2024 Mountain Cleanup Project expedition dispatches

Cleanup and climbing team has arrived in base camp!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has arrived in Everest Base Camp! The team left Lobuche Village and set forth on the path to their next stop under clear, blue Himalayan skies. Fueled by tea and the excitement of moving into their temporary home, the team stepped into base camp ready for their climbing and cleaning activities on Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering spring cleanup and climbing expedition – today is April 25th.

Today we left Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft) under warm, sunny skies and walked up to Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) with a short break for tea in Gorak Shep (5164m/16,942ft) along the way. We got to base camp just before lunch, moved into our tents, and then had a great lunch. We’ve been relaxing and getting settled this afternoon.

It’s great to be here and great to meet the rest of the team! We’re looking forward to a rest day tomorrow, then a little bit of training and skills review. As soon as possible, we’ll start heading up the mountain to begin our cleanup work and our climbing! So, all is going really well here and we’ll be in touch in the future.

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:

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World’s highest bakery!

Climber Nelly Attar with Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp trekker & Lobuche East climber Jeannette Glass in the famous bakery at Lobuche Village! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has moved from Pheriche to Lobuche Village – a stop that wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world’s highest bakery! The team met up with another Madison Mountaineering climber who is preparing to ascend Lobuche East, sharing laughs and treats as they swapped stories from their journeys so far. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering spring cleanup and climbing expedition – today is April 24th.

Today we hiked from the village of Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) to Lobuche Village (4940m/16,210ft) at about 5,000 meters. Another day of great weather, pretty much sunny all day with a little dusting of snow in the evening. We relaxed at the bakery here – the world’s highest bakery with one of our team’s base camp trekkers who’s now headed up to climb Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft)! Then we relaxed after our bakery stop and now we’re about to sit down for dinner. So, all is well here and we will move to Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) tomorrow!

Climber Nelly Attar near Lobuche Village with Nuptse Range in the background. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Climber Nelly Attar near Lobuche Village with Nuptse Range in the background. (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:

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Spring in the Khumbu!

Arriving at Tengboche Monastery, last stop before Deboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Mountain Cleanup Project expedition team has had great weather so far for their trek up the Khumbu Valley on the way toward base camp. Clear skies and t-shirt weather have made for perfect views of the high peaks above them as they continue on up, now settled into Deboche for the night. In the next few days, the team will continue on utilizing their acclimatization to reach Everest Base Camp where the climbing and cleanup efforts are set to begin! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering spring Annapurna (8091m/26,545ft) and Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) cleanup and climbing expedition – today is April 22nd. We are continuing our approach to Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) up the Khumbu Valley. The weather continues to be really warm, honestly a little unseasonably and surprisingly warm, but it’s very pleasant. It means we’ve had clear skies, no rain, and t-shirt weather as we’re walking up the valley.

Today we came from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) up to Deboche (3820m/12,532ft). Along the way, we stopped for coffee in Kyangjuma with excellent views of Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft), Lhotse, and Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft)! Then we continued up an old and slightly less often used trail up the slope to Tengboche Monastery (3867m/12,687ft) where we had a nice coffee and some pastries, and then continued down the hill to Deboche. We’ll spend the night here, and then we’ll make good time hopefully since we’re well acclimatized on up to base camp. We’ll spend a night in Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft), one night in Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft), and then head straight to Everest Base Camp where we’ll rest and then start preparing to clean on the upper mountain.

Okay! We’ll be in touch.

The team taking a break at Kyangjuma with great views of the Everest Massif and Ama Dablam.

The team taking a break at Kyangjuma with great views of the Everest Massif and Ama Dablam.

Hiking up to Tengboche Monastery (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Hiking up to Tengboche Monastery (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Rhododendrons in bloom en route to Tengboche (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Rhododendrons in bloom en route to Tengboche (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:

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The Mountain Cleanup Project continues!

Climber, Nelly Attar arriving in Namche Bazaar with guide, Terray Sylvester!

Climbing and cleanup efforts continue for the Madison Mountaineering Mountain Cleanup Project expedition team! After a great expedition on Annapurna, the team has relocated to the Khumbu Valley where they’re currently en route to Everest Base Camp! This time to clean up the camps on and around Lhotse, with a summit attempt on the peak to come. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Namche Bazaar:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering spring trash cleanup and climbing expedition – today is April 20th. We are currently walking up the final long hill into Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) here in the Khumbu Valley. We are en route to Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) where we will make a summit attempt and also continue our trash cleanup efforts in Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft), Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft), and higher on the mountain on the way up to the summit of Lhotse.

We just wrapped up our cleanup and climbing efforts on Annapurna (8091m/26,545ft). We had a great expedition there, picked up over 300 kilos of trash from Camp 2 down to Camp 1, base camp, and down the approach trail. So that felt great! And then yesterday after a few rest days in Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft), we took a helicopter to Lukla (2860m/9,383ft) and had a really pleasant evening walk to Phakding (2610m/8,562ft).

