Banco De Chile Expedition Reaches the Summit!!

The Chilean/ Anglo Team of Rob and Jo Gambi along with Andronico Luksic and Ernesto Olivares reached the summit of Carstensz Pyramid today! The weather was challenging, but the team pushed through rain and snow to make the top. The weather made for slow going along the very exposed summit ridge. Bill Allen and Ryan Campbell summitted with the team along with Indonesian Franky Kowaas.

In a tragic coincidence of timing, we learned that Andronico Luksic's father passed away while the team was descending from the summit. Our hearts go out to Andronico and his family.

First Summit Bid Rained Out

The Team's first try at the Summit of Carstensz Pyramid was washed out, both figuratively and literally. This isn't supposed to be the rainy season! I guess someone neglected to tell the weather gods that tidbit of information.

They will wake up early and try again tomorrow!

Best of luck to all!

The Banco De Chile Team is at Base Camp

All team members have moved to Base Camp at above 14,000' today. As they lost a few days in Timika due to weather, they are hoping to spend one night acclimatizing here before attempting the summit. Bill reports that Base Camp is a beautiful place, but that the rain has been a daily factor.

The Team has arrived at Zebra Wall

Bill called to say that two helicopter flights had made it in to the Zebra Wall! Andronico Luksic, Ernesto Olivares, Rob and Jo Gambi, Bill Allen and Ryan Campbell re currently camped at Zebra Wall. They are planning to spend two nights at this elevation before moving up to the Islands Lake Base Camp.

Expedition is still on Hold!

I received a VERY frustrated email from Bill Allen today. Apparently the weather has prevented further attempts at helicoptering in to the mountain. The team is hanging out at the Sheraton Hotel in Timika, keeping their fingers crossed.

Chilean Carstensz Expedition Hopes to Fly to the Mountain

After a day's delay waiting for the requisite signatures on their climbing permits, the Banco de Chile Carstensz Pyramid team is hoping to fly to the mountain in just a few hours. They are being delayed by some uncharacteristically cloudy, early morning weather. Bill just called and they are excited to be on their way.

Chilean Expedition gets ready for the Mountain

The Banco de Chile Carstensz Expedition has arrived safe and sound in Manado, Indonesia. Joining the Chileans are Rob and Jo Gambi from the UK. They have climbed with Ryan Campbell on Denali and Aconcagua and are a couple of good, fun folks.

The team spent a day in Manado and flew last night to the city of Timika, on the island of Papua. Due to concerns about unrest during a national holiday, there has been a change of itinerary, which should hopefully lessen the amount of flight time in the helicopter and streamline the overall efficiency of getting the group to the mountain. The team will now spend one night in Timika before flying to the first mountain camp at the Zebra Wall instead of flying in from the northern town of Nabire.

Apparently all is going well and they have been keeping cool by splashing about the pools in the Ritzy Hotel and in the Timika Sheraton Hotel. Enjoy it while you can fellows! Soon you'll be in the mountains...

Bill and Ryan are in Indonesia

Bill and Ryan called to repost that they arrived in Indonesia without incident. They are very happy with the level of service provided thus far by our local outfitter, Franky Kowaas. He booked thenm into the Hotel Gran Puri, but they are changing today to the Ritzy Hotel- which is apparently really quite ritzy!

The rest of the team should arrive today and tomorrow they will head off on a series of flights which will culminate with a helicopter ride across the jungle to Carstensz Pyramid.

Carstensz Pyramid Expedition is underway!

Mountain Trip is very pleased to be the first guide service in North America to secure permits to climb Carstensz Pyramid in Papua, Indonesia. This 16,023'/4884 meter peak has been the most elusive of the 7 Summits due to the limited availability of government issued climbing permits. Carstensz is located in the Suriman Mountains in the heart of Papua, Indonesia. Formerly known as Irian Jaya, this island located just below the equator defines the word exotic. Dense jungles guard the foot of Carstensz Pyramid and the local Dani tribesmen still wear traditional dress of a penis gourd and feather and shell ornamentation.

Closed to climbers in 2002, Carstensz Pyramid has remained a focus for climbers attempting the Seven Summits as it is the highest point on the Australasian Continent. Tenacity, hard work and diligence has resulted in a limited number of permits now becoming accessible to climb this exotic mountain.

Our friends from the Banco de Chile Mt. McKinley 2005 Expedition are back with us as we attempt this often rainy, limestone mountain. All of the team members are currently flying to Indonesia where the group will meet and begin the approach to the peak.

I'll post updates as I receive them. For now, we wish them all luck with the numerous connections required to fly from Chile and the US to Indonesia. Hopefully all their bags will arrive- we had a bit of a surprise in Alaska when most of the Chileans' bags did not show up on their flight!