Singapore
- 5 May 2002 - The three Singapore
Xixabangma Expedition team members have completed their acclimatization
climb at 7,300m and are now bracing themselves for their alpine
ascent of the 8,027m Tibetan mountain,
Xixabangma.
Over the last few days, while other climbers
have moved up the mountain using conventional methods of moving
from camp to camp with the help of guides and sherpas, helped
by fixed ropes established by sherpas over more difficult
stretches, the Singapore team has been acclimatising at increasingly
greater altitudes, a crucial part of their preparation for
the summit bid.
"We need to do this because we will
be making our alpine ascent without any outside help,"
explained team leader Dr Robert Goh. "We need to be far
fitter and better adjusted to the altitude than if we were
climbing in the conventional way. Our bags, at 35 kg per person,
are far heavier and we will be going up on our own."
After a rest of several days at Advanced
Base Camp, the three men will launch their summit bid, carrying
all their food and fuel, tent and gear, in 35kg ruck sacks.
They will be roped up over the treacherous sections such as
the section where Dr Goh and Dr Mok Ying Jang had earlier
fallen into hidden crevasses.
Equally threatening is the increased
risk of avalanches on the steep slopes because of the deep,
soft snow left by heavy snow fall in recent days. "We
will have to assess the situation when we are there,"
said Dr Goh. "The conditions are not ideal; the weather
has not been kind to us. But we are still optimistic and morale
is high."
Note to Editors: The Xixabangma Expedition 2002 team
is available for phone interviews via satellite phone. Please
contact Angelina Ong at 97855 233 or Len Reutens at 9815 7062
if you are interested in an interview.
About Xixabangma
Expedition 2002
The Singapore Xixabangma Expedition from March to May 2002
aims to push the limits of high altitude mountaineering. The
team plans to climb into the death zone (8,000m) without using
supplementary oxygen and without depending on pre-built camps,
a style known as the Alpine Ascent.
The aims of the Expedition in climbing
Xixabangma are:
To push the limits of mountaineering
in Singapore
To increase awareness and broaden the
scope of high altitude mountaineering
To promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle
The Expedition is endorsed by:
Singapore Mountaineering Federation
Singapore Sports Council and the National
Youth Council
To date, the sponsors of the Expedition
include:
Singapore Pools
Singapore Power
NTUC Income
Singapore Sports Council, Timberland
GlaxoSmithKline
Weber Shandwick Singapore
Safra
National Computer Systems
DSO National Laboratories
NERA Telecommunications
Siemens Showa Solar
FotoHub
WL Gore
Xantic and Zen Vision (Oakley products).
This project is also made possible by a
Youth Development Fund grant from the National Youth Council.
——————————————————————————————— For further information:
Angelina Ong Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Singapore
Tel: 825 8031
Fax: 720 8102
Email: aong@webershandwick.com
