News | Summitreks Adventure Activities

LATEST NEWS - May 2013

Summer Adventure Activities Programme |23 July to 29 August 2013| Lake District, Cumbria is available to book online now

BHLC Part 11 will be running on the 7th - 9th June based at Thorney How Hostel Grasmere.

British Hill-walking Leader's Certificate (BHLC) | Lake District | Cumbria

“Qualify as walking group leader with the BHLC”

• Learn the skills to lead walking groups in the British mountains and remote upland areas in summer conditions.
• Top class instruction and training delivered in the Lake District National Park.
• Training includes the National Navigation Award.

 The course is delivered in three parts with each part consisting of a weekend course (two days plus evening sessions for each weekend).

2013 DATES:

BHLC 1 :- 19th - 21st July.   

6th -  8th September.  18th - 20th October 

The cost of each weekend course is £199.00. This includes Hostel board, lodgings, tuition, assessment, National Navigation Award fees and VAT. There is no maximum or minimum time restriction between courses.

Minimum age is 18 years.

For full details, how to book and booking conditions….. Read more

31st March 2013

Ron with client on Coniston Old Man (2,635) over the Easter Weekend. Instructing in the use of axe and crampons in Winter conditions available from Summitreks.

29th March 2013

The Wintery conditions return to the Lake District, Ron on Wetherlam

19th February 2013

Old Man of Coniston

6th February 2013

More snow last night and a beautiful crisp sunny day today means the Lakeland fells are looking at their best. Ron Rutland Director at Summitreks captured this scene today across the Old Man of Coniston.

15th January 2013

The snow has arrived across the Lake District, Ron Rutland has been out capturing some Winter scenes across the Old Man of Coniston today.

3rd November 2012 -SUMMIT SUCCESS - Kyajo Ri 6,186m

After a cold, dark, 5am start, along with five other expedition members Ron was rewarded with stunning views of the Khumbu Region as he stood on the summit of Kyajo Ri (6,186m) this morning.
Gradually steepening snow slopes led to a rock band which established the team on the main snow crest – followed by about 500m of exposed climbing to the small, well defined summit. The descent comprised again approximately 500m of multiple abseils back to their high camp where they met the second group establishing themselves for a summit bid tomorrow.
Ron's team carried on down to the lower altitude of camp 1 where they will spend the night before making their way back to Base Camp tomorrow.

Ron on Kyajo Ri

31st October 2012

The Expedition reached Base Camp at 4,550m on Sunday, following a Yak herders trail to reach the Kyajo Drangka Valley. The base of the valley is a flat meadow surrounded by impressive rock walls.

Monday was a rest day before a 5 hour load carry to the foot of the glacier and Camp 1 (5,350m) yesterday. Tomorrow the team will leave once more for Camp 1 and on Friday Ron will be in the first team to climb to Camp 2 (5,700m). This involves awkward scrambling ground over scree and rock boulders to get onto the glacier and up onto the col.

From here, depending on the weather, they are positioned for a summit bid on Saturday.

24th October
Yesterday the team arrived in Gokyo following three fantastic days of trekking from Namche. At Machermo we got our first sight of Kayajo Ri and were all pleased that we were not tackling the East face but the less intimidating South ridge (not visible in the photograph). The team also managed to visit the medical centre and IPPG post to have a very informative talk on altitude illness.
Today two of the team Jeremy and Rose scaled Gokyo  Ri (5380m) to watch the sunrise over Everest and Cho oyu; the rest of us however decided to have a few extra hours in bed and departed Gokyo at the more amenable time of 7.30am.
Tomorrow the team will set off over the Renjo La pass to take them into the Thame valley and in four days will be arriving at base camp to climb Kyajo Ri.

Team Gokyo Ri 5,380m

Kyajo Ri from Machermo

Saturday 20th October
Ron is back in Namche Bazaar, capital of the Khumbu Region in Nepal. At 3,450m it is a wonderfully vibrant and prosperous trading town flanked by Thamserku and Kangtega, and a familiar destination for trekkers on their way to Everest Base Camp.
For Ron it will be a rest day to help his acclimatization to this altitude – maybe a walk to the Everest View Hotel at 3,900m with amazing views of Ama Dablam,  Everest , Nuptse and Lhotse – and certainly a day to visit Sherpa friends.
Tomorrow the expedition will leave for Phortse Tenga (3,680m) on their way to Gokyo and the Renjo La(5,388m) en route for Base Camp.
Kyajo Ri is a beautiful Khumbu peak sandwiched between the Thame and Gokyo valleys – estimated Summit attempt is around November 4th.

Team on acclimatization walk. 

On 14th October 2012 Ron is leaving for Kathmandu to climb Kyajo Ri 6,200m in the Everest block.

In September 2012 Hilary and Ron visited the Sierra Nevada, Spain. The highest peak in Spain is Mulhacen 3,479m which they climbed from the village of Capileira via the South Ridge in good weather and descended to the Poqueira refuge where they spent the night.

September 2012 Hilary on top of Mulhacen 3,479m

2013 Winter Courses Programme now available

This is Summitreks 26th year of running winter courses in the Lake District.

WINTER HILLWALKING RESIDENTIAL - 2 Days

WINTER HILLWALKING Non-Residential- 2 Days

WINTER MOUNTAINEERING RESIDENTIAL-2 Days

Course  Director
Ron Rutland MIC is an MIC holder, the highest instruction award available in the UK. He has operated courses of this type for over 30 years, with numerous alpine and Himalayan expeditions completed including Everest, Makalu, Cho-Oyo, Manaslu and Shishapangma you will be guaranteed a first class safe experience.

Senior Tutor
Paddy Cave MIC
Paddy is one of the very top winter performers having made numerous first ascents in the Alps and Himalaya. Paddy is in charge of Summitreks winter programme and you can be sure that you will be given instruction that is safe inventive and meaningful.

Last Winter was excellent with great snow conditions on the high fells throughout the winter months. Summitreks courses proved very popular and we strongly recommend advance booking to ensure you secure places.

Weekend Dates:-2013

1st - 3rd February 2013

8th - 10th February 2013

15th - 17th February 2013

22nd - 24th February 2013

1st - 3rd March 2013

For more information and to book online click here

- Lhotse - 2012

Tuesday 8th May - Lhotse

Saturday  5th May - Lhotse

Another day at E.B.C and Ron is deciding on his next move . Adele left for C2 at 2.30am today and Scott left for Kathmandu. He decided that the risk on the mountain this year is unacceptably high. A culmination of serac falls, avalanche at C1 and constant stonefall threatening the route on the Lhotse face - and causing numerous injuries already, confirmed in his mind that this isn't the year to be there.  An updated weather forecast today gives snowfall until at least May 12th - so Ron is tucking into a supper of pizza from the base camp chef, and weighing up the odds!  

Thursday May 3 - Lhotse

Still at E.B.C. with news of another injury from stonefall on the Lhotse face. Another Sherpa has been evacuated to Kathmandu with head injuries. The search for a safer route from Camp 2 to Camp 3 is being discussed this afternoon at E.B.C. by the major expeditions on the mountain.

Tuesday 1st May - Lhotse Team Lhotse are back at E.B.C after a 6.30am start this morning from C2. They arrived at 10am to hear that all climbing between C2 and C3 has been temporarily suspended by the major expedition teams. An alternative route to C3 is being investigated after continual stonefall down the Lhotse Face has made the existing route unsafe.  A Russian climber hit by stonefall suffered a broken arm and a Sherpa hit on his head needed 10 stitches.    Ron's group will spend the next few days at E.B.C resting after time spent above 6,000m.

Ron and Scott in their Down expedition suits on Lhotse

Saturday 28th April - Lhotse

Talking to Ron today via satellite phone from C2,  6,410m,  their lucky escape becomes clearer.  Few people were at C1 at the time as it is used as a staging camp to aid acclimatisation.  Most of the empty tents disappeared off down the icefall or were totally devastated.  Ron's team were using  TERRA NOVA  Heavy Duty HYPERSPACE tents.  After the initial blast and flattening of the tents, they regained their shape and, according to Ron,  contributed to saving them from a potentially life-threatening situation.   

