Tag Archive for: Camp 1

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Update from the Himalayas!

The Madison Mountaineering base camp with a dusting of snow beneath Mount Everest and Nuptse.

All is well for the Madison Mountaineering Himalayan expedition teams! While our Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse team is currently in Camp 2 continuing their acclimatization efforts, the Mountain Cleanup Project team is in base camp preparing to move forward with their summit rotation, cleaning up the different camps along the way. Everyone is in good spirits and there is lots of excitement surrounding the team as we grow closer to the summit push. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering spring, 2024 Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expeditions – today is May 7th. It’s a beautiful day here in base camp (5364m/17,598ft)! We’ve been having some convection each afternoon for the last few days and that’s brought a little dusting of snow each evening here in base camp and the upper mountain. It’s just made for really beautiful conditions here at Mount Everest with fresh, pristine snow on the ground in the morning. Hopefully, it’s also improving climbing conditions up high. It’s been very dry this season, so the mountain could use a little bit of snow.

Right now, Garrett, Aang Phurba, and Cacho are up at Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) with our main group of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse climbers. They plan to take a rest day at Camp 2 today and then continue acclimatizing probably by climbing part way up the Lhotse Face tomorrow. Our Nuptse climbers will start preparing to move to Nuptse high camp.

I’m in base camp with Nelly Attar, our Lhotse climber and cleaner. We plan to move up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) tonight, spend a night at Camp 1, then move up to Camp 2 where we’ll work on the majority of our cleanup efforts here at Lhotse. After that we’ll move on up to Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) and Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft), cleaning as we go, and then head for a summit of Lhotse maybe in about a week.

All is well here! Spirits are high and it’s great to be heading up the mountain. We’ll be in touch via inReach, text, or satphone call from the mountain.

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 Camp 1

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

The Madison Mountaineering team stayed put in Camp 1 today, doing a hike in the Western Cwm to continue their acclimatization. Snow was a welcome sight on the mountain today and should improve climbing conditions. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1:

All good here in C1 (6050m/19,849ft), went for an acclimatization hike today. Finally getting some snow as well! Much needed to cover the icy conditions.

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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Through the icefall and into Camp 1

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

The Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition team have arrived in Camp 1! The team moved smoothly through the Khumbu Icefall and looks forward to the coming days of acclimatization and time spent in the Western Cwm. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this brief dispatch from Camp 1:

Greetings from C1 (6050m/19,849ft). We had a nice climb up through the icefall today, everyone is doing well here.

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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Annapurna Camp 1

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

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team made the decision to drop down to Camp 1 where they’ll continue their acclimatization efforts for the night. Tomorrow, they plan to return back to the comforts of their base camp for more clean-up efforts before setting their sights on the next rotation up the  mountain. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1 on Annapurna:

Hello from Camp 1. With snow inbound and some avalanche hazard at Camp 2, we decided to spend the last night of our rotation back here at Camp 1, where we should still see some acclimatization benefit since Camp 2 is only a few hundred meters higher. After a peaceful afternoon snowstorm, we’re settling in for the night and looking forward to returning to BC 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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Cleanup efforts in higher camps

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

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team awoke to more beautiful weather today in Camp 1! Emerging out of their tents, the team took in the views and sunshine before collecting trash in Camp 1, packing up, and making the move to Camp 2. With camp set up, the team has crawled into their sleeping bags for the night and looks forward to another great day tomorrow. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2 on Annapurna:

Another spectacular day on the north side of Annapurna. We woke to sunny skies and spent the morning picking up trash on the rocky terrain around Camp 1. We then made the relatively short ascent to Camp 2 at just over 5,500m, chopped out our tent platforms and settled in. We plan to stay here tonight and perhaps tomorrow night to maximize our time above base camp, weather permitting. 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 1 on Annapurna

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.

The first rotation is off! The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team has departed from their base camp and climbed up to Camp 1 on Annapurna, settling into their tents for the night, prepared to make the move to Camp 2 tomorrow. Good weather today made for pleasant climbing conditions and great views as the team ascended to their first camp. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1 on Annapurna:

Namaste from Camp 1 on Annapurna 1! This afternoon we enjoyed a beautiful ascent to the relatively low first camp here at just over 5,000m. The weather was perfect. We’re looking forward to our climb to Camp 2 tomorrow. We’ll be in touch then!

