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Allie Pepper Climbs Cho Oyu - Solo, no oxygen 20-Jun-2007 At 10:13:34 AM julian.A

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This is a pretty good effort - Julian

On the 9th of May 2007 Australian mountaineer Allie Pepper climbed Cho Oyu (8201m) in Tibet, the world's sixth highest mountain. In doing so she became only the second Australian woman (after Sue Fear) to climb the mountain without supplementary oxygen. This is even more impressive as Allie was not part of a commercially guided expedition, and ended up climbing the mountain
solo after her climbing partner Jason Beechcroft was forced to abandon his attempt with frost nip on 8 of his toes.

From her camp at 7500 m (camp 3) Allie made her summit bid. Despite a later than planned departure, due to high winds and fresh snow she made good progress up the mountain and at the first rock step “The Yellow Band” she passed two Italian climbers. As she started up the fixed ropes she watched then turn around and head back to camp. This left her to ascend alone, kicking steps into the fresh snow. With improving weather Allie arrived on the summit with views above the clouds to Everest and Lhotse after 10 hours of climbing. It then took her 2 ½ hours to descend to Camp 3, where she spent the night before descending to Advanced Base Camp.

This was Allie's first attempt at an 8000 meter peak, and according to her it definitely won't be her last.

Relatively unknown in Australia, Allie has been quietly climbing mountains in South America, where she works as a mountain guide. She has summitted Mt Aconcagua, (6965m) seven times with clients and, climbed and guided extensively in Peru.

Allie is making plans to return to the Himalaya later this year, and attempt Shisha Pangma. If successful she will become the first Australian woman to
summit two 8000 meter mountains in the one year.

checkout her photo's - http://alliepepperopen.spaces.live.com/
or there is a PDF on http://www.australianclimbing.com.au