The Waiting Game

In September 2007 three American extreme skiers set out on an amazing journey that took them to several gigantic peaks, some of them unclimbed, dividing the two Himalayan countries of Nepal and Tibet.

Text : Billi Bierling

“It began with an idea, an airline ticket and a huge pile of equipment”, said expedition leader Dan McCann from the United States. “I had obtained all three, however, the forth component of any successful Himalayan adventure is patience – and that I have precious little of.”
McCann, Patrick Reddish and Bob Merrill from the Wasatch Mountains in the US state of Utah decided to tackle some of the unclimbed 6,000m peaks around the Nangpa La, which at 5,716m is the main pass connecting Nepal with Tibet.
“The initial part of our journey was spiked with challenges as our yaks had not opened up the route because the herders were busy picking potatoes. And of course, the potato harvest was not really part of my original plan.” McCann said.
However, after the team and yak herders had managed to plod seven kilometers over the icy glacier leading up to the pass, they finally arrived at their base camp at 5,500m.
The Nangpa La has been the main trading route between the two Himalayan countries for centuries and hundreds of Tibetans herd their yaks down the treacherous trail to sell their wares in the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar.
McCann said he got a lot more out of skiing down a 6,000m peak than going for the big 8,000m giants. “I did that last time with the trash, the crowd and the hype – not this time. I came for something different, something more pure, and something mine. I thought I would meet the mountain on my terms, but I was a fool - these terms are never really mine. I came with an idea in my head, fear and respect in my heart. I faced the mountain and it won, it will always win but with it I won as well.”

Read the rest of the article in the Mountain Report magazine - Where to find ?