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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Puja Day

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

The Madison Mountaineering mountain cleanup project expedition team held their Puja ceremony today as they prepare for their move to Camp 1 on Annapurna, enjoying great weather and views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks! With the move to Camp 1 scheduled for tomorrow, the team ended their day by gathering their kit and packing their bags for the start of their first rotation on the mountain. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Annapurna Base Camp:

Today was a beautiful day in base camp (4130m/13,549ft) with clear, sunny skies giving us great views of the surrounding peaks. It was perfect weather for our Puja, which is a ceremony to ask the mountain for safe passage. We spent the rest of the day preparing our kit for the move to Camp 1 tomorrow, which will be the first day of our acclimatization rotation. 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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Success on Aconcagua!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.

It’s with great excitement to share that the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua expedition team has safely and successfully reached the summit of South America’s highest peak! Leaving from Camp 2 rather than the usual Camp 3, our team made an ambitious push taking advantage of a small window, ultimately getting all boots on the summit, sharing some high-fives and hugs before returning down to lower camps. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Aconcagua:

Success on Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft)! With very high winds predicted to start tomorrow, our team took advantage of a brief weather window today and summited via an ambitious push straight from Camp 2 (5522m/18,117ft) instead of the usual start from Camp 3 (5989m/19,650ft). They enjoyed perfect weather on the summit! Now they’re safely back in Camp 2 and looking forward to beginning the journey back to the comforts of Mendoza (746m/2,449ft) 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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Up to Camp 1

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Bags are packed and the climb has begun! Our teams left base camp today and are currently on the move up to Camp 1 on Aconcagua. While high winds persist on the mountain, the team is motivated and in good spirits! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expeditions that are currently heading up the mountain – today is January 12th.

Right now, we’re just getting our things together for our move up to Camp 1 (5060m/16,600ft). We’ll leave around noon today and spend a few hours, maybe a bit longer, going up to Camp 1. The weather is nice today! Winds continue to be high on the mountain, but today’s been overcast which makes for a pleasant change.

All is well here! We’ll check in via inReach when we get to Camp 1. Right now we have two teams moving up to Camp 1. Our Ojos del Salado (6893m/22,615ft) and Aconcagua combo expedition which is climbing the two highest peaks in South America – we already completed Ojos del Salado, the second-highest peak in South America. As well as our regularly scheduled Aconcagua expedition that began on January 5th.

So, all is well here and we’ll be in touch from Camp 1!

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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Barbecue in Base Camp!

Our climbers on an acclimatization hike near base camp this morning. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

It was a busy day in base camp for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua expedition teams! Three teams crossed paths on their respective expeditions, coming together for a barbecue and socializing before each team goes their separate ways. Blue skies allowed the teams to bask in the sunshine as they prepare to make their way up the mountain. With good weather tomorrow, they’ll be back on the move again up to Camp 1! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expeditions – it’s January 11th.

Today three of our expeditions crossed paths here in Plaza de Mulas base camp (4367m/14,327ft) on the west side of the mountain. Our Vallecitos (6120m/20,080ft) and Aconcagua combo came down from Camp 3 (5989m/19,650ft), our Ojos del Salado (6893m/22,615ft) and Aconcagua combo spent a rest day here before moving up to Camp 1 (5060m/16,600ft), and our expedition on our normal itinerary that started on January 5th was doing the same thing today here in base camp.

We had a fantastic asado all together – that’s an Argentinian barbecue. And now we’re just all sitting down to dinner in one of our cozy dome tents.

So tomorrow, the Ojos and Aconcagua combo team and the regular expedition, we will all move up to Camp 1 tomorrow. The weather is fantastic and we’re looking forward to a good day! All is well here in Argentina and we’ll be in touch.

Our three teams on Aconcagua enjoying an asado (barbecue) today in base camp!

Our three teams on Aconcagua enjoying an asado (barbecue) today in base camp!

Guide Javier “Cacho” Beiza preparing asado!

Guide Javier “Cacho” Beiza preparing asado!

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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