Friday, December 10, 2010
More Ama Dablam and Island Peak Photos
Matching crowns: Cho Oyu and Ama Dablam
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Ama Dablam and Island Peak Summits!
The photos are from this November in the Khumbu Valley. I had a really great group for both Island Peak and Ama Dablam. We were very lucky I was able to call upon some personal contacts for a great forecast that let us sneak up and down with relatively low (30K) winds. The days on either side of the 26th - our Ama Dablam summit day - were very windy; they were far from ideal. I will post some pictures of the crowns from Cho Oyu and Ama Dablam in the coming days, they look amazingly similar. Panda Power!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ama Dablam
We made it to base camp in great condition, everyone is feeling fit in the group. Today was a much deserved rest day, and a bit of packing, as tomorrow we head off to Island peak for a few days to acclimatize before climbing Ama Dablam.
Many teams have been topping out the past few days and base camp is clearing out nicely, when we return from Island Peak there should only be a couple of teams remaining. There is talk of a bit of bad weather coming in but it should not derail any of our plans.
I will report back shortly, thanks for following along.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Ama Dablam Helicopter Crash Update
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Helicopter Crash Ama Dablam
More uptates to come.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
2010 Makalu, Broad Peak, K2 and Cho Oyu Recap: Ama Here I come
I am in Europe enjoying a much needed two week holiday, then I fly back to Nepal to guide Ama Dablam.
Big plans are cooking for next year already! I am excited.
2010 Makalu, Broad Peak, K2 and Cho Oyu Photo Gallery 4
2010 Makalu, Broad Peak, K2 and Cho Oyu Photo Gallery 3
2010 Makalu, Broad Peak, K2 and Cho Oyu Photo Gallery 2
2010 Makalu, Broad Peak, K2 and Cho Oyu Photo Gallery 1
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Broad Peak/K2 Double Header 2010: Flight Delays
Today 5 members flew to Gilgit and are now driving over to join us, a few are scheduled to fly tomorrow, Chris and a couple of guides in training are coming by road from Islamabad, and should be here tomorrow night. Fortunately it means we should only be one day off the back departing for Askoli, no big deal.
Skardu remains overcast and not as hot as usual, and means that the 5 members here with me will continue a bit of sightseeing and alot more tea drinking in the garden of the Concordia Hotel with views of the river - terribly civilized really.
High school graduation pranks and future desert crossing expeditions keep us occupied during meals- I was told the shocking news that Brangelina broke up last year as well - perhaps too much time in base camps and not enough time glued to TMZ.
I will keep you posted on our departure for Askoli and base camp.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Broad Peak/K2 2010: Karakoram is quiet!
We are very fortunate to have a full Broad Peak and K2 trip! I must admit that I am looking forward to not so many teams in both base camps, alot of hard work lies ahead but it will make everything much more harmonious, less overcrowding at the camps and the possibility for all teams to come together for parties during the down time.
There are some old friends returning this summer and I cant wait to see them. I head to Skardu tomorrow to finalize all of the organization, luckily leaving the duty of getting the permits to Chris, my co leader at Field Touring Alpine this summer, when he arrives with the members in a couple of days - as our liason officer has not reported for duty yet.
Another Karakoram season is underway! I am psyched, 10 days rest between Makalu base camp and Skardu is enough time off mountains it turns out. It was great to spend long dinners and lunches with friends in Thamel. It was especially nice to see some people after they had been helicoptered off Makalu and see the frostbite was not as bad as originally suspected, celebrate with Tunc (congratulations again!) and friends from other mountains. luckily I will get a couple of weeks rest between the Karakoram and the Autumn season on Cho Oyu (finilize your bookings with Stu soon)!
I will be updating frequently from Broad Peak and K2 as we have figured out the email glitch with the PDA, so check back frequently and wish us luck!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Makalu Summit Bid Under Way!
6700m! We are all feeling strong and excited about our chances in the days
ahead. Tomorrow we will move up to C3 at 7400m with hopes for great summit
weather on the 22nd or 23rd of May.
Wish us well!
Follow the daily updates at:
www.fieldtouring.blogspot.com
Monday, May 17, 2010
Makalu 2010 Update - April 17
acclimatize more and work on the tents at C2. The winds
have been very strong on the mountain and we have had to
be very patient. It looks like finally our summit window
will come next weekend with low winds predicted to begin
on the 21st and to last at least the 3 days we'll need!!
Wish us luck!
Catch up on all of the trip dispatches at:
www.fieldtouring.blogspot.com
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Makalu Update - 7400m reached!
May 9, 2010
Our expedition is going very well with our team having
spent a total of 3 nights in C2 at 6700m and reaching
a high point of 7400m on the 7th of May. We are down at
BC safe and sound while the winds rage above our heads.
We will hope the weather in the week ahead allows us to
make a push above 7400m. Wish us luck!
You can find more written and audio dispatches at:
www.fieldtouring.blogspot.com
Still a few spots on my trips to Broad Peak & K2 for
this summer and for Cho Oyu, Alpine Training and Ama
Dablam for this autumn! If you are interested just drop
a note to "stu@fieldtouring.com".
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Makalu 2010 Update - 28 April
Over the last few weeks we have travelled from Kathmandu to the Makalu BC
(5900m) and begun our work on the mountain. Since arriving we have spent 2
nights at C1 (6350m), installed Camp 2 (6700m) and are now enjoying a few
days of well-earned rest in BC!
Everyone on our team is climbing strongly, feeling well and excited about
the challenge ahead. We hope you will follow us as we attempt to summit the
5th highest peak in the world!
See all the dispatches and updates from the trip:
www.fieldtouring.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Makalu 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
2010/11/12 Expeditions with Fabrizio
Please email stu@fieldtouring.com for booking and logistics questions. I look forward to climbing with you!
Makalu: April 10 - May 30
K2/Broad Peak Doubleheader: June 10 - Aug 14
Cho Oyu or Pumori: Sept 05 - Oct 15
Khumbu Expedition Training: Oct 15 - Nov 03
Ama Dablam: Nov 04 - Dec 04
Friday, November 27, 2009

