The night was cool, it was between 0 ° C and 1 ° C in the tent. This morning it is very beautiful, but the clouds soon rise from the valley. We will end the day in thick fog... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 01 April 2011.  

We went under a big sun at 7:00, but the fog comes very quickly. We make a short break to drink and eat some cereal bars. A huge fog invades us, and we will join Karre (4805m) in the clouds!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 01 April 2011.  

The night was cool, the temp has dropped to -5 ° C in the tent! This is the first time I close the sleeping bag, and I do not use it as a cover... I will walk up prayer flags at 5050m, then I go to have breakfast with my companions. Subsequently, we will have a demonstration on the use of hyperbaric chambers, tested with the altimeter of the watch... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 02 April 2011.  

Acclimatization day at Khare: it's cold enough, my flask will freeze the time of this little walk (40 min)! Once back at camp, we make some manipulations of rope, full sun, then we 'wash', and put on clean clothes, because in the next 2 days, it will be no question of changing!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 02 April 2011.  

The sun is out this morning, we leave for a big day. Indeed, it is not possible to eat on the journey for the whole team, so we eat once arrived at High Camp. The pace is quite slow, because we have more than 1000m of elevation changes to make, and we start from the height of Mont Blanc! The climb becomes unpleasant, from the time when there is wind, snow, and fog: we have some more visual cues. We finally arrived around 15:00 at High Camp is a small platform, wedged between the seracs and a cliff! The tents are raised on small platforms at 5700m altitude.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 03 April 2011.  

Mera Peak: The night was very bad, we were caught in a snowstorm, with a temperature in the tent between -7 ° C and -8 ° C. The North Face VE25 tent Sherpa was destroyed during the night... In the morning, we wake up then with 40-50cm of snow. It's unfortunate for the summit of Mera Peak, but starting from an altitude of 5700m, we will need at least 2 days to get there: 1 day to do much of the trace, and the second day to return. Knowing that the sherpas have a tent in less, it is not possible to attempt the summit! It's too bad, so close, having to give up because of the material... So we leave to the valley of Hunku, toward the pass of Amphu Laptse La. ..... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 04 April 2011.  

The descent of the High Camp is painful, not only because the bad weather returns (we did well not to attempt the summit), but in addition the trace has disappeared, with the snow the day before: you can not see the cracks, and the Sherpas are not sufficiently well equipped in that dusty! This panorama was taken the next morning, in a steep canyon and snowy! However, carriers prefer to move to shorter: we have had the opportunity to tour this small rocky outcrop, 1:30 to walk more... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 05 April 2011.  

Once the corridor steep completed, holders sit on the edge of a large frozen lake, with a magnificent view over the valley. Everyone enjoys the sun for warmth, for night was cool, he made up to -8 ° C at night in the barn!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 05 April 2011.  

I take a lunch break to make this panorama along the river. Like every day, the clouds begin to arrive around noon... and we will finish the day in the snow!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 05 April 2011.  

We arrive late in the day in our camp, I want to take some pictures of ice sculptures. Around 16:30, we arrived at a barn where a couple lives of Nepalis, sandals on his feet! They have three stoves: two kerosene, and wood, except that there is no wood in the region, and it is forbidden to pick up. So, there is the rare wood in the barn comes from the other valley, at 3-4 days of walking! The previous night, we got so cold in the barn that night, we prefer to sleep in tents.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 05 April 2011.  

Before leaving early in the morning, I asked our guide to get all the sherpas to carry out this panorama. Back in France, I did develop the brand in 13 copies, I sent the guide in Nepal... hoping it will be able to give each carrier a picture... It's so cold that night that my pan head froze! There I had the can near my body, under the jacket, so that it loosens... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 06 April 2011.  

That night in tents was very cold: it was between -13 ° C to -15 ° C. During the night, I used two water bottles (water bottles filled with hot water), one for me and one for the camera gear, batteries do not like the cold! The water in the kettle in my sleeping bag was still liquid in the morning, while the camera was a big ice cube!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 06 April 2011.  

The trail is pretty bad on this part, firstly because we had big shoes, and secondly we were walking on large rocks, as Roche Gap to Estenc (for connoisseurs). We arrived at the foot of the pass Amphu The Laptse at 5430m altitude, the valley floor. To get to the other side, there is no alternative but to cross the pass, or any down, to pass through Lukla, and all around (10-12 days of walking). I'm beginning to be well acclimatized, because got there, I still have the form to help the Sherpas to install all the tents! Tonight, it's so cold that we eat in the tents... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 06 April 2011.  

