Makalu 2009: Back to Normal

After last week's scary call it was great to hear a spry sounding Steve House on the voicemail this morning. He recovered well from his bout with HAPE and will be heading up to camp 2 on Makalu's normal route tomorrow. Have a listen and you'll hear about the healing atmosphere of a yak pasture, some observations on the style in which the Indian army recently climbed Makalu and Steve's thoughts on the use of bottled oxygen in mountaineering.

Listen to Steve House – Makalu, May 19, 2009
(mp3 – 6:38 – right-click to download)

[View of camp 2 from the normal route. Makalu, October 2008. Photo: Steve House]

Previous posts from the trip:
Makalu Again
Getting Acclimated
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

Update: fixed caption.

Comments

[Rob James]

Right on Steve! Say, did you ever receive the 2009 Christams Calendar we sent you from all my hot friends here in Oz?

If 'Mrs. Steve' is reading this - my apologies. I assure you it is all respectful.

[Third Pillar]

Bold statement Steve: "using supplemental oxygen is doping!". I have to agree that the comparison is valid. It's a short cut to a goal without a doubt and questions the ethics of fair means.

[katie]

great schpeal about o2, although i dont care as much about people going about their buisness in the way they see fit as i do about the point you brought up regarding tossing bottles all over the hill.

however, your comments on the indian team sounded quite accusational considering it was all speculative.

i know many of the members of that expedition and witnessed them packing some of the gear brought along on the trip. i was suprised to hear you pass along rumours of a flat screen tv.. they dont even have a computer at base camp!

[Steve House]

Actually the Indian Army expedition did have a flat-screen TV, because I saw it. The confusion lies in the fact that there were two Indian expeditions on the mountain. One was very small, only a few members and only one of whom I spoke to – in fact I know nothing about their trip. However, the other was much larger, I think 18 members, and we ended up spending many afternoons with their team leader, an Army colonel.