I have posted many of these on this site but thought some people might be interested in what some aspects of a Cho Oyu expedition looks like.

Enjoy!

ok, was really an excuse to play with my Mac...

http://web.mac.com/hobyjackson/Hobyjackson_Climbing/Cho_Oyu_2007.html

Great pictures, what a fantastic journey. Thank you for sharing them with us. Glad you are back safe and sound with more wonderful memories. Any new lessons learnt on Cho Oyu?

Cheers

Roger

Thanks a lot Roger

Hmm new lessons.

Had a lot of problems with camelbacks/bladders etc. Always knew cant be used in real cold weather but had a lot of problems with leakages at lower altitudes.

A lot of people say that you dont need boots to get to Camp 1 but with the bad weather, it was often the case that the last 50-100 m to Camp 1 was in snow, so something more substantial than low cut shoes is preferable.

Instead of using 2 slings for the fixed line, one attached to ascender/jumar, another as a cows tail with biner through the other end of the jumar, we just used one sling. Hard to explain but was much easier to use. Not as safe though as 2 slings though because of lack of redundancy.

Nepalese matches are the worst in the world. Bring own matches.

Wish I had taking more actual climbing photos.

I will add more as things come to mind.

radson wrote:Had a lot of problems with camelbacks/bladders etc. Always knew cant be used in real cold weather but had a lot of problems with leakages at lower altitudes.

They're also a bad thing to have in close proximity to crampons! I climbed a peak in Pakistan last summer with just a 1/4 litre of water and a lot of snow eating having kicked my Platypus in the dark shortly after donning my crampons at the base of the mountain. Let my clumsiness serve as a lesson to you all!

Hey Brad,
You have any problems keeping yourself entertained during the storms, etc on Cho Oyu? I bought a honda generator and a mobile phone with gprs/bluetooth and a laptop with a SSD so I can have unlimited internet for Everest next year and keep my sanity...