Right now, the weather in the Khumbu is fantastic! It’s a warm, spring day – flowers are blooming, fresh veggies are for sale. We’ve been enjoying cappuccinos, good company, and excellent scenery! Our climber, Nelly Attar is in great shape and high spirits! So, we will continue on to Namche Bazaar. We’re looking forward to moving into our cozy lodge this afternoon and then relaxing in the heart of the Khumbu Valley! We will be in touch tomorrow.

Crossing the famous Edmund Hillary suspension bridge on the way to Namche Bazaar. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Crossing the famous Edmund Hillary suspension bridge on the way to Namche Bazaar. (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:

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Summit Push Coming!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has crawled into their tents for the evening in Camp 3 on Annapurna. Today the team moved up from Camp 2 and is eyeing a summit push soon! Tomorrow will be used to rest and prepare for their summit day, with hopes of getting an alpine start late tomorrow evening to set forth towards the summit. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 3 on Annapurna:

Today we moved from Camp 2 to Camp 3 at about 6,500m on the north face of Annapurna 1. The weather was generally excellent, with a clear, sunny morning, a few snow flurries in the afternoon, and then a still, sunny evening as we moved into our tents, ate dinner, and drank many cups of tea. Tomorrow we plan to rest all day, with an eye toward starting our summit push late tomorrow evening. We’ll be in touch.

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:

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Camp 2 on Annapurna

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Blue skies made for a great day of climbing up to Camp 2 on Annapurna for the Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team! The team took in great views all around of Annapurna 1’s North Face and the surrounding area. With more good weather in the forecast, the team plans to move up to Camp 3 tomorrow, which positions them to make a summit push! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2 on Annapurna:

This morning we moved to Camp 2 under cloudless skies with excellent views of Annapurna 1’s North Face and the dramatic glaciated terrain of the surrounding cirque. For the past several days, daily convective buildup has brought afternoon snow showers, but we’re expecting that pattern to taper off in the days to come. We’re expecting summit winds to die down, as well. Given all of that, we’re hoping for good climbing conditions as we move to Camp 3 tomorrow, then prepare for our summit push! The team is in great shape. We’ll be in touch!

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:

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Summit push is underway!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has set off on their summit push! With good weather today, the team moved up to Camp 1 and is settled into their tents for the night. With hopes of moving up to Camp 2 tomorrow, the team will evaluate weather and route conditions before continuing on. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this brief dispatch from Annapurna:

Hello from Camp 1! We started our summit push today. We hope to move to Camp 2 tomorrow, weather-dependent. All is well. We’ll be in touch!

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:

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Ready for the summit push!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Having wrapped up the majority of their cleaning efforts on Annapurna, the Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team is shifting their focus to the upcoming summit push! The team will patiently wait for a weather window, with hopes of leaving base camp in the next few days. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this brief dispatch from Annapurna Base Camp:

Hello from Annapurna 1 Base Camp (4130m/13551ft). Having wrapped up the bulk of our cleaning effort here, we’re keeping an eye on the forecast and hoping to start our summit push within the next few days. All is well here. We’ll be in touch!

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:

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300 kilos of trash cleaned up!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

We’ve just received word from the Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team that in total, they have cleaned up over 300 kilos of trash and waste so far! These cleanup efforts have taken place throughout the trek into base camp and as high as Camp 2 on Annapurna. After a well-deserved rest day tomorrow, the team will continue these efforts and look to make their next rotation up the mountain! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Annapurna Base Camp:

Today we continued our cleanup effort here on the north side of Annapurna 1 (8091m/26,545ft). After an early breakfast, we hiked down the Miristi Khola trail, which is the famous, historic approach route to this side of the mountain. Annapurna was the first 8000m peak climbed, via the north face by the French in 1950. The Miristi Khola gorge was notoriously treacherous back then. Today the trail is well-maintained and very scenic, with waterfalls and towering rock walls. We hiked most of the way to the trailhead while picking up trash, making sure to cover the areas where we saw the most waste on our walk-in. Then we returned to base camp (4130m/13551ft) for dinner and a cozy evening playing cards.

In total, we’ve now collected more than 300 kilos of waste from the approach trail, base camp, and the climbing route as high as Camp 2. We’ll continue collecting waste as we go, but on the whole Annapurna is relatively clean. So we don’t expect to find a lot more. We’ll transport all of this waste out of the mountains at the end of our climb.

We’ll be in touch tomorrow, during our well-earned rest day!

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:

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Back in Base Camp

Efforts from phase 1 of the Mountain Cleanup Project last fall (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has safely returned back to the comforts of their base camp. With a successful first rotation under their belts, the team plans to continue their cleanup efforts in and around base camp, rest up, and recover before looking to move further up the mountain. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Annapurna Base Camp:

We descended to base camp (4130m/13551ft) this morning through a dusting of fresh snow, under clearing skies. Now we’re taking showers, doing laundry & looking forward to a few rest days. During our rotation, we cleaned trash and old fixed line from the rocky terrain around Camp 1 and the route up to it. Tomorrow we plan to pick up trash around base camp and along the approach to base camp up the Mistri Khola Gorge. All is well. We’ll be in touch.

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:

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