www.topout.co.uk

We have a new look Topout. Using the feedback I collected at Base Camp last season we have made a number of improvements: The canister has a new clearer lable that allows the operation of the resevoir to be more clearly seen. The operating instructions are now on the lable.
We had some observations about the head harness. This has now been rectified with a new harness. Finally we have managed to shave a few grammes off the weight with the introduction of a new light weight banjo fitting.
We are also offering a sleeping canulae to use at night in place of the mask. It does not suit everyone to sleep in a mask. One of the big problems is the inevitable condensation that collects in the mask, this combined with the noise of the valves operating is not condusive to perfect sleep. Also just wearing a mask to sleep is not comfortable or natural; finally should you manage to lose your mask you could use the canulae as an emergency backup.

Topout is all packed and with the shippers to Kathmandu to meet this seasons record orders.

Spring 2008, I summited on Makalu for to evaluate the current mask and to trial potential improvements. At 8300m I tested Topout using a Nokin pulseoximetre. I regained O2 sats of 97% using 1/2 ltr/min at rest. I climbed mainly using 1ltr/min with a short section of 2ltr for the higher steeper section. I set off from top camp and returned to Makalu La with gas to spare from 1 × 4 ltr cyl.
This is a great mountain with good camps and choice of distance between them. The summit is spectacular. You get a number of good options for the height to place your assault camp. It was for many of us a very cold time and a number of people suffered severe frostbite, sadly one man also died. It is a serious mountain not often climbed because (in part) of the difficulty of the walk in. You can, as I chose, take a helicopter, but mine crashed at 5200m while approaching Base Camp. It was a serious event, but we managed to walk out of the wreckage despite the fact that we were not strapped in seats but sitting on the cargo of exped kit!!!
I would climb Makalu again. I would have to think very hard about using a helicopter anywhere in the Himalaya again.

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Courtesy Jagged Globe