Update from Leh

The expedition has arrived back in leh safe and sound, everyone has enjoyed being back in civilization and YE's have already pigged out on a variety of cravings including ice cream, chocolate and meat.

This morning each fire gave their plays and limericks that they have put together with most orientated around mocking the leaders.We will stay in leh tonight and then head to Delhi for the final leg of the expedition. Everyone is fit and healthy and have had a great time. The YE's spent the last night in camp sitting around a campfire (made from yak dung) having a singing battle against the sherpas. With hits such as "greece lightning", "we will rock you", and "The summer of 69" by bryan adams being belted out by YE's the sherpas didnt know what had hit them.

The two valleys also went head to head in the "Himalympics" with events such as the 20 metre dash (altitude didnt permit much more), the rock and spoon race, the trek pole javelin, rockput, and tug of war. It was a farily even event and neither valley could decide fairly who had one so a draw was agreed upon.

Josh - Leader

News from the field

After a brief chat with the team we can confirm the following information:

Shyok and Indus fires have now both summitted Dawa peak (5900m)
They have also sucessfully completed all their science work and everyone is in good spirits and keeping busy with lots of Sherpa Rounders.

Karakorum Fire climbed 5899m which was a first ascent - Well Done to them.

Zanskar Fire are attempting another separate unclimbed peak tomorrow, we wish them luck

Everyone is well and in good spirits.

Update from Zanskar and Karakorum!

I have just had a call from Tim Ward-Wilson (leader) who is with the Zanskar and Karakorum fires, he gave the following update:

They are currently at advanced base camp at an altitude of 5300m. Both fires have been there for 2 days and plan to stay for a further 4 days.

Today was a very long day (14 hours) and both fires made a summit attempt on a previously unclimbed 6100m peak. They ran out of time at 6000m and had to descend before reaching the summit. Both fires plan to make another summit attempt on Friday.

Tomorrow will be spent at advanced base camp doing science work. Moral is very high and all fire members and leaders are fit and healthy. Food is apparently very good!!!

Weather conditions have been ideal throughout and are set fair for the next week at least.

Jamie

Wednesday Update

I have spoken to Josh today (Leader) and he has informed me that both Indus and Shyok have successfully climbed a 5806 m peak and are all safe and well at the advanced base camp.

Zanskar and Karakorum fires are currently at their advanced base camp at 5000. All are well and I will be speaking to Mick Pawley (Deputy Chief Leader) tomorrow for a full update on Zanskar and Karakorum's progress. I will post this information on the blog as soon as I have finished speaking to Mick.

"Sherpa Cricket" seems to be a popular activity at base camp. Current Ashes' score has been relayed to the expedition.


Jamie

Expedition Update

I have had a Sat phone call from the expedition giving the brief update.

The expedition is progressing well and all is going according to plan. Everyone is well and moral is very good.

Both base camps have been set up the two valleys. Further to this Advance base camps have been set up at a higher altitude in both valleys.

Expedition leader Chris Horobin and Doctor Andrew Pieri climbed a 5800m peak yesterday. Indus Fire will be attempting this tomorrow.

A 5900m peak has also been recced by Shyok fire. They aim to climb this peak this week.

Science work is going well, a lot a valuable data is being collected.

Temperatures have been unseasonably high.

We are working to resolve the issue preventing us from recieving email updates from the expedition. Please note that Sat Phone communication is working fine and the expedition has the ability to contact the office and members of staff at any time. I will provide as many updates as possible.

The blog will be updated ASAP, the team are all fine and the expedition in progressing well! There is just a slight technical problem with the email equipment.

Jamie

Quick update from Leh

The team arrived safely in Leh, everyone is coping with the altitude well.

Heading to Hundar tomorrow.

Full update to follow on Monday.

Josh - Leader.

The team have arrived in Delhi safely.

Mick, Susan, Mary and Kath have flown to Leh this morning on the advance party flight with the rest of the main party following bright and early tomorrow.

Current temp in Delhi is a very warm 36 degrees!!!

Expedition location

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Click on the icons and lines to find out more. Use the tabs to change the underlying map and zoom in and out to find out to see further details.

Journey to Expedition location

View Ladakh 2009 in a larger map

Departure

The team have now left the UK!!! Leaving a miserable London morning behind (and some miserable BSES staff...) the team will arrive in Delhi at 11pm Local time.

All leaders and YE's in very high spirits!!!

10 Days to go!!!

10 days to go before 42 intrepid Young Explorers depart for the Nubra Valley in the Indian Himalayas!

Keep on checking the blog for the latest info!!!

Jamie - expedition coordinator

Expedition Info

Click the interactive pdf below to read a brief overview of this year's extreme Arctic expedition:

Read more about the expedition on the BSES website - CLICK HERE

Open publication - Free publishing - More mountains

Team Himalaya 2009

A BSES expedition is formed of one or more 'fires'. A Fire is a group of people that historically would hold 12 people in total as this was the number that the founding member of the society, Surgeon Commander George Murray Levick , believed fitted best around a camp fire.

Below are the Fires and their leaders:

Valley 1

	Indus Fire		Shyok Fire
Leader	Rob Lavin	Leader	Susan Ljensen
Young	Laura Smith	Young	Grace Fforde
Explorers	Melissa Vipond	Explorers	Rosie Halcrow
	Rebecca Ellison		Tamsin Dyke
	Connor Murray-Kirk		Alex Van Tuyl
	David Leyland		Harry Kirwan
	George Nodder		Jonathan Dixon
	Harry Streuli		Matthew Allen
	Joshua Vincent		Robert Henderson
	Leo Bodger		Tim Fay
	Richard Moore
	William Sandcraft
Leaders not assigned to fires	Chris Horobin Emily Baker Andrew Pieri		Kath Baldock Josh Davis
Valley 2
	Karakorum Fire		Zanskar Fire
Leader	Mick Pawley	Leader	Simon Watson
	Dave Farrow
		Young	Emily Roberts
Young	Elizabeth Culwick	Explorers	Rosie Bettle
Explorers	Rosanna Jury		David Peacock
	Victoria Cox		Luke Buswell
	Jack Kennedy		Martin Cherry
	James Curtis		Salem El Mouden
	James Togher		Scott Andrews
	John Waters		Stephen Harcus
	Maximilian Hodges		Stephen Skews
	Michael Smith		William Innes
	Nabil Azouaoui
Leaders not assigned to fires	Samuel Swift Mick Pawley Neil Smith Mary Slingo		Carolyn Mills Tim Ward-Wilson

Support BSES

BSES is a youth development charity that has been running fieldwork expeditions since 1932. Our work simply wouldn't be possible without our funders, supporters and fantastic volunteer leaders.

If you feel you would like to contribute towards expeditions in future years and help more young people develop into more rounded individuals, you can do so by clicking the link below.

If you would like to support our charity, any amount large or small will be greatly appreciated. To find out more about BSES use the links on the right hand side.

Click below to donate now. Thank You!

Ladakh Expedition 2010

This expedition will be running again next year to enable us to conduct year on year fieldwork and build up a body of knowledge.

We are now taking applications for next years expedition as well as for other 2010 expeditions:

Peruvian Amazon - Indian Himalaya - Svalbard Summer - Arctic Kayaking - Svalbard Spring

If you are between 16-23 and up for a potentially life-changing challenge, download an application form HERE

It could be you next year!