My first contact with Zdeno was December 1st 2014 - 3 1/2 months have past since we first started scrambling ideas around about 8000m peaks and bikes and just 3 1/2 months remain till we leave for Pakistan. I couldn't have found a better organizer than Zdeno for such a mission and he has been a great organizer and seems to be incessantly on the job.  The activity level is going to become much more intense in these coming months.  Gear to arrange , visas and flights , training no doubt and all the time  the quest for funds to pay for it all. Having a short time frame has its advantages - no time to hesitate or doubt - only the will for action. 

“Climbing for me is more than a sport,” writes mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner in his latest book, My Life at the Limit. “Climbing is all about freedom, the freedom to go beyond all the rules and take a chance, to experience something new, to gain insight into human nature… For me, imagination is more important in climbing than muscle or daredevil antics.”

In case anyone missed it, we had an article in the Nelson Weekly about the Broad Peak mission. 
It is great having some local support.

"Former Tour de France rider Nathan Dahlberg is used to cycling up high mountains, but even the tour’s legendary ascents up L’Alpe d’Huez and  Le Mont Ventoux will seem like molehills compared to the next mountain he plans to climb."

You can check out the rest of the article here: nelsonlive.co.nz/news/2015/.../nelson-cyclist-aiming-worlds-highest-ride/ 

The Arthur Range in Spring from Thorpe. The Twins on the far left are reached by traversing whole main range from the right of the picture.

Two days of hiking climbing and staying in a cave between the Twins with Carl , Simon and the leader Tony. I slept outside on the balcony myself , it was only 1700m high but still really cold  and windy. There was just enough snow left on the rocks to melt some water.

Despite the slippery slabs in the rain and mist on day one the most dangerous moment's came when relaxing back at the cave with a cup of tea in hand Carl managed to dump a large rock on my head. Luckily it was just my head, anywhere else may have caused some injury!!  

The two days worth of photos encompass the traverse of the range, staying in the cave, climbing the North and South twin's by their North ridge's and returning on the same route. The team was high on spirit, but low on fancy gear which is a great combination for a good two days out!!

North twin - 1816m , South Twin approx 1800m.