Everest Archives

Everest 2026

Back in Everest Base Camp!

Returning back to Everest Base Camp after a successful acclimatization rotation.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team made it back to their base camp safe and sound, marking the end of their acclimatization efforts on the mountain. With clear skies overhead, the team made their way down from Camp 2, through the Khumbu Icefall and into Everest Base Camp. Next up, the team will rest, recover, and start to prepare for their summit rotation! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in from Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft).

We had a great first rotation up to Camps 1 (6050m/19,849ft) and 2 (6500m/21,325ft), touched Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) yesterday. Great views up there, and made our way down to base camp today.

The team’s all back here. We just had dinner, resting up. Actually, Terray and Reid stayed up at Camp 2 and slept at Camp 3 last night, and made it back down to Camp 2 today. So they’re doing great, and we’ll check in with them tomorrow.

But, all’s well here! The weather’s cleared up, so we got some nice views. Everyone’s happy to be down, and we’ll check in soon!

Headlamps line the Lhotse Face under a clear night sky.

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:

May 12, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

2026.04.13 Everest – Day 29

Day 29

May 11, 2026/0 Comments/by Kurt

Everest 2026

Up and back from Camp 3

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team logged some strong work today and climbed all the way to Camp 3, which sits on the Lhotse Face. The team had great views while climbing the fixed lines, moved strong and steady up the route. While most of our team is now back in Camp 2 with plans to continue their descent soon, one of our climbers, Reid Tileston, is spending the night in Camp 3 as he prepares for his summit attempt without supplemental oxygen. A huge shoutout to our Sherpa team who is aiding the rope fixing team so that the route can be fixed up to the summit! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2 on Mount Everest:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are back in Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) after climbing up and touching Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) today. It was a great climb up to Camp 3; fun climb, great views, good technical practice, good acclimatization. We spent about an hour up there at Camp 3, 7,000 meters / 23,000 feet, admiring the views. We saw some other friends up there from other teams, and then came back down here to Camp 2 in the afternoon.

A couple of our members, Terray, Reid, and Siddhi are spending the night up at Camp 3, as Reid is building more acclimatization for his no oxygen attempt later this season. So, just talked to them on the radio. They’re doing great, having some dinner, getting ready for bed, and they’re gonna come down tomorrow.

So, it’s a little windy up high. We’ve got some Sherpas carrying loads up to the South Col (7900m/25,919ft) to help the rope fixing team! They’re carrying up some ropes to aid in their efforts.

We’re gonna head down for a rest! So all good here. Everyone’s having fun and enjoying the mountain. We’ll check in soon!

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa on the Lhotse Face.

Looking up at Mount Everest from the Lhotse Face.

The view from Camp 3 looking in the direction of Camp 2, Camp 1, the Khumbu Icefall, Everest Basecamp…

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:

May 11, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

Getting ready to move again!

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team took another active-rest day in Camp 2 today. The storm let up and skies cleared for some time, revealing views of the peaks that surround them in the Western Cwm. With another day on Everest under their belts, the team plans to climb to Camp 3 tomorrow, and then return back down the mountain. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are up at Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft). We had another great day up here; rest day, and we went for a hike up the west shoulder, got some good views above base camp (5364m/17,598ft). The sun came out, and it was warm and clear. We got to see Everest, Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft).

Tomorrow, we’re gonna go up and try to touch Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft)! Fingers crossed, we get some good weather and conditions for that acclimatization climb.

So all’s well here, and we’ll check in tomorrow after our hike up to Camp 3!

Sunny skies in Camp 2.

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:

May 10, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

Made it to Camp 2

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team climbed from Camp 1 to Camp 2 today, through the Western Cwm. With snow falling most of the day, the team quickly settled into their tents upon their arrival. Warm tea, a nutritious meal, and the comfort of a warm dining tent with the team was welcomed after another good day of climbing on Mount Everest! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2:

Hey! This is Garrett checking in from Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) on Everest (8848m/29,032ft), 21,300 feet, almost 6,500 meters.

We had a great day of climbing up from Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft). Everyone did well. It’s been snowing nonstop the last three days! So, been fun to be up here in a snowstorm. But, hopefully it’ll clear up tomorrow, we’ll get some nice views of Everest, Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft). And then, go for a short hike to acclimatize. And then the following day, we’ll try to touch Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft), and then head down the day after that.