If you speak Japanese then check out this thing from the Japanese Marmot distributors.
www.descente.co.jp/
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Rock and Ice 25th Anniversary Milestone climbs

It is a huge honor to have 'Imperfect Apparition' - a route that Jack Tackle and I made the first ascent of in 2005, alpine style, on the SW Face of Mount Huntington, Alaska, recognized as one of the milestone climbs of the last 25 years. For more details on the route please see below.
http://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP14/climbing-notes-tacklePosted on Alpinist.com: December 1, 2005
MT. HUNTINGTON
By Jack Tackle
Perfect symmetry and complex faces always drew me to Mt. Huntington (3730m), but until May of this year I had never climbed it. On May 15, 2005, Fabrizio Zangrilli and I landed on the west fork of the Tokositna. Our intent was to climb a new route to the right of the Harvard Route on the Phantom Wall (west face) and left of the Smith/Teare Route on the far right side of the face.
After two days of recon—and the realization that W is clearly wrong about global warming—on May 19 we rappelled onto the face from the lowest point of the Stegosaurus. The terrain was moderate, and we simulclimbed all but one pitch up to the main rock headwall in the middle of the face. We struck out right onto beautiful brown granite—some of the best stone I have seen in the range—and quickly became absorbed in our objective. Fabrizio led two mixed pitches that followed a right-leaning traversing weakness. By the end of the second pitch, he found himself faced with an Alaska Range anomaly—a chimney system running with water at 4 p.m. at 10,200 feet. The thought of being soaked to the skin in this shower stall and enduring a bivy on unknown terrain was unappealing, so we left our two ropes fixed and rapped back to a snowfield where we chopped a bivy ledge and spent the evening waiting for the water to return to solid form.
At 4 a.m. the second day, we left the bivy gear and went light for the summit, intending to climb up and back in a single push. The former shower-stall chimney had seized up into a gorgeous section of mixed climbing that brought us in two pitches to a ramp system. Fabrizio took over, and we pitched out and then simulclimbed six pitches across the face into the center wall, which led us to the crux rockband. I searched for a weakness and found a flaring dihedral with a thin strip of ice in the back. Although it was only eighty feet long and led to easy ground above, it proved to be the most challenging part of the route. First Fabrizio, then I worked on this eighty-foot pitch. Finally, with some creative problem solving (tied-off Bugaboos for pro, a drytool traverse onto a rounded ledge, a manufactured number-three Camalot placement), I was able to break through our temporary barrier. It was now 6 p.m. We started simulclimbing again up the throat of the main upper face, heading for upper summit ridge of the Harvard and West Face Couloir routes.
advertisement
It was snowing and sloughing spindrift everywhere around us. We climbed until 11 p.m. and finally turned around when we could no longer see more than thirty feet in front of our faces. We had intersected the Harvard Route finish, maybe 500 feet below the summit. As we descended our route in darkness, the snow became more intense. We lost two hours dealing with a stuck rope on rappel in the coldest and darkest part of the night. In our attempts to pull the ropes, we also managed to strip forty feet from our second rope's sheath, reducing the length of our rappels, but increasing our resource of anchor material.
Twenty-seven hours after we left the bivy, we lay down and slept for five hours. I fell asleep while devouring my food and woke like a frozen Mastodon with unchewed jerky still in my mouth. We rapped off the lower Harvard rappels and a few hours later returned to a gracious reception from our base-camp comrades.
In keeping with proper alpine etiquette—tell the truth—and given our proximity to the Phantom Wall, and to the phantom summit, The Imperfect Apparition seems an appropriate name for our route (Alaska Grade 5+: M5 A3, 4,000').
Jack Tackle, Victor, Idaho
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Midwest Mountaineering Winter Expo 2010

