Cho Oyu 1998
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Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Tibet |
The beginning
This marked Katja Staartjes’s first expedition on a mountain higher than eight thousand metres. Cho Oyu, at a height of 8,201 metres, ranks sixth highest in the world, but belongs to the less challenging (if one could call it that) of the eight-thousanders in terms of technical difficulty. In brief: an ideal challenge if you want to become acquainted with climbing mountains higher than 8,000 metres.
The whole adventure actually started in 1995, when Katja participated in a hike with Snow Leopard to the Mera Peak (6,500 m) following a beautiful route along Makalu Base Camp and East & West Col. A wonderful experience. Just like the previous year on the 6,000-m high Damphus Peak, it was evident that Katja was physically strong and well able to handle the altitude. And the wheels were set in motion when tour leader and Everest climber René de Bos afterwards asked Katja whether she would be interested in an expedition to Cho Oyu.
Major expedition
René de Bos would eventually collaborate with mountain guide Robert Steenmeijer in organising a large-scale expedition of 21 climbers, supported by two Sherpas.
During this expedition, the weather gods were in a good mood: on 3 May the team arrived at the base camp and as early as 20 May, Katja and Sherpa Nawang reached the top. In the days that followed, the summit would be reached by another six climbers, including Hans van der Meulen, who joined the expedition after he climbed the Shishapangma.
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