So, everyone’s doing great up here! We just had a good dinner. We got to tuck in our sleeping bags here shortly, get warm, and get some good rest before tomorrow.

Alright, all’s well here on Everest! We’ll check in soon.

Camp 2

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:

May 9, 2026/1 Comment/by Garrett

Everest 2026

2026.04.13 Everest – Day 26

Day 26

May 8, 2026/0 Comments/by Kurt

Everest 2026

Resting in Camp 1

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team took an active-rest day today in Camp 1 on Mount Everest. A leisurely start to the day with breakfast led into a short acclimatization hike in the direction of Camp 2, where we plan to move tomorrow. Despite some snow and limited views today, the team is doing well and looking strong! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1:

Hey! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.

We’re up here in Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft). We had a great rest day, it was a snow day! Snowed pretty much all day. We went for acclimatization hike up the route towards Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) along the side of the Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) face, and then came back to camp for lunch.

Everyone’s doing great! We’re acclimatizing well, enjoying our time up here, camp life on the expedition. Looking forward to climbing up to Camp 2 tomorrow! So we’ll check in once we get to Camp 2.

All is well here! And enjoying Nepal, Mount Everest.

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:

May 8, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

Through the Icefall

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has embarked on their next acclimatization rotation, through the Khumbu Icefall and into Camp 1. They’ll spend time here acclimatizing before packing up, once again, and moving higher up the mountain. This time is an essential part of our Everest expedition. The team is in good spirits and excited to be climbing! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in from Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) on Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft), 19,450 feet.

Today, we departed base camp (5364m/17,598ft) at 1:00 AM and climbed up through the Khumbu Icefall. It was pretty snowy and cloudy, but the route was in really good condition. Great conditions all around, seemed really safe, comparably, and good time! We made good time getting up to Camp 1.

So everyone’s doing great up here! We just finished dinner. The clouds have parted, we have some great views of Everest, Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft), surrounding peaks, Pumori (7165m/23,507ft). So, beautiful evening up here in Camp 1.

We’re going to take a rest day tomorrow. All is well here in Camp 1 on Mount Everest! We’ll check in soon. Thanks!

Crossing a crevasse in the icefall

Navigating the Khumbu Icefall

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:

May 7, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

First steps into the Khumbu Icefall

First foray into the Khumbu Icefall (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Today, the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition took their first steps into the Khumbu Icefall. With clear skies and solid trainings under their belt, the team moved efficiently through the lower section of the route. It was a good taste of the climbing to come in the next few days when they’ll shoulder their packs and climb to Camp 1 (and beyond) as part of another acclimatization rotation. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this update after a fun day in the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition.

Today, we had a training climb up through the Khumbu Icefall, partway to get familiar with the route. It was great! We had perfect weather, and nice views all around. It was really fun climbing up the steep sections, around seracs, crevasses, and back down the fixed ropes to our base camp (5364m/17,598ft)!

So all’s well. We are going to take a rest day tomorrow and plan to head up the following day to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft), start our first rotation! Everyone’s doing great and we’ll check in soon.

Climbing up the lower section of the route with Everest looming high above.

First steps into the icefall.

Climbers navigating the Khumbu Icefall with blue skies overhead.

Back for dinner!

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:

May 4, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2026

Almost ready for the next rotation!

The team together on an acclimatization hike as they await the next rotation.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has been busy in base camp, as well as higher on the mountain. While the climbing team continues their technical trainings and acclimatization efforts, the Sherpa team has been hard at work up in Camp 2 preparing our camps staged higher up the route. Our climbing team plans to follow the Sherpa teams path soon so that they can continue to adapt their bodies to the higher altitudes and familiarize themselves with the route. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are in Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) and the team is doing well. We’ve been training the last few days, going on acclimatization hikes, and enjoying the comforts of base camp here: great meals, hot showers, movies, a lot of good times, good camaraderie here in base camp.

Our Sherpa team, meanwhile, has been hard at work. They’ve been up to Camp 2 twice in the last three days carrying loads, working to get our Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) set up. We’ve had 28 of our Nepal Sherpa staff up there each time.

We’re looking forward to starting our first rotation here in a few days time, getting our team up there to acclimatize to gain some familiarity with the climbing route and to see the upper mountain!

So, all is well here at Everest Base Camp. We’re definitely psyched the season is progressing well and we’ll check in soon! Thank you.

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:

May 2, 2026/0 Comments/by Garrett