Machapuchare, the celebrated 6,993m peak in Nepal’s Annapurna range, is often given the ludicrous spelling Machhapuchhare, with two sets of double aitches. This post is all about how to spell the mountain correctly.
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Lhotse 2014: The world’s most expensive Everest Base Camp trek
The story of the Altitude Junkies 2014 Everest and Lhotse expedition. I was excited to be attempting 8516m Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world which stands across the South Col from Everest. Even if I didn’t reach the summit I would surely reach Camp 2 at least, as I had on every previous occasion.
Read moreIs it OK for mountaineers to miss a puja?
An obscure subject for a blog post if ever there was one, but one of the perks of writing a mountaineering blog is every so often I get asked some very obscure and intriguing questions by email out of the
Read moreFirst Everest rotation; puja to end all pujas
After a week of rest and acclimatisation at Base Camp (5160m) tomorrow we leave for our first foray higher up the mountain, and will be gone for nearly two weeks. The plan is spend two days trekking up to Advanced
Read moreMy long and winding trail to Everest
I can’t quite believe it, but on Saturday I’ll be leaving for my fourth 8000 metre peak expedition in as many years, and this time it’s the big one. Two months of impossible jetstream winds meant my attempts on Gasherbrums
Read moreBase Camp Puja
I’m writing this covered in flour and sampa and clutching a tin of Budweiser having just completed our puja (or blessing) for the climb. Our Sherpa team won’t contemplate beginning the ascent until the necessary ceremony is completed with offerings
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