Lobuje Peak
We have just come back down from Lobuje East and, as always, it was beautiful. Lobuje offers the most amazing views of the surrounding peaks and when we go back up on Tuesday for our… (Read More)
Off to Lobuje East
After about 12 days at base camp I am looking forward to going climbing again – even though it is only obuje East, a peak that I have already climbed eight times. I will be… (Read More)
Office with a view
I am sitting on a rock near Pumori base camp after I went for a short morning walk to blow away the cobwebs. I have been at base camp for five days now and even… (Read More)
At Base Camp
This is just a quick hello from base camp – or rather Gorak Shep, the last village before base camp from where we can send data via mobile 3G technology. I had a good walk… (Read More)
The worst summit photo in the world
“Billli, where exactly are you?” Russell called me over the radio. “I am about 10 minutes away from the real summit,” I replied from the point everyone calls the “rock tower”. I had been climbing… (Read More)
I did it
This is just a brief update to let you know that I have done it! I summited Manaslu, the 8th highest mountain in the world, without the use of supplementary oxygen! I will write more… (Read More)
Second Summit Attempt
While I am writing this I am lying in my tent which is engulfed in a huge cloud and I can hardly see the tent next to mine. But despite this latest fog at base… (Read More)
Billi back at basecamp
Hello, this is Billi’s robot. Good news. Just received another sms from Basecamp, or ‘BC’ in the local language. In it Billi says “Can u do me a huge favor and just put on my… (Read More)
Sum it!
This is Billi’s robot in Kathmandu. Information just arrived from basecamp by text message that Billi summitted and is now on the way back down to camp II. And the weather is lovely! Thus more… (Read More)
Back from Camp III
Apologies for the silence over the past week but I have been away from modern technology and have been unable to send any updates to my website. I have just come down from four days… (Read More)
Up to camp two
This is Billi’s robot! Just received a message from Billi in her sleeping bag saying that she is heading up to camp two (2 / ii ) for three (3 / iii) days. She is… (Read More)
Outing to Kala Patar
Greetings from my little acclimatisation hike with my friend and mountain mentor Ellen from Vale!The rest of the Lhotse group is still on their way down from the 5,455m peak and Ellen and I are… (Read More)
High Altitude Lethargy
I am just sitting in the legendary White Pod – the igloo-like structure that dominates the Himalayan Experience base camp – and the thought of moving over to the prayer flags from where I have… (Read More)
On the way to base camp
I’m on my third day in the Everest region and I reached Russell’s Lobuche camp at 4,900m on Wednesday morning. I’m feeling good despite the fact that I steamed up the khumbu in less than… (Read More)
Waiting in the rain
Well, I thought the waiting game on Mount Everest was a huge challenge, but little did I know what climbing Manaslu in the post-monsoon season entailed. Here, we are not only waiting for the winds… (Read More)
Seventeen hours in a tent
I am currently sitting in my cozy tent at base camp listening to the rain pelting on the roof and wondering whether the sun will ever come out to dry our clothes, which are still… (Read More)
An outing to Camp I
On Friday morning we went climbing and it was great! For the first time in two weeks we got closer to the mountain, wore crampons and a harness and were actually using our ice axes… (Read More)
Waiting for better weather
I am sitting in my tent with the rain pounding on my roof and the downpour seems relentless and never-ending. I had heard a lot about the bad weather on Manaslu, however, I did not… (Read More)
Manaslu: First hurdle overcome
This is just a brief note from Manaslu base camp, where we have just arrived after having spent a few days at Samagoan, the last village before base camp. Monica, our doctor, Lacchu, our chef,… (Read More)
Manaslu update
Hello, Namaste and Grüß Gott, This is not Billi, but her robot. Just updating the site to re-mention that Billi is writing on the Himex blog and the first two posts can be found here:… (Read More)
Every expedition needs good coffee
Now, here is a thought on coffee on expeditions. It has always boggled my mind why most expeditions still use instant coffee, when good coffee is available in Nepal. I guess the problem is, or… (Read More)
Life at Base Camp
Photo: Alex Treadway (click to enlarge) I have been at base camp for two days now, and it already feels like weeks! Life here is great, and as a matter of fact it is… (Read More)
Hotel on the moon
Wow! That is all I could say when we toddled into Himex’s Base Camp on Sunday afternoon. I had been to base camps before and I had seen Russell Brice’s setup at Cho Oyu in… (Read More)
A New Everest Mess
An article giving insight into the high death toll on the north side of Everest in 2006. Read this article on the National Geographic Adventure Magazine website.
Back from the death zone
A Sherpa survives night near the top of the world. Read the full article in the Nepali Times.