All Everest expedition dispatches
Welcome “home” to the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team! We’ve arrived in Everest Base Camp and are getting ourselves familiar with our home for the next month or so. The team finally got to meet our Sherpa team, who’s been hard at work getting base camp setup. Everyone is in good spirits and excited to be here! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:
Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.
We have reached Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft)! Had a beautiful day trekking up from Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft) with wonderful views of Everest and the surrounding peaks. It’s really nice to meet our Sherpa team and start to settle in. We’re gonna wake up tomorrow, see off our trekkers, and start dialing in our systems here and getting familiar with our home for the next month.
Everyone’s doing great! We’re excited to be here and we’ll check in soon.
Living the base camp life!
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:
The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has reached their final stop on the way to Everest Base Camp! They enjoyed excellent conditions on the trails today with blue skies overhead, making way to perfect views of the surrounding Himalaya. Tomorrow, we’ll pack our bags one last time before trekking to base camp and settling into our temporary homes for the duration of the expedition. Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Lobuche village:
Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.
Today, we are up at Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft). We had a great trek up from Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) and stopped by at the Everest Memorials on our way.
The team is doing great! Beautiful sunny day today. Awesome views of all of the surrounding peaks! And we’re looking forward to arriving in our Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) tomorrow.
So, everything’s going well here and we’ll check in soon.
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:
What a day! The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team continued their acclimatization efforts by doing a hike that climbs high above the Khumbu Valley, before descending back down for another night in Pheriche. The team was treated to awesome views of many of the peaks that line the valley below, and then had a well-deserved lunch at Cafe 4411; one of our favorite places to stop on the trek to Everest. Onwards and upwards again tomorrow! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checked in with this dispatch from Pheriche:
Hey, this is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition!
Today, we went for an acclimatization hike out of Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft), climbed up to about 16,800 feet. We had some great views today! Beautiful views of the surrounding peaks: Makalu (8463m/27,766ft), Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft), Taboche (6495m/21,309ft), Cholatse (6440m/21,130ft), Cho Oyu (8,188m/26,864ft). We came back down for lunch in Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft) at Cafe 4411. And now we’re settling in for dinner here tonight in Pheriche.
So tomorrow, our plan is to head up to Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft) for a night or two, and then on to base camp (5364m/17,598ft).
Everyone’s doing well! We are just having a wonderful time up here, beautiful days. Happy to be in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal!
Views during an acclimatization hike above Pheriche
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:
The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team took to the trails once again over the weekend to continue their trek towards Everest Base Camp! After fueling up for the day in Namche Bazaar, the trail climbs up and out of the village before making its way down to the river below, and climbing back up towards the Tengboche Monastery. The trail offers excellent views of Ama Dablam and other surrounding peaks, along with ample time share conversations, laughs, and smiles en route to the next stop. After a visit at the monastery and some tasty treats at a neighboring bakery, we continued on, excited for some good rest at the Rivendell Lodge. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:
Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition.
Today, we trekked from Namche (3440m/11,290ft) over and across the river, up the big hill, to Tengboche Monastery (3867m/12,687ft). That was fun to visit! We went to a bakery nearby for some coffee and pastries, then dropped down into the rhododendron forest of Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) to one of our favorite lodges: the Rivendell!
Everyone’s doing great! It was a wonderful day, great views, sunshine, fresh air, good exercise, and we’re in really good spirits. So, looking forward to another great day in the Khumbu Valley, trekking uphill tomorrow.
Taking to the trail with Ama Dablam towering high above
After receiving a blessing from our friends at the Panorama Lodge
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:
The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team spent the day acclimatizing around Namche Bazaar. After fueling up with breakfast, we took to the trails that lead up and out of Namche, towards the Everest View Hotel which offers excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and more! Not to mention, a great spot to rest and enjoy tea and snacks on our active rest day. After descending back down to the team hotel, climbers rested, visited local cafes and got ready to continue on up the valley tomorrow. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:
Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.
Today we had a great day! We hiked up from Namche (3440m/11,290ft) to the Everest View Hotel. We had wonderful views of Mount Everest, Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft), and the other surrounding peaks. It was great to hike up and check out Sagarmatha Next; the waste, recycling, and art facility. Then, we came back down for lunch.
Everyone’s doing great! It’s so nice to be up in the mountains. We’re having a wonderful time trekking in the beautiful Khumbu Valley. We’re looking forward to more great views tomorrow! We’ll check in soon.
First views of Everest!
Ama Dablam as seen from the trail.
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:
The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team checked into one of our favorite places to stay in the Khumbu Valley today, the Panorama Lodge in Namche Bazaar! With no shortage of good weather and excellent vibes, the team is doing great and looking strong on the trek so far. We’ll spend two nights in the bustling village of Namche to acclimatize before packing our bags and continuing on up the valley! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Namche Bazaar:
Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.
Today, we trekked up to the village of Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft). We’re really happy to be here, staying in the Panorama Lodge with our good friends, Mingma Sherpa and his family. We’ve stayed here for many years and it’s just wonderful to return every year, and get to be with them and enjoy their beautiful lodge, and the town of Namche!
