Expedition Loap Solo 2006

Decision » 17. 8. 2006 at 7:41

I set out along the river to the glacier for the seventh time. App. 2 km from the camp the river turns sharply south. Direction I need is north - north-east so it means I’m walking around. After another 3 km (air line) I finally reach a place where I can turn to east. From this particular position that’s the shortest way to the glacier. Another 2.5 km (air line) and I’m approaching the glacier. GPS gives me position and I’m transferring it into the map. The map I’m using is from 2003 and according to it I’ve been already walking almost 1 km on the glacier. It took me three hours to get from the camp to the glacier face. One can walk 5 km per hour on average. I’d count 4 km as the terrain is really rough here, so 3 hours times 4 km is total distance 12 km. Even if I counted 10 km it’s still two days of hiking with all the equipment. Water. I did not find a single source of clean water on the way here. It’s not possible to drink water from the river as it looks more like liquid mud. So far I was lucky as I could always camp at least 1.5 km from some place where I could get drinking water. I need daily 4 litres minimum. I drink more than 3 litres and the rest is used for cooking breakfast and diner. For the first day I can use water from the place where I’m camping at the moment. For the second day I would have to depend on the glacier. Food. I have 22 rations left. Two days to the glacier = two rations. I have to spare 3 - 5 rations for reserve. Ramaining food - 15 - 17 rations. With distance which I still have to cover in next days I could barely survive. Time. I’m already three days behind my schedule and with another two days spent getting to the glacier I would have only 1 to 3 days left as reserve. The reserve is important in case the weather is really bad or for any reason which could prevent me from pushing on. If I was half way in the traverse, it wouldn’t be much of a deal, however, at the very beginning of the expedition it is quite dangerous.

Based on facts mentioned above I’m getting into unpleasant situation. It would be very risky for me to backtrack this route in case I was forced to turn around. Simply said, to carry on doesn’t seem very reasonable at this point so I decided to turn around while it’s still possible. I am aware that many people may think my decision is coward-hearted but I will accept defeat and possible mockery than risking that my action will lead to dangerous situation. I had only one resolution before my departure - I have to be able to take care of myself no matter what!! No way that somebody will have to help me to get off the glacier!!! In the end I would like to point out that everything looks always very different from the actual spot than it may seem from the comfort of home.

I will spend 3 to 4 days backtracking the route to the spot where I started. I assume it will be another week before I manage to return to Czech Republic. I don’t intend, of course, to stop sending messages to the website. If anybody wants to say something I will try to respond. As I mentioned already, comments are being forwarded to my satellite telephone.