Early wake up to 5:30, for a long day ahead. We take breakfast in the tents, and everything must be folded and stored for 7:00. That night he was -13 ° C in our tent, and after Thile, -23 ° C in the Mess tent! I'm enjoying the nice weather to this scenario, a few dozen meters from our camp.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

First break, especially the time to treat a Sherpa, who had a horrible stomach ache! Half a stamp will suffice, because it does not usually heal, and this half is immediately stamped its effect!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

We quickly from high on the side of the pass, and to 5600m we reach the foot of the glacier. The maneuvers will be long because it takes up all apparatus (50Kg each), then the holders, and finally our group.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

We are in awe of the work and energy carriers, to haul all the equipment, and climbing. What agility! Thile is the first to climb with crampons and ice ax. He then secures a rope, that everyone uses thereafter. The crossing of the pass is a succession of steep passages like this.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

We again paused, waiting for all the hardware and the Sherpas pass over this new tricky. This is the last tricky requiring the installation of a fixed rope.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

Once crossed the steep passages, there is a long climb to the pass. I take a break to double everyone, and realize this view of the accomplishments. The breath is short and quick to 5780m above sea level!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

We take a short break at the neck, before beginning the descent ultra stiff. Carriers are already on the way down for a while. The steep sections (vertical) are insured reminder, stiff with a fixed rope, and less steep with... nothing! The descent will last 4 to 5 hours depending on the person.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

I am a little break on the north side of the neck, after crossing the main difficulties. During the descent, we will fall behind, because a holder has lost its charge: our tents! Fortunately, they will go to get them more... We are at the foot of the pass at 5200m around 16:00, and we must join the camp at 4900m. I would be there around 18:00, the other 1:00 later!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

In France, we call this day 'race and crossing edge'... It is difficult to cross a mountain pass, and today, nobody got hurt! Thile is relieved when everyone arrives at the camp, and at night we used a kind of rum! However, at 4900m, the head turns quickly because we are almost fasting since the night before (express breakfast in the morning, midday snack and neck).... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 07 April 2011.  

The day after the climb, we rest (and some Sherpas, the others will go shopping in the valley). We make socks for washing, taking advantage of the sun to make a phone wipes, and take some pictures. The machine freezes if left outside, it must fairly cool, even during the day, against the attempts by sunlight, the temperature rises to 30C. It's nice! During lunch, two avalanches are triggered in front of us, on the other side. I do not have time to take my camera, but it's a pretty sight! That's when I learned yesterday, in return, I was caught in the cloud of an avalanche in the same place. I thought when I was there it began to snow, like every night... Thile then shows me a photo he had time to take, and he's right... I just thought being in a cloud of snow! Snow on the ground seemed to me very fine, but I had not listened more than that, too busy not to lose sight of the wearer tents!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 08 April 2011.  

Last night I ate nothing, and yet, the fried rice and potato gratin looked delicious! Unless they had the taste of kerosene, as if they were wrong cooking water! We later learned that they stored the can of kerosene in the bowl during transport, hence the bizarre tastes... The alarm clock is to 7:00, and we dry the wet affairs, before leaving for the 9:30 High Camp of Island Peak. 1:00 we pass during the valley floor, without too uneven. At Base Camp, we are only passing through, and just before the abrupt rise, I realize this shooting.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 09 April 2011.  

The ascent is very steep, the pace is very slow. We arrive at High Camp, at 5450m around 12:30. Then we eat yak cheese, and a kind of fried pancake with red beans. For dessert, I took a cake with honey... Small pleasures are rare in remote parts... Then we go to the tents to prepare our bags for the night. Meanwhile, two carriers will collect water with wicker baskets... they come with baskets filled with ice!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 09 April 2011.  

Clock to 2:30, it was hot that night in the tent: -8 ° C! (compared to nights in the valley of Hunku). We leave at 3:30 to the front. It starts with a climb in the rocks, we kept the 'small walking shoes'. We climb to the big cairn, and to 6:00, we arrive at the foot of the glacier. We then slippers 'big shoes' and crampons, harness, gaiters... We roped to walk on the glacier between the cracks.... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 10 April 2011.  

Around 6:30, we arrive at the foot of Island Peak. It is only 200m to assemble, arm strength, with ascenders. It is a kind of near vertical ice awaits us: we must cling with their feet, use the ax to stand, and on the other hand, the ascenders attached to a fixed rope. But it's getting bad, the snow is part of the... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 10 April 2011.  

We here at the top of the wall of 200m. We see the top it is right there at your fingertips... There is still one last jump of 60m, was also equipped with fixed ropes. These meters are quite challenging, but with the excitement of reaching the top, we find hidden forces! However, although there is a fixed rope, it has no room for error here, because there are two vertical walls on either side of the ridge... ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 10 April 2011.  

Some efforts later, here I am at 6189m, the summit of Island Peak. I take this opportunity to go out again with all my camera gear (over 5kg: Two boxes, 3 goals, memory cards, batteries, tripod, pan head, and a bag to put everything), I door since the beginning of the stay in order to achieve this panorama cloudy... The view is a little bite, there are some clouds... However, we can clearly see the Lhotse in front of us, at 8516m altitude, near Mount Everest! For the descent, we will use an 8 with fixed ropes, to be faster at the bottom, because it's really bad! We go through the High Camp, then the Base Camp and then we continue our descent to descend low enough in the evening... at the altitude of Mont Blanc! We arrived at about 15:45 Chhunkhung, it's been almost eleven o'clock walk, 600m of vertical to positive, negative and 1450m. We have slept nine nights at an altitude higher than Mont Blanc!... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 10 April 2011.  

In the morning, we dry all the affairs, then we go to 9:00, the sky is clear, one last look at Island Peak... We reach the path going up the Khumbu. I recrosses then know landscapes, especially the metal bridge on which I made a panorama on my first visit to this wonderfull country... Along the way we vross wild chamois, looking for and eating potatoes in a field ! ... Read the full story.

   Panorama made of 3 x 12 photos taken on the 11 April 2011.