Back in Base Camp after the first rotation!

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team has returned to base camp after a successful first rotation on the mountain, climbing above Camp 1 and into the icefall that separates Camp 1 from the next camp. With some weather in the forecast over the next few days, the team plans to rest and prepare for a second acclimatization rotation before leaving on their summit push. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – today is September 13th.

Today we woke up to about a foot of fresh snow up in Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft). It was still snowing heavily and there was more snow in the forecast, so we decided to descend to base camp (4859m/15,944ft) instead of continuing up to Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft). We got here a bit before lunch, dried out, and we just wrapped up dinner and a movie.

We’re going to spend tomorrow resting and then prepare for our next rotation as soon as the weather permits! But, we had a really great rotation up to Camp 1. We spent two nights there and made a foray up into the icefall between Camps 1 and 2, so it was a good step as we acclimatize for our eventual summit push.

All is well here in Nepal and we will be in touch tomorrow!

The dog that climbed all the way from base camp to camp 1 the same day we did. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The team approaching the outskirts of Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Eyeing the path ahead… (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Moving to Camp 1 from base camp in great weather. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow our teams as they make their attempts on the world’s most formidable mountains on:

– Amazon Alexa devices with the Madison Mountaineering Flash Briefing skill:

• Enable the skill and add to your flash briefing to hear our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

• @MadisonMtng
• @GarrettMadison1
• @terray_s