day we put on our climbing gear, practice rope work and abseiling.  I have never used any of this sort of gear before and felt a bit out of my depth. The guides however, and Jangbu in particular, really know their stuff and it's clear they are not going to let us fall off the mountain.

Mera Peak - Day 7 Tangnag

If the first six days of the walk were the starter the next six are the main course - we are now getting ready to climb Mera Peak.

Jack the American mountain man

Mera Peak - Day 6 Kote

On the sleep front last night was much better. It was a very cold night, ice on the inside of the tent, but I was OK inside my sleeping, used the fleece liner for the first time and it certainly improved things. Still I don't think my sleeping bag is good enough for the 5,000 plus metre nights and if I can hire a 5 season bag at Tangnag I will do.

Leaving Changbu Kharka

Mera Peak - Day 5 Changbu Kharka

Had a poor night's sleep last, too cold, the camp was at 3,500m and I'm just a bit worried that my sleeping bag is not up to the job. High Camp, the last night before we summit, is at 5,800m so it's going to be a lot colder - have still not used my fleece liner, and have lots of thermals I can wear in the bag but I now regret not hiring a really heavy duty sleeping bag.

The porters piling up the pass at Chalem Kharka

Amazing path up to the top of the pass

Mera Peak - Day 4 Chalem Kharka

Another tip, if you're coming on a supported camping trip to Nepal, bring a metal drinks tin. They make fantastic hot water bottles and are a brilliant way of drying out your sweaty socks. It's amazing, if you dry them out the smell seems to disappear and you feel OK about wearing them for more days.  The socks also provide some insulation for the bottle which if you get it just right carries on giving out a gentle heat all night.

Today's walk was a relatively short 5/6 hour session. Water is essential for lunch and the limited number of available water options meant a late start, 8.30, early lunch 11.30 and an early finish (3.30).

Al fresco breakfast