Trip Reports

Mera & Island Peak - 20 April to 19 May 2002

Written by Leader Mungo Ross, May 2002

Despite unsettled weather and two members of our team requiring helicopter evacuation, the expedition ran smoothly, successfully summiting both Mera and Island Peak and crossing the Amphu Labtsa.

On the 4th May, 9 team members with 5 Sherpas and myself were on the central summit of Mera Peak (6,476m) by 8.30 a.m. – Caroline and Simon Shaw, Neil Keane, Tony Reynolds, Ben Winston, Mark Hartell, Steve Monaghan, Adam Crombie and Robert Munday with Chote (Sirdar) and Sherpas, Andu, Crishna Anwani and Mingma (medic Sherpa posted at Khare).

After descending to base camp near the Mera La, Steve Monaghan developed a suspected retinal haemorrhage, so was evacuated by helicopter from Tangnag to Kathmandu. [N.B. The Medical post and Satellite phone at Tangnag is sponsored by Jagged Globe (phone, line rental and calls) and is available for other trekking groups and local staff to use in the case of an emergency - Ed.] Three days later, Neil Keane was taken out of the Hongu valley by helicopter after severe blistering and discolouration of his toes due to cold injury made it inappropriate for him to either have to walk far, or risk re-freezing.

So the remaining 8 team members and supporting party went on to cross the Amphu Labtsa and on the 12th May, 7 members and 4 Sherpas and myself summited on Island Peak. Caroline and Simon Shaw, Tony Reynolds, Ben Winston, Mark Hartell, Adam Crombie and Robert Munday with Chote (Sirdar) and Sherpa Andu, Crishna and Chiring.

This was a very enjoyable and successful expedition to a spectacular area of Nepal. The evacuations, though not life-threatening, underlined the potential seriousness of venturing to relatively high altitude in remote places. « Previous report | Next report »

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