Today our Mount Everest climbers stopped in Pangboche and visited Lama Geshe, the high lama of the Khumbu valley. The climbers received individual blessings from Lama Geshe as well as a team blessing. We then hiked to Shomari for lunch and then on to Dingboche for the night. The food has been delicious and we have been enjoying hot tea with every stop. Everyone is doing well and ready for an acclimatization hike tomorrow! The weather has been fantastic and everyone is in good health and spirits! The team is very excited to continue toward Everest Base Camp and begin the journey to the top of the world. 
All Everest expedition dispatches
This morning after a great breakfast we left the wonderful Panorama hotel in Namche where we spent the last two nights, and enjoyed many fine pastries! This wonderful town is provides some of the best views that we have seen thus far. The team hiked up toward Everest View Hotel in the morning to see breathtaking views of Ama Dablam and Everest. Now we are hiking up the Khumbu valley through Tengboche where we visited the monastery, and now heading to our lodge for the night, the Rivendell. Many fine views of Mount Everest today! Photos: trekking along the route with Mount Everest in the distance, our team being blessed in Namche, loading the duffel bags in yaks this morning.
Today we went for a nice hike up to the Everest View Hotel, and enjoyed hot tea while admiring the views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Then we trekked over to the Hillary school, and the to the monastery in Kunde, and found the famed Yeti skull! Afterwards we went back to our lodge and had a nice lunch, then bought a few handcrafts from Tibet. More pastries & coffees followed. It’s been a relaxing stay here in Namche! We are planning to continue our journey in the morning and trek onward through the Khumbu Valley toward Everest Base Camp. Weather has been amazing and the team is doing very well. Onward!!
Namche Bazaar is an ancient nexus of trade between the lower regions of Nepal and the Tibeten Sherpa people coming over the Nangpala pass. The team arrived early afternoon into Namche and will spend at least one night here resting, acclimatizing, and enjoying the shops and bakeries before moving higher. The weather has been consistently sunny with beautiful clear views in the morning with rolling clouds coming in throughout the afternoon. Everyone is healthy and strong and looking forward to continue the journey toward Everest Base Camp! The team plans to do a few short hikes above Namche and get a glimpse of Everest in the far distance.
Photo: the team on the trek today
Today the climbers completed a beautiful trek to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Khumbu! We had good weather, and some spectacular views of surrounding peaks! The team is strong! After arriving in Namche we visited the bakery, had a few pastries like chocolate cake & apple strudel, with a few cappuccinos. Then we went back to our lodge and took hot showers, a great way to end the day, We are now enjoying our dinner! We plan to spend two nights here in Namche as we continue to acclimatize and enjoy the spectacular views. Onward!
Photo: Stuart at the sagarmatha park entrance gate
The weather cleared late morning in Phapolu and the team was able to arrive in Lukla and begin our trek toward Everest Base Camp. A three hour walk took us up to Phakding where we will stay for the night. It felt great to stretch our legs for a bit and take in the sites of the Dudh Koshi River valley and the many prayer wheels, flags and rock carvings that line the trail. Tomorrow the trek will begin in ernest as we will climb to Namche Bazaar at over 12000 feet. Below is a photo from today in the trek.
Our Trekkers left Kathmandu this morning on the way to Lukla, but due to quickly deteriorating weather conditions the aircraft was diverted to Phaplou, nearby Lukla. The team will spend the night there and attempt to finish the flight tomorrow morning. All is well, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow!
Today we caught the first flight out of Kathmandu to Lukla! We lucked out before the clouds and rain, and trekked through lush green river valleys and over suspension bridges to our destination for the evening, the Paradise lodge in Phakding. We are very happy to be on our way to Everest base camp! The fresh mountain air is a nice change from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu. Our trekking team’s flight could not land at Lukla so currently they are in Phaplu, and will try to fly to Lukla later today or tomorrow. Here is a photo of our team on the trek today, and another of our plane taking off on the runway at Lukla after dropping us off.
.
Arrival into Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla
The Madison Mountaineering Spring 2016 Everest trekking season has officially launched! Today our second trekking team of the season is arriving in the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Trekking through the Khumbu Valley to Everest base camp is a life changing experience for many, as the spectacular mountain scenery integrated with Sherpa culture and Buddhist religion makes for a truly engaging combination. Our team’s will follow the same route to Base Camp as the Everest climbers and recount the historical ascents with the climbers who share our lodges along the way.
Beautiful photos taken by Fred Crosetto below from our first Spring 2016 Everest Trek! Enjoy 🙂
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Madison Mountaineering climbers around the world are gearing up for Everest 2016! In a few short weeks we will converge in Kathmandu, Nepal and begin the journey to Mount Everest, known by the locals as Sagarmāthā. Mount Everest is Earth’s highest mountain at 8,848m (29,035ft) above sea level. Here in Seattle,WA our team is actively preparing mountaineering gear, food supplies, and taking care of other important expedition logistics before our departure. We look forward to returning to Nepal to witness and share with you the growth and progress that has been made since last year’s season ending earthquake.
Expedition dispatches will be posted here as frequently as possible. Also follow us @MadisonMtng on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook.
Stay tuned! 🙂
Interesting Everest Fact: The international border between Tibet and Nepal runs across Everest’s precise summit point.