	Friday 27th April News Update    C1 Avalanched.... Tents Flattened. Ron's team left B.C at 2.30am this morning arriving at C1 at 8am expecting to spend a night there before moving up to C2 tomorrow.  At 10am they were hit by the leading edge of a high flying powder avalanche coming off the Nuptse Wall.
C1 after the avalanche

Bruised and shaken they emerged from the flattened tents and with C1 clearly vulnerable, made their way straight to the safety of C2 at the back of the Western Cwm. A sherpa was thrown into a nearby crevasse during the avalanche.  After rescue by the team's sherpas he was evacuated to Kathmandu by helicopter. A lucky escape.

Friday 27th April 2012 - Lhotse

Change of plan!  After expecting the team to leave E.B.C yesterday there was a big serac fall in the icefall resulting in the route and fixed ropes being destroyed. This is the area that Ron had identified as a potential high risk area - maybe now it will be more stable.  Fortunately they are only in this area of the route for a very short time.  They left this morning, a day later than planned. 

Thursday 26th April 2012 - Lhotse

A 2.30am start this morning and back into the icefall to return to C1 - evidentally particularly cold and windy this year.  After a night at C1 they will make their way to the back of the Western Cwm and Camp 2. From here they will spend time acclimatising and checking out the start of the route up the Lhotse face.

Ron, Adele and Scott

Camp 1

April 23rd 2012 - Lhotse

After a very cold and windy night at camp 1, at 6,100m the team arrived back to the luxuries of E.B.C at 9am this morning taking 3hrs to negotiate the ladders and broken ice. Another stage of the acclimatisation complete. On this first foray up the mountain Ron wore ODLO base and mid layers, RAB primaloft and outer shell. Axe and crampons by GRIVEL.

April 20th 2012 - Lhotse

Today Ron's team are resting at E.B.C after a trip through the Icefall yesterday.  They reached 5,850m, before negotiating the ice and ladders to return for a second breakfast! Another important acclimatisation day under their belts, they will rest tomorrow and set off into the Khumba Icefall once more on Sunday.  They will set off for Camp 1 at the top of the icefall to spend a night before returning to E.B.C on Monday.

Ron and Scott- Lhotse

April 16th 2012

Ron arrived at E.B.C this morning - a day early in time to join the Everest Expedition for the Puja Ceremony.  An altar had been constructed on top of a small morraine where gifts were placed for the Gods to ask for a safe passage to the summit, and more importantly back down again. Axes and crampons were blessed, incense sticks lit and prayer flags draped across the camp. After 2 days rest at Base Camp they will make their first forays into the icefall. The first part of the climb follows the route through the Khumbu icefall to the back of the Cwm and onto the Lhotse face, along with hopeful Everest summiteers. 

April 14th 2012

After leaving Kathmandu early last Sunday morning by plane to Lukla, Ron has now met up with the rest of the team at Lobouche (4,930m). His trek started at the small hill-top airstrip (2,860m) and took him via Namche Bazaar (3,446m) the Sherpa 'capital' - where he spent an extra day acclimatising and meeting old friends. From there,  past the famous monastery at Thyangboche and on to Pheriche where he spent another acclimatisation day at 4,240m. Tomorrow he leaves for Gorak Shep, and after another night spent there, will arrive at Everest Base Camp (5,300m) at the foot of the mighty Khumbu Glacier on Tuesday.  Time for a rest!

April 6th 2012

On 6th April 2012 Ron RutlandSummitrek's Operations Director left for Nepal to climb LHOTSE 8,516m the world's 4th highest peak.

This is Ron's 11th 8,000m peak expedition. He will be using the best kit available including RAB,Odlo, Falke and Pod all of which is avaiable at Summitreks stores.

Further updates will be posted here.