SERVICE CLIMBERS
ATTEMPT TO CLIMB THE THIRD HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
IN THE WORLD
Two teams of climbers from the British Armed
Services leave the UK for Nepal later this
month on expeditions to climb Mt. Kangchenjunga
(8,586 metres / 28,169 feet), the third
highest mountain in the world and Ramtang
Peak (6,700 metres / 22,000 feet). If the
Kangchenjunga team is successful they will
become only the second British expedition
to climb the South West face of the mountain.
It was a British Expedition that first climbed
Kangchenjunga, by its South West Face, in
1955 but no British Expedition has since
succeeded in climbing the mountain by that
route. Kangchenjunga is rarely climbed due
to its remote location and the fact that
it has no easy routes, all of its faces
being objectively dangerous and its ridges
long and hard. The 14-strong team will be
led by Lieutenant Commander Stevan Jackson
(47) and includes 1 other member of the
Royal Navy, 5 Royal Marines, 4 Soldiers
and 3 members of the Royal Air Force. The
team is exceptionally strong and well prepared
following training in Scotland, Wales, Bavaria
and the Swiss Alps during the last two years.
The team will return to the UK on 9th June
2000.
At the same time a second team of 8 young
Servicemen and 1 woman, led by 2 experienced
mountaineers, will undertake an arduous
100 mile trek through the heart of this
remote region to a Base Camp north of Kangchenjunga
from where they will attempt to climb Ramtang
Peak. Ramtang has not been climbed since
the first ascent by E. Schneider and Frank
S. Smythe in 1930. The Ramtang team will
be led by Major Andy Edington (39) a Royal
Engineer and will include, as a mentor,
Royal Marine Brigadier David Nicholls a
veteran Service mountaineer whose experience
includes an ascent of the North Face of
the Eiger and an Everest expedition. This
will be the first experience of the Himalayas
for most of these young people, from whom,
it is hoped, will come the next generation
of Service Himalayan climbers and leaders.
This team will return to the UK on 19th
May 2000.
For many years the Armed Services have recognised
the excellent value to be gained from adventurous
training expeditions of an arduous and testing
nature. The real risks and challenges faced
by the participants reinforce the value
of teamwork and discipline and greatly facilitate
personal development.
Preparing for the expedition has taken up
much of the members' spare time for over
two years, during which they have benefited
from the assistance of Tony Streather and
George Band, who both reached the summit
on the successful 1955 expedition. The expedition
will cost almost £130,000 and the
team have raised virtually all of the finance
needed themselves from personal contributions,
private sponsors and sources other than
the public purse. Those who have supported
the expedition financially, with services,
with equipment, or in the case of Patak's
with an Indian banquet prior to departure!,
include:
The expedition website www.bluedome.co.uk/Kangchenjunga
2000 will be updated regularly with progress
reports during the walk-in and the ascent
of Kangchenjunga. Schools or other educational
establishments may find such aspects as
geography, weather, environment, and living
conditions of the climbers of interest to
their students, particularly the younger
ones and especially those with little exposure
to the mountain environment.
The Expedition will hold a Press Launch
at the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, Portsmouth
at 1230 on Friday 17th March 2000 at which
there will be a short presentation by the
Expedition Leader. He and other members
of both teams will then be available to
answer questions. A buffet lunch will be
provided on completion. Members of the press
and media are most welcome and are requested
to advise the Expedition Leader should they
wish to attend
For further information please contact the
Expedition Leader:
Lieutenant Commander S.K. Jackson, FRGS,
Royal Navy
E-mail: stevan.jackson@virgin.net
