Tag Archive for: Alay Valley

Peak Lenin expedition coming to a close

The team on the summit of Peak Lenin (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin expedition team is back in base camp after their successful summit rotation! After dropping their packs, the team was able to reintroduce themselves to some of the comforts offered in camp with showers, rest, and a warm, nutritious meal. The team will get a good nights rest tonight, before packing up and leaving Peak Lenin with fond memories of a great expedition behind them. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Peak Lenin:

Hi! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin (7134m/23,406ft) expedition. Today is July 20.

This morning, we woke up in Camp 1, Advanced Base Camp (4400m/14,435ft) at 4,400 meters. We had a good breakfast. We gave our duffel bags to the riders who manage the pack horses here, and then we descended back down to Base Camp. Atchiktosh Base Camp (3600m/11,800ft) at the foot of Peak Lenin is about 3,600 meters, so just under 12,000 feet. And after a couple of weeks up high, at high, extremely high altitude, it felt really good to descend back onto the lush step of the Alay Valley.

It was a really nice hike! We passed wildflowers and waterfalls, big, healthy marmots. It was another beautiful day here in the Pamir with blue skies and balmy temperatures. We arrived back in base camp in time for lunch. Then we spent the afternoon organizing our gear for our departure, taking showers, resting. We just wrapped up dinner, and we’re about to head to bed.

Tomorrow, the plan is to drive to Osh (963m/3,159ft). We’ll spend one night there, and then catch a flight to Bishkek (800m/2,600ft).

So unfortunately, this expedition is coming to a close. It’s been a real pleasure to spend so much time on these big, beautiful mountains in central Asia. Everything’s going really well here, and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

First light on Lenin’s summit ridge (photo by Terray Sylvester)

First light on Lenin’s summit ridge (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers Fatima and Chris approaching 7,000 meters with the peaks of Tajikistan in the distance (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers Fatima and Chris approaching 7,000 meters with the peaks of Tajikistan in the distance (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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Peak Lenin Camp 3

The Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin expedition team is settled into Camp 3 after a perfect day on the mountain climbing up from Camp 2. The team had excellent views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Now tucked into their tents for the night, they’ll continue the climb tomorrow up to Camp 4. More to come from Peak Lenin! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 3:

Hello from Camp 3 (6100m/20,013ft) at just above 6,100m / 20,000′! We climbed here today from Camp 2 (5300m/17,388ft) under clear, sunny skies. It’s been a beautiful evening. Not a cloud in the sky, mild temps and zero wind.

As we ate dinner we were treated to panoramic views of the Alay Valley far below us, into China to the east, up the final slopes of Peak Lenin (7134m/23,406ft) above us, and to the southwest the endless, snowy serrations of the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan.

Tomorrow we plan to complete the relatively short move to Camp 4 (6400m/21,000ft) at 6,400m. 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:

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Acclimatizing in the Pamirs

The team acclimatizing at 4,000m on Petrovsky Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin expedition team took an acclimatization hike today above their base camp. Despite some rainy weather to start the day, the team pushed on and were treated with sunny skies as they reached their high point for the day. The views opened up more so as they started their descent, all the way to base camp. With views of Peak Lenin hanging overhead, the team now prepares for their move to Camp 1, which is set to start tomorrow. Stay tuned! Expedition Leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Peak Lenin:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin (7134m/23,406ft) Expedition. Today is July 3.

This morning we had a nice breakfast here in base camp (3600m/11,800ft), and then we went for an acclimatization hike up to 4,000 meters on a ridge below the summit of Petrovsky Peak (4825m/15,830ft). Then we walked back down. The weather was a little bit rainy in the morning, some light sprinkles, but by the time we approached our high point on the ridge, the sun was coming out and we had beautiful views of the Alay Valley as we descended.

It’s been clear and sunny the rest of the day, and we’ve had great views of Peak Lenin and the 5,000-meter peaks near it; and then also views all the way across the Alay Valley to the Pamir-Alay Range, far to the north.

All in all, it was a really nice day! The team is doing really well, and we’re looking forward to moving up to Camp 1 tomorrow. We’ll be in touch then!

Our climbers, Fatima and Bruce, ascending Petrovsky Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers, Fatima and Bruce, ascending Petrovsky Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

High on Petrovsky Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

High on Petrovsky Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Wildflowers along the way (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Wildflowers along the way (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Views of Achyk-Tash, “onion valley,” base camp for Lenin Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Views of Achyk-Tash, “onion valley,” base camp for Lenin Peak (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Descending to base camp with the Alai Valley in the distance (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Descending to base camp with the Alai Valley in the distance (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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Peak Lenin Base Camp

Alpenglow on Peak Lenin (photo by Terray Sylvester)

We’ve arrived in base camp at the foot of Peak Lenin! The Madison Mountaineering team enjoyed an adventurous drive today, with new views around every corner and several obstacles along the way. As we neared camp, Peak Lenin came in to view, offering the team a good look at the climbing to come! Everyone is doing great and looks forward to a day of active-rest tomorrow. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Peak Lenin (7134m/23,406ft) Expedition. Today is July 2.

Today we drove from Osh (963m/3,159ft) to Peak Lenin Base Camp (3600m/11,800ft) in Onion Valley at the foot of the mountain. The drive took about five hours, and it was very beautiful. From Osh, we drove up through lush, green river valleys, over two high passes, where we had great views of the Pamir, and the Alay Pamir, a subrange of the Pamirs. We passed nomads tents on the way, many horses, and cows, and other livestock grazing on the steppe. Then we descended down into the massive Alay Valley with the Trans-Alay on the far side and Peak Lenin.

It’s beautiful in base camp right now. A warm, sunny evening. We can see Peak Lenin up the valley above us, and we’re just about to head in for dinner. Tomorrow, we’re planning an active rest day here at base camp.

We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Achyk Tash Base Camp at the foot of Peak Lenin

Achyk Tash Base Camp at the foot of Peak Lenin

Winding roads between Osh and Base Camp

Winding roads between Osh and Base Camp

The team on a 4,000m / 13,000’ pass en route to base camp

The team on a 4,000m / 13,000’ pass en route to base camp

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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