From Pulse Climbing to the Peaks of Nepal

Pulse Climbing member Josh Kirk has recently returned from an amazing climbing adventure to Nepal and passed on this trip report and awesome pics.

In late February I traveled to Nepal to attempt to summit two Peaks in the Everest region, hike several high passes and learn ice climbing. After 3 weeks of acclimatising to a maximum altitude of 5535m our party of three attempted to summit Lobuche East at 6119m leaving base camp at 1am, summitting at 9am and making it back to Lobuche town by 5pm.

Three days later we followed a similar itinerary to successfully summit Imja Tse-6189m (Island Peak).

The following week we travelled to Khumbu Climbing Centre (KCC). A foundation set up by Conrad Anker and Jennifer Lowe-Anker to train Nepali climbers and high altitude workers to increase safety and skills in the mountains. Whilst at the KCC we had the opportunity to learn ice climbing by Lead climbing Instructor Panuru Sherpa (A 13 time Everest summitter). This was a extremely life changing experience introducing me to new disciplines of ice climbing and alpinism.

It’s hard to think that my first experience climbing was less than two years ago indoor at Pulse and since then I have learnt to lead climbed, deep water solo’ed, learnt trad climbing, multi-pitch and now climbing has taken me to Nepal.

Thanks Pulse! – Josh Kirk