wingover

Mission Everest Success

2007-05-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

The Mission Everest Expedition has been completed successfully. The first week of the expedition was marred by severe weather which made any type of flying activity impossible in the Khumbu region. However on Monday 14th May, Adventure Extreme CFI, Terry Stubbs woke early to find unexpectedly good flying conditions. He quickly woke the team and got the sherpa cook crew up and running. By 0820 Bear Grylls and Giles Cardoza were ready to launch, the Meteomodem Radio Sonde weather balloon giving light winds all the way up to 30,000ft. Bear had some initial difficulties getting airborne but got away on his third launch attempt. Gilo followed shortly after and both pilots climbed rapidly away. The flight was in many ways almost an anticlimax as it was completed with relative ease, the only problem being Gilos supercharger belt snapping at about 28000ft - He glided down to a safe landing at Periche. Bear continued to reach an estimated altitude of about 29500ft (none of his instruments were functioning by that time) from where he could look across the Lhotse wall down at Mt Everest. They had decided previously that they would not in fact fly actually over the peak for safety reasons and permit restrictions. By 10.30 both pilots were safely back in Periche and the helicopters arranged for an early departure for home.

The expedition is a considerable success for Parajet owner, Gilo who has managed to do what many said was impossible in designing a viable high altitude paramotor capable of cruising at over 29000ft. Great achievement for Parajet and a boost for sports aviation in general. It also leaves the challenge of a future flight over the actual peak of Mt Everest open for future protagonists.

Things hot up

2007-04-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

Things are sure hotting up here in Provence - 25 degrees today and no sign of any change for the forseable. Flying last few days has been quite lumpy really with poor lift, not its normal self at all. The south landing field on the Chabre has seen its share of notable locals arriving unanounced, me included!!?? No pics I'm afraid - Too bouncy to let go the controls last day or so.
Expect more soon.

CFI Terry Stubbs joins Everest Team

2007-03-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Adventure Extreme CFI Terry Stubbs is to join the GKN Mission Everest team who are attempting to fly Paramotors over Everest this season. Team leader Bear Grylls asked Terry, who has previously flown in the Everest region many times, to provide additional on the spot training in handling the unique Himalayan conditions. Terry will also be assisting the team with his local knowledge and weather expertise. More soon..

Provence 16 March - Cloudbase 2800m

2007-03-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

XC conditions continue to amaze here in Provence - Early season has brought excellent flying conditions with high cloudbase and strongish thermals. Temperatures at high altitudes are still somewhat nippy and that has so far been the limiting factor. Expect more....

Mission Everest - Dateline Chamonix

2007-03-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Mission Everest team filming with Discovery Channel in Mieussy - Left Neil Laughton - Centre Bear Grylls - In helmet Terry Stubbs - and right Gilo Cardozo

Adventure Extreme have been in Chamonix and Mieussy this last week training the team members of GKN Mission Everest to handle rough air flying conditions. Bear Grylls and the team asked us to help with preparations to their forthcoming attempt to paramotor over Mt Everest this May. The whole thing was filmed for Discovery Channel as they are making a 2 hour documentary of the adventure. Bear has asked Adventure Extreme's CFI Terry Stubbs, to join the Everest team in Nepal as a full team member in their attempt... Expect more.

14 March 2007 - 3300m - Provence

2007-03-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 14 March brought the best flying day of the season so far. Take off on Chabre was at 1300 and a rapid climb to 2700m took me to the top of a blue thermal. A rapid flight to Col St John followed and another superb climb this time to 3300m. Cold was beginning to eat into me at that height so about face and back to Laragne. Overflew Laragne still at 3000m so continued to Vaumeilh where I landed at the airfield. Bring it on!

Peace in Nepal?

2006-11-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

The good news from the Kingdom of Nepal is that the Maoists and the government have reached an agreement and have signed up to a political solution to their differences. The bad news is that in many areas it is business as usual for the Maoist cadres - Kidnapping and extorsion continue in many of the areas that were effected before the "peace agreement" came into force. It is difficult to know if the Maoist leaders have the clout to enforce peace and law and order amongst their former followers, many of whom know no other way of life than banditry. In practical terms this could mean a continuance of the unofficial "tax" on foreign trekkers on popular trekking routes - Time will tell.
Meantime all Adventure Extreme clients have returned to their respective countries safely and we ourselves will be in the UK within the next few days to prepare for our forthcoming Paragliding season in France which commences on the 21 January.
More soon...

