The 2025 Madison Mountaineering Karakoram season is officially underway! Our team has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, where the expedition begins. After some well-earned rest, an orientation, and a welcome dinner following their journeys from around the world, the team is set to fly to Skardu tomorrow—gateway to the high peaks. This season includes expeditions to K2, Broad Peak, and an attempt at a historic first ascent of an unclimbed peak. At the same time, we’re proud to be contributing to a cleanup initiative at K2 Base Camp and some of the higher camps along the route. The Karakoram holds a special place in our hearts, and we’re thrilled to be back among its towering giants! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Islamabad:
Hello! This is Terray calling in from Islamabad, Pakistan (540m/1,770ft) – today is June 24th.
Today is the first day of the Madison Mountaineering climbing expeditions here in Pakistan this summer. We have climbers going to K2 (8611m/28,251ft), Broad Peak (8051m/26,414ft), and attempting an unclimbed peak near those two mountains above the Baltoro Glacier. We’ll also be organizing a cleanup project on K2 as part of our cleanup initiatives through the Madison Mountaineering Foundation. So, we’re looking forward to a really great season in the Karakoram!
Our climbers arrived here in Islamabad over the last couple of days. They’ve been doing some sightseeing, and then today was the first official day of our itineraries! We just wrapped up a really nice welcome dinner here at the Serena Hotel and we’re planning to wake up early for our airport transfer tomorrow morning. If the weather allows, we will fly up to Skardu (2220m/7283ft) in Gilgit-Baltistan. So, we’ll be in touch tomorrow!
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: