Read more about the article Heading to Broad Peak
The Himalayan Database team. Proud to be part of it!

Heading to Broad Peak

I seem to be writing the same thing at the start of my very few and far between blogs these days: "It has been a long time since I have updated this website and I am sorry that I have been very lax about it. However, with…

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Read more about the article Off to Dhaulagiri
The Northeast ridge of Dhaulagiri 1. (Luis Lopez Soriano)

Off to Dhaulagiri

The time of year has come and I am heading out on expedition again. Since having summited Cho Oyu in autumn 2016, I have not attempted an 8,000m peak, and I am very excited to be going high again. I am joining an expedition organised by Kobler…

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Read more about the article Himalayan Database available for free from November
The Himalayan Database Team (Tobias, Billi, Jeevan and Rolo)

Himalayan Database available for free from November

Hi all It is already mid-October and the first half of the autumn climbing season is nearly over. I guess we have just seen a record season on Manaslu, the 8th hihgest mountain in the world, and my wild guess is that the success rate will be…

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Read more about the article Presentation on the Himalayan Database
A bond that has lasted for 13 years, and was not always easy!

Presentation on the Himalayan Database

In case you happen to be in Bavaria at the end of November, speak German and want to know more about Miss Elizabeth Hawley, my work with her and the Himalayan Database, the development of commercial mountaineering in Nepal and what a proper commercial Everest expedition looks…

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Read more about the article Back in Kathmandu and off to Cho Oyu
On our beautiful terrace in Garmisch with my mum and my sister.

Back in Kathmandu and off to Cho Oyu

Summer in Europe is almost over, I am back in Kathmandu trying to hunt down expeditions for the Himalayan Database and at the same time I am getting ready for my attempted climb of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. Cho Oyu (8,188m) lies…

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Read more about the article A long run around Germany’s highest mountain
Waving my friend Elke goodbye at the start.

A long run around Germany’s highest mountain

I am slowly recovering from something I think was probably one of the hardest things I have done in my life - run 101.6km around the highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze, in 23.36.57 (I did take a long time for that distance). On Saturday, 18th June, I…

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Read more about the article 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Manaslu and Lhotse
Receiving the Letter of Appreciation from the Nepali President

60th anniversary of the first ascent of Manaslu and Lhotse

On Saturday, 30 April, Nepal was celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first ascents of both Lhotse (4th highest) and Manaslu (8th highest), which was organised by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).  My friend Ted Atkins and I had the honour to be awarded a ‪letter of appreciation for our achievements…

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Read more about the article Running, rambling and roaming for expeditions
Miss Hawley and I talking about the upcoming season (@Dan Patucci)

Running, rambling and roaming for expeditions

After I had to join Facebook during the earthquake in Nepal (that's where most of the information on what was happening and where was exchanged) I seem to have become quite lazy at updating my website. So, apologies for that. As you may have gathered I am…

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Read more about the article Interview with Talk Travel Asia
Talking to a couple from Iraq

Interview with Talk Travel Asia

It has been a bit quiet in my life recently but the snowless winter in Switzerland in combination with office work does not really lend itself to exciting stories - or stories I am allowed to tell. The mountains seem very far away at the moment as I am supporting the…

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Trekking, biking, blockading and perservering

It has been a while since I last updated my website and a lot has happened since then. I went trekking to Naar and Phu with my friend Baba and discovered that hiking in all those areas is beautiful and not in the slightest affected by the earthquake; I biked…

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Read more about the article Reflections on Broad Peak
Interesting moisture forming over Broad Peak

Reflections on Broad Peak

Finally - after having walked across the 63-km-long Baltoro Glacier for four grinding and exhausting days, we arrived back in ‘Islamagood’ four days ago, trying to get used the excruciating heat and life in ‘semi’-civilisation (semi because of the lack of party opportunities). However, it is good…

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Read more about the article Broad Peak: Waiting game
Building an operating table at Broad Peak bace camp

Broad Peak: Waiting game

It seems as if I have written similar entries in previous blogs but I guess we forget very quickly what mental challenge climbing an 8000m peak is. But let me start from scratch. On Monday morning several avalanches came down below camp 1 on Broad Peak. Unfortunately…

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Read more about the article Leaving Nepal with a heavy heart
Candles at Boudha

Leaving Nepal with a heavy heart

I have just boarded a plane to Pakistan - a work and climbing trip I had planned for quite a while. It has been very difficult to leave Nepal behind, however, despite the dire situation there it was also good to see that rebuilding efforts were going on, people were giving…

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Read more about the article Another earthquake in Nepal and how to help
Rebuilding this country will take a long time

Another earthquake in Nepal and how to help

I could not believe my eyes and ears when I found out that the earth trembled again in Nepal on Tuesday, 12th May. Rather than feeling helpless and bemused that for the second time, I was not in the country during the earthquake, I now appeal to you to support…

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