Mera success

2006-11-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

All members of the Mera expedition are now safely back in Kathmandu. The summit was reached by only 2 team members due largely to the quite difficult weather conditions. This season Nepal has suffered unseasonably cold and windy conditions. The team ran into strong winds and biting cold, this together with deep snow made the summit bid an unpleasant experience. Most turned back less than 200m from the top.

All ready for Mera ascent

2006-10-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

Here in Kathmandu all the preparations are complete for our forthcoming ascent of Mera Peak. A charter flight has already taken the food and equipment to Lukla and we are now awaiting the arrival of the team who are expected over the next several days. Weather conditions in the Khumbu have improved slightly and we are hoping that we will have favourable conditions for both the climb and the Paragliding flight from the summit. We are
scheduled to fly the team in on 31st October and to start the walk in to the mountain the same day.
More soon.....

Bad weather in Nepal

2006-10-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

Conditions in Nepal are currently very unseasonal - the normal cold clear skies have been replaced by wet stormy weather. This has brought the snow level way down and has made some of the high passes much more difficult than usual. Despite the continuing weather issues we are hoping to start the Mera expedition on time though some re-scheduling may well be needed.

Group Return to Kathmandu

2006-10-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

After a successful trek to Chukhung Ri 5550 m, the group have now returned safely to Kathmandu and will continue their journey to Europe in the morning.

Group Arrive Namche Bazaar

2006-10-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

The group have now arrived safely in the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar and are now enjoying an aftrenoon of rest and relaxation. We plan to remain here tomorrow for acclimatisation before heading to the monastary at Thyangboche and then on to Dingboche for more acclimatisation before our trip to Kala Pattar. The weather has been quite mixed so far with higher than expected winds and some cloud which has hidden the high peaks from view (A bit Scottish really). We will be unable to further update the blog until we are back here in Namche as there are no computer facilities higher at this time.
More in about a week's time....

Group arrive Kathmandu

2006-10-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

Our group from Scotland have all arrived safely in Kathmandu. We will be flying up to Lukla in the early morning of Tuesday to begin our trek to Kala Pattar. One potential problem is that the Maoists have established a checkpoint close to the Sagarmatha national park gate and are "requesting donations" from trekking parties. This has been an issue previously in other areas but is an unwelcome new factor in the Sherpa heartland.
More soon....

All quiet in Kathmandu

2006-10-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

Things are quiet in Kathmandu due to the festival of Dosai which has seen many locals at home with family rather than out working in the normally busy streets of the capital. The political unrest which was such a worry earlier in the year is also not an issue at the moment. Talks between the Government and the Maoists are due to resume next month and until then things are unlikely to change. Kathmandu is expecting a large influx of tourists this weekend which will, it is hoped, boost the local economy which has been suffering badly during the last two seasons.
Conditions right now in the mountains are said to be very good with no fresh snow for over two weeks - Looks good for trekking.
More later....

Nepal '06 - Kala Pattar Trek

2006-10-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

October '06 brings Adventure Extreme back to the Himalaya's with a group from Scotland. The plan is to trek through the Khumbu following the classic Everest approach, gaining altitude daily. The trek will culminate in an ascent to the famous Kala Pattar 5700m. The viewpoint is probably the best place from which to see Mt Everest as the whole Khumbu Glacier, Western Cwm and summit is perfectly displayed, almost posed, for the camera.
We will be updating this weblog as frequently as possible whilst the trip is actually under way so check back and follow our progress.
More soon....

Himalayan Paragliding - Mera Peak

2006-10-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

This season our objective is the spectacular Mera Peak, set in a remote valley system and in the shadow of three of the world's highest mountains, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Our plan is to trek into the Hinku Valley from a STOL landing strip at Lukla - this involves crossing a 4000m pass on day 2 followed by a paraglider flight down to Tagnag, a small habitation. From there we plan to climb Mera from a base camp on the Mera La, a three day ascent, and to fly from the summit.
Our exit from the area back to the Khumbu will be, weather permitting, via the high and challenging Amphu Lapsha Pass, a three day climb at altitudes of over 5000m.

You can follow Adventure Extreme's progress online on this weblog.