Tag Archive for: Camp 1

Blue Skies in Camp 1!

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

After multiple days of weather on the mountain, the skies opened up and the team enjoyed a beautiful rest day in Manaslu Camp 1. Views of the surrounding mountains emerged from the clouds that kept them in hiding the past few days while the team basked in the sun. Tomorrow, the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu team will continue up to Camp 2! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in via Garmin inReach Mini from Camp 1:

We spent a pleasant rest day in Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft) today, with excellent views of the upper mountain. After several days in a row with steady precipitation and no sun, the sun came out this morning and shone most of the day. We warmed up, dried out and took in our surroundings, including the beautiful snow- and ice-crusted pinnacles of Naike Peak, Larkya Peak, and Manaslu North.

Tomorrow we move to Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft)!

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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First Rotation is Underway!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering Archive. (📸: Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition teams’ first rotation is underway! The team has ascended to Camp 1 and is settled into their tents for the night. Tomorrow, they’ll take an active rest day while they prepare to push further up the mountain. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in via Garmin inReach Mini from Camp 1:

Hello from Camp 1 (5700m, 18,700ft)!

We made good time here today from base camp (4859m/15,944ft). We’ve now settled into our tents and are eating dinner. We’re looking forward to a good nights sleep and an active rest day tomorrow before we move up to Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft).

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 Tomorrow!

Returning from Camp 1 while acclimatizing today!

The team acclimatized one last time today before they plan to move up to Camp 1 tomorrow. Spirits are high and the team enjoyed a good meal while relaxing this evening! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s September 17th.

Today our second wave of climbers, Becks and Chase, acclimatized by hiking up to lower Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft) and back down to base camp (4859m/15,944ft). Then we had dinner – hamburgers with strawberry cake afterward, and we’re just relaxing watching Wedding Crashers.

Tomorrow in the afternoon, we plan to move on up to Camp 1.

So, all is well here at Manaslu and we’ll be in touch!

Leaving Base Camp en route to Camp 1.

Leaving Base Camp en route to Camp 1.

Aang Phurba Sherpa and our climber, Becks, with tonights strawberry cake!

Aang Phurba Sherpa and our climber, Becks, with tonights strawberry cake!

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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Acclimatization Above Manaslu Base Camp

Acclimatizing above Manaslu base camp.

The Madison Mountaineering team spent today acclimatizing above base camp as they excitedly wait to move up to Camp 1 on the planets eighth highest peak. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s September 16th.

Today, we acclimatized above base camp (4859m/15,944ft), then returned, rested, had a good dinner and watched a movie. We’re just heading to bed and looking forward to another acclimatization hike tomorrow, as we prepare to move to Camp 1 (5700m, 18,700ft).

We’ll be in touch!

Fresh apple pie to welcome our climbers, Chase and Becks, to base camp!

Fresh apple pie to welcome our climbers, Chase and Becks, 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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Manaslu Team Primed for First Rotation

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

The team welcomed in more climbers to the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition today! Now fully assembled, the team will continue their acclimatization efforts in the next few days, before ascending to Camp 1. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s Thursday, September 15th.

Today our second wave of climbers arrived at base camp (4859m/15,944ft) – they hiked up from Samagaun (3530m/11,581ft) in slightly rainy weather. So, we’re looking forward to starting the acclimatizing from here, and then heading up to Camp 1 (5700m, 18,700ft) in not too many days.

So, all is well here in base camp and 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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More Strong Climbers Joining the Expedition!

Mules laden with supplies on the trail to base camp. (📸: Terray Sylvester)

Today, our second wave of climbers made the helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Samagaun – we’re excited to have them join us in base camp in the next few days! The team already settled into base camp is resting and preparing for their move up to Camp 1. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s September 14th.

Today, our second wave of climbers took a helicopter from Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft) to Samagaun (3530m/11,581ft). They plan to acclimatize there and then move up to base camp (4859m/15,944ft), hopefully soon. Meanwhile in base camp, our other climber has been resting after acclimatizing for the move to Camp 1 (5700m, 18,700ft).

So, all is well here! We just finished dinner, are watching a movie and are heading to bed soon. 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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Puja Ceremony at Manaslu Base Camp

Our climbing team, post-puja.

This morning the team was greeted with sunshine upon emerging from their tents, which they followed with a puja ceremony. The team came together to take part in this spiritual ceremony to ask the mountain for safe passage in their journey ahead, which is happening in the coming days! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s September 9th.