If you are in Minneapolis this weekend come down to the Expo! There is a huge sale and over 40 presenters - as well as my slide show at 4:30pm Saturday. For a complete schedule please visit http://www.outdooradventureexpo.com/200911/Index.shtml
Hope to see you!
Photo: Me and Rod outside the store just before the sales started yesterday.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Ouray Ice festival Clinics
My Ice Fest Clinic Schedule:
Fri 9:00 -11:30 am - CAMP - Intro to Leading
Fri 12:30 - 3:00 pm - CAMP - Intro to leading
Sat 9:00 -11:30 am - SCARPA - Advanced Mixed Climbing M6 - M8
Sat 12:30 - 3:00 pm - SCARPA - Advanced Ice WI 5
Sun 9:00 -11:30 am - Marmot - Easy Ice WI 2-3
Sun 12:30 - 3:00 pm - CAMP - Intro to Leading
for more details and to sign up for clinics please visit: http://ourayicefestival.com/
Friday, November 13, 2009
Alpinist and Guinea Pig: Various Job Titles
This is how I spend a few days a month, oxygen deprived and monitored. Sometimes it is non invasive - pictured - and sometimes very invasive.
Today was very hard, a big drop in oxygen saturation, and too much on my mind. There are many people in the room monitoring me - well I thought there were at least. Don't quit your day job.
Humar's rescue: very sad news: Updated: Tragedy
The world lost one of its great personalities this week.Tomaz, thanks for the great drinks at your house, I still remember that evening with great fondness..... Your were the best and the greatest inspiration! No one could match your intensity and love of life. My thoughts are with Maja and mutual friends.
____________________________________________
Langtang Lirung rescue update: Tomaz Humar missing, Swiss rescuers stuck in BC reports www.explorersweb.com
I am so sad over the news and developments. I am very aware of how the rescue team feels sitting in base camp. I know that Tomaz took great comfort in knowing many people were thinking of him during the similar situation on Nanga. I pray for better news.
This from Monday, January 07, 2008 from my own blog:
http://fabriziozangrilli.blogspot.com/2008/01/2-bottles-of-beer-is-all-it-takes.html
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Sales Meeting, AORE and more......