Great views today, some epic suspension bridges we crossed over. A few other teams and yaks on the trail, but we’re looking forward to a hike up to the Everest View Hotel tomorrow; hopefully get a view of Everest if it’s clear! And visit the Sagarmatha Next Foundation building that we work with with with our nonprofit, the Madison Mountaineering Foundation.
So, the team’s doing well! We’re happy to be here. We are having some great weather. We’re just heading uphill, living the dream!
We’ll check in soon.
All smiles and prepared to cross another suspension bridge.
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:
It’s good to be back! The 2026 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has begun their journey to the highest point on Earth. The team gathered together in Kathmandu after long flights from their homes around the globe. With gear checks done and a welcome dinner shared, we’ll continue the adventure, step by step towards Mount Everest. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison kicks off the expedition with this inaugural dispatch from Kathmandu:
Happy New Year from Kathmandu, Nepal (1400m/4,600ft)!
Our team is here, and we are excited to be flying into Lukla (2860m/9,383ft) today. The first wave of our team flew by helicopter just a few minutes ago, and the rest of us are heading out shortly. So, fingers crossed for good weather; and we’ll be up in the Khumbu Valley with some clear skies and great mountain views. Check in soon!
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:
Our Mount Everest team just returned to Kathmandu after a successful summit on May 23rd. They enjoyed a perfect summit day with no crowds—a rare gift on the world’s highest peak—and had the top of the world entirely to themselves!
But that’s not all…
- Lhotse Team: Summited on May 22nd, just one day before Everest.
- Makalu Team: Reached the summit on May 11th.
It’s been a remarkable spring season for Madison Mountaineering, with successful ascents on three of Nepal’s highest peaks!
None of this would have been possible without our incredible guide staff—Terray, Cacho, Conan, and Aang Phurba—and our exceptional Sherpa team, whose strength and support make everything we do possible.
We are beyond proud of these achievements and grateful for the teamwork and dedication that define every Madison Mountaineering expedition.
Highlights from Mount Everest: Summit Day on May 23rd
Our team reached the top of the world under challenging conditions—with high winds deterring many other climbers that day. Thanks to careful preparation, peak fitness, and expert leadership, we made it happen.
- Our two ‘Everest Express‘ climbers reached the summit in under one month—a fast, efficient ascent.
- Susan Agar made history, becoming the oldest American & British woman to summit Everest at 66.5 years old!
- We had the summit all to ourselves, enjoying an unforgettable, crowd-free experience.
We are proud to present the list of summiteers from the 2025 Mount Everest expedition:
| # | Name | Country |
| 1 | Mr. Garrett Christian Madison | USA |
| 2 | Dr. Susan Margaret Agar | USA |
| 3 | Mr. Steven Andrew Pigott | USA |
| 4 | Mr. Gregory Neal Taylor | USA |
| 5 | Mr. Dean Michael Poulakidas | USA |
| 6 | Dr. Thomas Blake Higgins | USA |
| 7 | Mr. Ryan T Podolsky | USA |
| 8 | Ms. Caroline Danielle Leon | Australia |
| 9 | Mr. Claudio Javier Beiza | Argentina |
| 10 | Mr. Aang Phurba Sherpa | Nepal |
| 11 | Mr. Siddhi Bahadur Tamang | Nepal |
| 12 | Mr. Kamdorji Sherpa | Nepal |
| 13 | Mr. Mingdorchi Sherpa | Nepal |
| 14 | Mr. Tenzi Sherpa | Nepal |
| 15 | Mr. Dorchi Sherpa | Nepal |
| 16 | Mr. Dorji Sherpa | Nepal |
| 17 | Mr. Pemba Sherpa | Nepal |
| 18 | Mr. Lal Kumar Tamang | Nepal |
| 19 | Mr. Mgima Tasi Sherpa | Nepal |
| 20 | Mr. Dawa Sundar Sherpa | Nepal |
| 21 | Mr. Dawa Sange Sherpa | Nepal |
| 22 | Mr. Chhaungima Sherpa | Nepal |
| 23 | Mr. Asta Bahadur Rai | Nepal |
| 24 | Mr. Chhayang Jyabu Bhote | Nepal |
| 25 | Mr. Dawa Nurbu Sherpa | Nepal |
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:
The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team will begin their descent from the South Col shortly! After successfully reaching the highest point on Earth the day prior, they plan to head down to Camp 2 for one night, and then to their base camp where we’ll be reunited with our wonderful base camp staff! Full of excitement from just a day ago, we say ‘goodbye’ to Camp 4 with good memories from time well spent in this place that’s unlike any other. Madison Mountaineering guide, Cacho Beiza checks in with this dispatch from the South Col:
Hello everybody! This is Cacho and Garrett over here at Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on Everest (8848m/29,032ft) at 8,000 meters.
We’re just waking up over here, getting ready to head down with all of the members. The group is feeling great! Everybody is really happy about the summit yesterday after a great and hard day – a lot of wind up high, but we managed to go through and here we are! We’re happy to go down, get to base camp (5364m/17,598ft) in a couple of days.
We send this message to all of you guys!
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: