After continued snowfall, high winds, and challenging conditions, the 2026 Manaslu season has come to a close. Turning around is never easy, but bringing everyone home safely will always come first.
A huge thank you to our climbers, guides, Sherpa team, and everyone who worked so hard this season.
The mountains will always be there—and so will we.
Next up: Ama Dablam in late October. We’re incredibly excited to get back to Nepal and take on one of the most beautiful mountains in the world!
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-12-04-25-46.jpg6821024Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-23 14:58:332026-09-23 14:58:33Coming back to climb another day
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team is settled into Camp 1, and the first rotation on the mountain is officially underway! After a big breakfast, the team shouldered their packs and climbed under mostly clear skies to their next camp. The weather provided excellent views of the mountain and nearby glacier to further motivate the team as they climbed into Camp I. Now settled in, the team will continue to rest and acclimatize the rest of the day before climbing higher tomorrow. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp I on Manaslu:
This morning, we had a nice breakfast in base camp (4859m/15,944ft): french toast, homemade yogurt, bacon, omelets. And then just after 9 AM, we climbed to Camp I (5700m/18,700ft). We had a really nice day for it! Today was the driest day so far since we moved to base camp; a few passing clouds, but really nice views of the Manaslu Glacier and the north face of the mountain.
We arrived in Camp I at just under 5,800 meters and we’ve been resting since then. We just had some ramen soup and we’re looking forward to dinner in a little while. And then a night of acclimatization at Camp I before we venture into the ice fall between Camp I and Camp II (6400m/21,000ft) tomorrow.
Everything’s going well here in the Himalayas in Nepal. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!
Climbers Woodie and Myles ensconced in Camp 1 (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Camp 1 (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Approaching Camp 1 (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Climbing on the lower Manaslu Glacier (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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-17-03-24-50-1.jpg10671600Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-17 11:24:472026-09-17 14:38:14Great views of Manaslu from Camp I
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team is prepared to start their first rotation on the mountain! While the Sherpa team has been hard at work making carries to prepare the higher camps, our climbers sorted gear and chose their meals, getting mentally prepared for the climbing to come. After a good nights sleep, we’ll be on the move tomorrow! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Manaslu Base Camp:
This morning was a nice day here in Manaslu Base Camp (4859m/15,944ft)! We had a little bit of rain in the afternoon, but the morning was partly clear with some nice views up the north face of Manaslu. And we spent the day preparing for our rotation. We’re planning to move up to Camp I (5700m/18,700ft) tomorrow. The team chose their meals for Camp I and got gear sorted out. And our Sherpa team will do another carry this evening up to Camp I, up to Camp II (6400m/21,000ft). So things are looking good for progress above base camp!
Everything’s going well here in Nepal, and 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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpg00Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-16 15:18:222026-09-16 16:06:53Getting ready to go up!
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team had a busy day in base camp! After a good breakfast, the team jumped into some technical skills review to dial in all of their systems before heading out on the nearby glacier tomorrow. Not long after that, we were met by a Lama from Samagaun who led the team through their Puja Ceremony, which is an important part of our climbs in the Himalaya and Karakoram. The rest of the day included more acclimatizing, nutritious meals, and relaxing following another good day in Nepal! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Manaslu Base Camp:
Today was a busy day here in Manaslu Base Camp (4859m/15,944ft). After breakfast, we did a technical skills review session, right here in base camp. We just dialed in our technical climbing gear and reviewed ascent and descent techniques. Tomorrow, we’ll do a longer session – probably half a day on the Manaslu Glacier itself.
And then after that technical skills session, we had our pre-climb Puja. A Lama from Sama Village (3530m/11,581ft) came up and led that. This Puja was a Tibetan-Buddhist ceremony to ask the mountain for safe passage. It’s always a really nice way to kick off the climbing phase of an expedition and for the whole team to come together: both our climbers and climbing Sherpas, as well as our base camp staff. So that was really nice!
Then we had a good lunch: chicken burgers, salad, fresh fruit, and a few other items. And after lunch, we headed out for a hike to the top of base camp, and then about halfway toward Crampon Point. We turned around around 5,050 meters or so, came back to camp.
We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. And then we’re looking forward to dinner and a movie on our base camp cinema!
So, all is going well here at Manaslu. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!
Pre-climb puja (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Our climber, Myles, receiving a blessing during the puja (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Our climber, Woodie, receiving a blessing during the puja (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Our climbers participating in a technical skills refresher before tomorrow’s session on the Manaslu Glacier
Our climbers participating in a technical skills refresher before tomorrow’s session on the Manaslu Glacier
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:
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.“
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team has arrived in base camp! With the final member of our team now on-site, it’s time to get to work. After fueling up for the day in Sama Village, we shouldered our packs and hit the trail en route to base camp. The team is settled in there now, and looks forward to the days ahead as they prepare to take to the climbing route and start making their way toward the summit! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Manaslu Base Camp:
This morning, we walked from Sama Village (3530m/11,581ft) up to base camp (4859m/15,944ft). We left Sama just before 8 a.m. and arrived in base camp in time for an early lunch. It was a really nice walk! The weather was a little rainy in the morning, but after an hour or so the rain dissipated, and for the rest of the way to base camp we had dry air, and really nice views down into the Nubri Valley far below us.
We’ve been resting this afternoon since arriving in base camp, and we’re looking forward to our Puja tomorrow! In other big news, our express climber, Woodie, arrived in Sama yesterday. He touched down in Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft) yesterday morning, then went straight to the helipad and flew to Sama. So he joined us for the hike up to base camp today!
We’re looking forward to getting the climbing phase of the expedition underway, and we’ll be in touch tomorrow.
Our climbers Myles and Woodie en route to Manaslu Base Camp (photo by Terray Sylvester)
The Nubri Valley (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Hiking above Sama Village and the terminus of the North Manaslu Glacier (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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-14-06-40-02.jpg7681024Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-14 12:37:262026-09-14 15:10:56Manaslu Base Camp!
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team kept up the acclimatization work with a hike to a sacred cave nearby their tea house. The team enjoyed views of Manaslu high above them throughout the day. Everyone is doing great so far! It won’t be long before they make the move up to base camp in just a few days time. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:
Today, we woke up to a nice day: partly cloudy, blue sky, some sunshine. So we went for a hike up to the Milarepa Cave, which is a sacred cave between Sama Village (3530m/11,581ft) where we’re staying, and Samdo, the next village up the valley toward Larkey Pass (5106m/16,752ft). The cave is really nice, very peaceful, set in the forests at about 4,000 meters. And then after spending some time at the cave, we came back down to our lodge, and we’ve been resting this afternoon.
Today was another good acclimatization day for the team. Yesterday, we climbed to above 4,000 meters in the Pungen Valley, and today we went above 4,000 meters again. That’s about 13,000 feet plus.
So, we’re preparing well for our move to base camp in a couple of days. The team’s doing well and we’re looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. Maybe we’ll visit the monastery complex here in Sama, before we potentially move to base camp the next day! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.
Sama Village (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Approaching 4000m (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Lush forests in the Nubri Valley (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:
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.“
The Madison Mountaineering team wasted no time this morning getting out to start their acclimatization efforts in preparation for the climb to come. After fueling up with some breakfast, we departed the tea house for a leisurely hike in the Punggen Valley and visit at an ancient monastery that calls the valley home. It was a great day kicking off the acclimatization efforts, with more of the same planned for tomorrow! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:
This morning we woke up early and went for an acclimatization hike up into the Punggen Valley, which is a side valley just below Sama village (3530m/11,581ft), where we’re staying until we move up to base camp. We left our lodge at about 7:45, 8 o’clock, and a few hours later, we were up above 4,000 meters in the Punggen Valley, which is a summer pasture, high altitude summer pasture for yaks. There’s also an ancient monastery there, which is really neat to visit. We came back down to Sama for lunch and we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
We just wrapped up dinner. It’s beautiful night here: clear skies and mild temperatures. Tomorrow we’re looking forward to another acclimatization hike while we prepare to move up to base camp (4859m/15,944ft)! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.
Into the Punggen Valley (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Departing from Sama Village (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Punggen Monastery at 4,100m (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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-11-04-33-34.jpg7161024Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-11 14:58:062026-09-11 14:58:27Acclimatizing in the Punggen Valley
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team boarded another flight this morning. This time, on a helicopter set to fly to Sama Village! While some clouds hung high overhead, passengers on the heli were able to enjoy excellent views of the valley, full of waterfalls, monasteries, and more. After dropping their bags and spending a little time resting, the team was able to go out for a short hike to stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh mountain air. And tomorrow, we’ll go out again with the goal of continuing the acclimatization process and getting ready to move up to base camp! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:
This morning we woke up early. We left our hotel at about 5:45 AM. And by 8:30, we were in Sama Village (3530m/11,581ft) here at the foot of Manaslu at 11,300 feet.
We headed over to the domestic terminal at the Kathmandu Airport (1400m/4,600ft) and caught a helicopter up here to Sama. It was a really nice flight! There was a high overcast, but, you know, below us was clear. So we had really nice views of the Budhi Gandaki River Valley, where there are lots of waterfalls and lush terraces, villages, and monasteries tucked among the cliffs.
We rested most of this afternoon. It was raining lightly, and then in the evening, it cleared up! So, we just went for a nice walk up and down the valley around Sama.
Tomorrow, we are planning our first acclimatization hike out of Sama Village as we prepare to move up to Manaslu Base Camp (4859m/15,944ft) in a few days!
Everything’s going really well here in Nepal. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!
Nonstop flight to the beautiful Nubri Valley
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:
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-10-05-57-02.jpg12001600Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-10 13:56:392026-09-10 15:38:34At the foot of Manaslu
The Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition team took to the city streets today for some sightseeing around Kathmandu! We visited both the Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple before going back to the team hotel to make our final preparations for tomorrows move into the mountains. With good weather, we’ll load onto the helicopter and fly into the Mansiri Himal part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Kathmandu:
It was a beautiful morning here. We’ve had a little bit of rain each day since we arrived. But this morning was sunny and it was a nice time visiting both of those amazing temples. And then we spent the rest of the afternoon just doing our final packing and preparation for our early heli flights to Sama Village (3530m/11,581ft) tomorrow.
We’re just heading to bed now after a nice dinner and looking forward to our helicopter flight into the mountains! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.
Touring around Kathmandu (photo by Terray Sylvester)
Our climber, Myles, visiting Pahupatinath Temple with local tour guide, Rita (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:
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.“
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 2026 Madison MountaineeringManaslu expedition kicking off from Kathmandu! The first member of our team arrived today. After settling in, we gathered together to conduct a gear check and orientation, before heading out in the city streets for a nice welcome dinner. The journey continues tomorrow with a tour of Kathmandu’s most sacred sites. Then, we’ll get ready to fly into the mountains and move one step closer to the climb ahead on the world’s eighth highest peak. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Kathmandu:
Today we had our orientation and gear check, and then went out for a welcome dinner with the first member of our team who’s arrived. The weather in Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft) is very pleasant today; warm and sunny in the morning, and then a little bit of rain in the afternoon. And then really pleasant temperatures this evening.
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.“
https://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PHOTO-2026-09-08-07-50-43.jpg12001600Garretthttps://madisonmountaineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/logomm-300x138.jpgGarrett2026-09-08 15:50:152026-09-08 16:05:33Manaslu team touches down in Kathmandu!