I have been traveling for the past week, first to Tahoe and then to Minneapolis. It has been fun, learned a ton about the new amazing product coming out soon from Marmot, had alot of fun with the national and international sales groups and then met some amazing people at the AORE annual conference in Minneapolis. Highlights to follow, and more traveling this week. I cannot wait for the end of next week as I then get a week off to go climbing again....
Photo: One of the great people I have met over the past 6 weeks. Larissa and me at AORE.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Training for alpine climbing
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Training for alpine climbing
I managed to redpoint my project in the gym, and now I am really not climbing anything harder, perhaps the moves were just suited for me, and thus why I picked it as a project. Either way, I guess it is time for a bit of muscle confusion, both for climbing and for general aerobic endurance.
Thoughts on this to follow....
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Training for alpine climbing
The struggle to get stronger continues.....
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Elevation Outdoors
http://www.elevationoutdoors.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Training for alpine climbing
Over the past month I spent alot of time getting my body ready, just making sure that there were no nagging injuries and "lubricating" the joints. I ran about 200miles and climbed several thousand feet, lifted more than a proverbial ton and read alot about training.
Yesterday was an eye opener, I tried really hard at Movement (my favorite climbing gym in Boulder movementboulder.com) completing last weeks "project" and then almost onsighting a route that was a full letter grade harder. I warmed up pretty well - still need to improve at this, just a bit more discipline needed really, and then set about getting stronger.
I have found that several routes at my "limit" of onsighting and then working a couple of routes that are supposed to be above my ability and then back to redpointing and then finally a few cooldown climbs has been getting me strong. It is as unscientific as can be, but seems to be working well for me.
I stayed at Movement for 4 hours. I rested and rehydrated well, very well. What does pulling plastic do for alpine climbing you may wonder. My answer is that it has been crap weather out, I have had obligations on the days that have been good for the fun mixed that has climbed in RMNP since the snowfall and in the end if you can rock climb very well, you have the confidence needed in the mountains.
Oh yeah, after the gym session I ran 8.6 miles. I was tired after, but felt great. Perhaps the one thing I did poorly yesterday was eat enough.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Training for Alpine Climbing
There will be method to the madness some days and others will seem random, however I am looking at a five month period before peaking, and in that time I will have many periods where I peak and plateau. Training for a goal makes it easier to stay focused, the key is to be consistent and maintain desire over the duration of training.
Training for alpine climbing, specifically for my goals (mixed routes in the Ruth Gorge in early spring, guiding on Makalu in April/May and then Nanga Parbat in the summer) requires a unique combination of aerobic conditioning and power endurance. I have trouble training aerobic capacity and power at the same time, but if you want to mixed climb for many hours in a day on a cold wall in Alaska you better be able to train both at the same time. The biggest issue for me has been finding the best recovery program, so as I figure out what is working for me I will post it.
I plan to update three times a week, sometimes more and sometimes less. If you have any comments on the training please feel free to email me.
I am a big fan of training instead of reading about it; but to get started on your own program I recommend Climbing: Training for Peak Performance by Clyde Soles. As I find literature specific to the phase of training I am in, I will post it.
AAO Fall '09 Clinic Tour
Friday, September 25, 2009
SCARPA & CAMP Warehouse Sale
Friday, September 18, 2009
time to start training
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
2009/2010 Guiding Schedule: Updated
Fabrizio is also available for slide shows for your club, school or company.
__________________________________________________________________
2009
June 10 - Aug 15:
K2 (8611m) & Broad Peak (8046m)
Karakoram, Pakistan
with Field Touring
www.fieldtouring.com
October 05 - November 05:
Pumori 7161m
Khumbu Nepal
November/December:

Custom Ice/Alpine/Rock Climbing and Expedition Training
__________________________________________________________________
2010
January/February/March

Custom Ice/Alpine/Rock Climbing and Expedition Training
April/May:

Makalu 8463m
Barun Valley, Nepal
with Field Touring Alpine
http://www.fieldtouring.com/?page_id=975
June/July/August:

Nanga Parbat 8125m
Pakistan
with Field Touring Alpine
www.fieldtouring.com
November:
Cholatse 6440m
Khumbu, Nepal
December:

Aconcagua Private
Recent Press
Marmot Athlete Fabrizio Zangrilli Set to Lead Unprecedented ...
4/17/09 - Top alpinist Fabrizio Zangrilli – a recent addition to Marmot's global athlete team – will lead what might be the first-ever commercially ...www.climbing.com/.../marmot_athlete_fabrizio_zangrilli_set_to_lead_
An Impossible Mountain Rescue on Latok II in Pakistan - TIME
Aug 16, 2009 ... Fabrizio Zangrilli, 36, was in the area because he recently finished guiding a climb of K2. "Fabrizio is so acclimatized, and his skill set ...www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1916483,00.html
Go Light, Go Fast by C.A.M.P.: Fabrizio Zangrilli Leads Light ...
Aug 14, 2009 ... Fresh off of leading the first commercially guided attempt on K2, Fabrizio Zangrilli has been called on to lead the efforts to rescue a ...www.golightgofast.com/.../fabrizio-zangrilli-leads-light-fast-rescue-effort-on-
Fabrizio Zangrilli Set to Lead Unprecedented Expedition to K2 ...
Boulder, Colo. (Mtn Press)-Top alpinist Fabrizio Zangrilli will lead what might be the first-ever commercially organized expedition of its kind to K2.www.skipressworld.com/.../331-fabrizio-zangrilli-set-to-lead-unprecedented-
» Boulder Climber Fabrizio Zangrilli Heads for K2 | 5280 Magazine
Zangrilli will lead 10 climbers in the first-ever commercial trip up the renowned Himalayan peak.www.5280.com/blog/?p=13831
Desperate Rescue Underway on Latok II - Adventure Travel ...
Aug 13, 2009 ... National Geographic ADVENTURE (ngadventure.com) presents the best in adventure travel and ecotourism, with destinations, photos, videos, ...ngadventure.typepad.com/.../desperate-rescue-on-latok-ii-will-fabrizio-
Rock and Ice Magazine: Zangrilli Set To Guide K2
Apr 13, 2009 ... Fabrizio Zangrilli near his home in Boulder, Colora ... The alpinist Fabrizio Zangrilli will lead what might be the first-ever commercially ...www.rockandice.com/inthemag.php?id=308&type...
Zangrilli's resume includes rescue of 2 ailing climbers - The ...
Jun 2, 2009 ... While the summit is typically the main goal for a big-mountain alpinist, Fabrizio Zangrilli is focused on the challenge. ...www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12498888
Monday, September 14, 2009
WHAT DOES CAMP STAND FOR?
The name CAMP is an acronym that stands for, ‘Construzione Articoli Montagna Premana,' best translated as, ‘Articles for Mountaineering Made in Premana.' Some climbers know this. Most do not. We were interested in putting the climbing community's imagination to the test by letting them recreate the acronym based on their perceptions of the company, the sport and the lifestyle. From more than 1,500 entries, we are excited to announce the winning entry and top ten finishers as voted on by Rockclimbing.com registered users:
1st Place: Crags Are My Playgrounds
2nd Place: Caviar At Meatloaf Prices
3rd Place: Caught Above My Protection
4th Place: Climbing Away My Paychecks
5th Place: Climbing Against Mother's Protest
6th Place: Climbing Another Magnificent Peak
7th Place: Climbing: A Magical Pursuit
8th Place: Charley Ate My Piton
9th Place: Cultivating America's Missing Past-time
10th Place: Chow At Miguel's Pizza!
Thank you to all who participated! See the winning page post with comments at Rockclimbing.com: http://www.rockclimbing.com/
Product Review: Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus

There are two things that matter to me when picking a sleeping pad: will it insulate me from the cold and is it comfortable. Luckily for me, this summer I found a pad that did both very, very well. I have been using Therm-a-Rest products for quite some time, but managed to get my hands on a ProLite Plus for my guiding gigs on K2 and Broad Peak this past summer.
Getting some sleep on big mountains is easy for me, but getting a good night's sleep is crucial. My large ProLite Plus was long enough and wide enough to make sure that my feet and shoulders stayed off the ice and felt like I was floating while sleeping. I used the pad at 8000m on K2 and 7100m - the high camp on Broad Peak - and spent over 50 nights total on the pad over the season never regretting using it. If you are looking for a very solid, warm and comfy sleeping pad the ProLite Plus is a phenomenal choice! In Base Camp I would layer the floor of my tent with Z-Lite pads and slept very warm and very well when combined with my Marmot CWM EQ (-40 degree sleeping bag).