Today, when we woke up the sun was shining so we started the day early with our pre-climb puja; that’s a way of asking the mountain permission for safe passage and it’s also a great way for the whole team to come together before a climb.

Now that that’s done, our sherpa team and our climbers will start moving up the mountain. We’ve spent the rest of the day getting our gear together for our sherpa team who will do a carry to Camp 1 (5700m, 18,700ft) tomorrow, then hopefully our climbers will start going to Camp 1 soon after that.

So now we’re just relaxing until dinner! We’re planning to watch National Treasure 2, the Nicholas Cage movie, after dinner.

All is well! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Preparing for the puja in our base camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Preparing for the puja in our base camp. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Ngodup Lama leading todays puja. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Ngodup Lama leading todays puja. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our team's climbing gear soaking up the blessings. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our team’s climbing gear soaking up the blessings. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa making an offering. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa making an offering. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Lakpa Sherpa receiving a tsampa mustache, a blessing for a long and healthy life. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Lakpa Sherpa receiving a tsampa mustache, a blessing for a long and healthy life. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Today's puja. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Today’s puja. Photo: 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 Rotation is Underway!

A sunny afternoon at Camp 1 with Broad Peak across the valley. (📸: @terray_s)

The summit rotation is underway on K2 for the Madison Mountaineering team! The team has reached camp 1 and plans to push on to camp 2 tomorrow. Meanwhile, our sherpa team is planning to move up to camp 3 tomorrow, and start working on fixing the ropes above camp 3 in the coming days. Here’s expedition lead, Garrett Madison, with today’s dispatch from K2 base camp:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 expedition team – today is Monday, July 18th.

Today our team started their summit rotation – so climbers left this morning at 3 AM from base camp (4968m/16,300ft), we saw them off. They arrived in camp 1 (6065m/19,900ft) around 10 AM. They reported good conditions and they’re all tucked in at camp 1 for the night, planning to head up to camp 2 (6700m/21,980ft) tomorrow.

Our fixing team of sherpa are up at camp 2 at the moment and they’re planning to head to camp 3 (7250m/23,800ft) tomorrow – so that’s four sherpa’s from our team working on the fixing project. Currently the ropes are not in above camp 3, so they have some work to do and also planning to work with some sherpa’s from a few other teams.

I’m in base camp reporting, all is well! We’ll check in soon.

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 Rotation to Start Tomorrow!

Clouds clearing from K2 this morning. Today the stormy weather finally passed and sunny skies arrived! (📸: @terray_s)

Tomorrow is the day the team has been waiting for since finishing their first rotation, 10 days ago. Tomorrow morning, they will start moving towards Camp 1, which marks the start of their summit rotation! Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from K2 base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering K2 expedition – it’s July 17th.

Today, the clouds finally cleared from K2 here in the valley. We enjoyed sunny weather here in base camp (4968m/16,300ft) all day, which was great! It gave us a good solar charge to get our devices all powered up for the climb to come, do laundry, and take care of all our last minute to-do items before we start our summit push.

So the plan right now is to wake up early tomorrow morning and start heading up to Camp 1 (6065m/19,900ft).

We’re just wrapping up dinner here, enjoyed some beautiful alpenglow on the summit, and we’re looking forward to getting up higher! We’ll be in touch.

A team photo this evening before dinner - and before our climbers start their summit push!

A team photo this evening before dinner – and before our climbers start their summit push!

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 K2 Base Camp

Photo from Madison Mountaineering Photo Archive

The team has completed their first rotation on K2, and are now resting up and enjoying themselves in base camp (4968m/16,300ft). Here’s expedition lead, Garrett Madison, with today’s dispatch from K2 base camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 Expedition Team. Today is Wednesday, July 6th and the team is all back down in base camp.

The team had a great second night at Camp 2 (6700m/21,980ft) completing the first rotation – it was two nights at Camp 1 (6065m/19,900ft), two nights at Camp 2, and a night at Advanced Base Camp (5303m/17,400ft), so a total of five nights up on the mountain. We’re all back in base camp and had a great afternoon – showers, laundry, a nice dinner, and a movie! So, looking forward to a good nights rest. Everyone’s doing well here!

Tomorrow, some of our sherpa team will do a trip up to Camp 3 (7250m/23,800ft) with some oxygen. But, we’re all doing well here on K2. It’s been cloudy today and yesterday, but hopefully some good weather’s coming tomorrow and the next day. Looking forward to hopefully some more good weather in the future!

All is well and we’ll check in soon!

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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