High ambition

Taranaki Daily News journalist Mike Scott is in Nepal covering the work of SmileHigh, the dental aid organisation co- founded by Taranaki orthodontist Dr Julian Haszard. The mountain mission aims to increase the living standards of people in remote areas of Nepal by improving their dental health. This is Mike's latest dispatch from the slopes of the Himalayas.

MIKE SCOTT

Majestic: Mt Manaslu makes a rare show as morning cloud disperses.

MIKE SCOTT

Under scrutiny: Himalayan Experience leader and owner Russell Brice watches porters weighing loads before the trek to base camp.

MIKE SCOTT

Weigh to go: Sherpas and porters weigh loads to be taken to the Mt Manaslu base camp.

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The dental clinic is over and the new goal for SmileHigh and co-founder Dr Julian Haszard is to conquer the Himalayan giant Manaslu (8163m).

The dental phase of the trip was a success.

More than 500 patients were assessed, about 300 tooth extractions were made and 1000 toothbrushes and 800 toothpaste tubes were distributed.

Now the focus is on the 42-day expedition to the summit of the 8000m peak.

More than 100 porter loads have already been sent to the base camp and the guides and climbers are moving through a programme of acclimatisation.

The process actually includes a fair amount of sitting around.

"It's so we can get to base camp safely and without getting sick," expedition leader and Himalayan Experience owner Russell Brice said.

"A lot of teams push hard and I say go slowly.

"Go slow and acclimatise, then go fast up high," the Kiwi now living in France said.

It is sage advice gathered from years of high altitude climbing and guiding and the results speak for themselves.

The Himalayan Experience success rate in getting climbers, guides and Sherpas to the top of high Himalayan peaks is unparalleled at 80 per cent. Another secret was to employ one Sherpa for each climber, whereas other expeditions might have half that number, Mr Brice said. "That means we are employing more people and we are not making the Sherpa work so hard."

The guides are also assessing the individual members seeing how the team will shape up.

There is a high expectation for Dr Haszard's success on Manaslu which will help raise money for the SmileHigh dental aid organisation of which Mr Brice happens to be the patron.

The mountain is different yet probably easier than Mt Everest and Cho Oyo which Dr Haszard scaled in the past, he said.

However, nothing can be taken for granted. Weather, snow conditions, acclimatisation, health and team dynamics all play a role.

But, under the guidance of Mr Brice, things seem to be off to a pretty good start.

- © Fairfax NZ News