Tag Archive for: Camp 3

Summit Push Ahead!

Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive.

The Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua expedition team has arrived in their high camp and are primed for their summit push! While the anticipation built, the team spent the evening relaxing, eating dinner, and packing their bags for their alpine start. Stay tuned to hear if they make the summit! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with today’s dispatch before the team goes for the summit tomorrow:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft) expedition climb. Today’s February second, Thursday, and we are up at our high camp (5989m/19,650ft), Camp 3 Colera at about 19,600 feet. Everyone’s doing great!

It was a beautiful day climbing up here – not much wind and clear skies as far as the eye can see, great views all around! We just finished our dinner, did a little packing and preparation for tomorrow. The plan is to wake up at 3:00 (AM) and depart by 5:00 AM, go for the summit on the third of February, and fingers crossed we’ll get lucky with good weather and route conditions!

We’ll check in tomorrow after we get back down, but the weather is looking good right now at the moment. Really happy to be here and the team’s doing great!

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 Success on Ama Dablam!

Last light on Ama Dablam from Camp 1. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The first members of the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam team have reached the summit and safely returned to Camp 1! The other members of our team still on the upper mountain are making their summit push right now! Everyone is looking forward to being safely back in base camp and the celebration that follows. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in via Garmin inReach Mini with an update from Camp 1:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition team – today is November 5th.

We had a great summit day today – clear skies, calm winds, great views all around! About two-thirds of the team left from Camp 3 (6277m/20,594 ft) this morning – it was 4:00 AM and we reached the top around 9:00 AM, and we made our way back down to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft). The other third of our team moved up from Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) to Camp 3 today, and they will be going for the summit tomorrow morning, early. Fingers crossed they will have good weather and route conditions, but everyone’s doing well!

We’re just so thrilled that we had an amazing summit day, great weather and conditions all around. It’s been a great expedition! We’re looking forward to getting down to base camp tomorrow and then joining up with the rest of our team the following day for celebration! 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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Primed for the Summit Push!

Our climber, Brian, with Pemba Sherpa on the way to Camp 2. Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The Ama Dablam expedition team is staged to make their summit push from Camp 2 and Camp 3, very soon now! Spirits are high and the weather conditions continue to be all-time. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in via Garmin inReach Mini with this brief update:

We just arrived in Camp 3 (6277m/20,594 ft). Half of our team is here and half in Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) now. Nice weather and all good.

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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Hello, From Camp 1!

Evening in Camp 1! Photo: Terray Sylvester

This afternoon, the team arrived in Ama Dablams’ Camp 1 under beautiful, clear skies! After enjoying a hot meal and filling up water bottles with hot water to make for a make shift sauna when stuffed in the bottom of your sleeping bag, the team is prepared to continue up the mountain towards Camp 2 or 3 tomorrow. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, checks in with an update from Ama Dablam:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition team – today is Thursday, November 3rd and we have arrived at Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft) on our summit rotation.

We left base camp (4600m/15,100ft) today at 10:00 AM and got up to Camp 1 between 3:00 and 4:00 PM, settled into our tents, had dinner, filled up our water bottles with hot water for the long and cold night ahead. We’re just tucking in now, getting ready to go to sleep.

Great weather up here! Everyone’s doing well on the team and we’re excited for tomorrow. We’re going to be pushing up to Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) and quite possibly Camp 3 (6277m/20,594 ft) [inaudible]. We’re looking at a potential summit the next day, November 5th or 6th.

All is well here on Ama Dablam! Check in soon.

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison approaching Camp 1 with the team. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison approaching Camp 1 with the team. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa with our climber, Krisli, in Camp 1! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa with our climber, Krisli, in Camp 1! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Last light on Ama Dablam from Camp 1. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Last light on Ama Dablam from Camp 1. 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 has Begun!

Members of our team near Camp 2! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Today, the team started their summit rotation on Ama Dablam! The team is healthy and in good spirits with hopes to make the summit in the coming days. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with todays dispatch from Ama Dablam:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) team – today is November 3rd.

We are heading up from base camp (4600m/15,100ft) to begin our summit rotation! We’ve had a nice couple of rest days here and lots of good food, watching movies, hanging out, recharging. And today we’re gonna head up to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft) and tomorrow Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) or 3 (6277m/20,594 ft), and then go for the summit! So, hopefully we’ll summit around November 5th or 6th, be back in base camp a day or so after. And then, some of us will be heading towards an unclimbed peak in Nepal!

Weather’s looking great! The route conditions are looking great. The team is strong and healthy, so we’re excited for this opportunity and looking forward to getting our climb underway!

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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Madison Mountaineering Team Safe on Manaslu

Mount Manaslu. Photo: Terray Sylvester

There was an avalanche reported on Manaslu on September 26th – we are still learning the details around what’s transpired. The Madison Mountaineering team is all safe in base camp and is providing assistance where they can. Our thoughts go out to those affected by these recent events. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in from Manaslu base camp:

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

This morning we received the incredibly sad news of an avalanche above Camp 3 (6800m/22,310ft) on Manaslu. We’re very saddened by this and we’re still learning details of what’s happened. We’ve been providing resources as needed and as we can.

But we also want to say that fortunately, our entire sherpa team, our climbers and our guide team are all safe on the lower mountain and in base camp (4859m/15,944ft). So, our team is out of harms way and we’re providing assistance as we can.

We’ll post updates on our social media accounts and here on our blog as necessary in the days and hours to come. 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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Waiting for the Weather Window

Clear skies made for beautiful light on Manaslu this morning. (📸: Terray Sylvester)

The team all gathered today in Manaslu base camp as they keep their eyes peeled for a weather window to make their summit push. It was a nice day in base camp, spent resting, watching a movie, and eating good meals! 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 23rd.

Today our climber who’d been up in Camp 3 (6800m/22,310ft) came down to base camp (4859m/15,944ft). So the whole team is here in base camp now and we’re planning to rest for a few nights before starting our summit push – we’re still looking for a nice weather window for that.

Today was a pleasant day in base camp – sunny skies in the morning, then a bit of rain during the day, and now clear, starry skies at night. We just finished dinner – it was barbecue chicken, watched Deadpool, and now we’re heading to bed.

All is well here in Nepal! 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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Sunshine, Fried Chicken, and Showers!

A little snowy weather doesn't stop the fun! Our climbers, Chase and Becks, moving to Camp 1 with Aang Phurba Sherpa. (📸: Terray Sylvester)

The team had a busy day today taking advantage of the good weather on Manaslu! While one climber continued acclimatizing at Camp 3, the rest of the team spent today enjoying the sunshine in base camp, eating a good meal, and preparing for the summit push ahead. 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 Thursday, September 22nd.

Today, our climber on the mountain continued her acclimatization by moving from Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft) to Camp 3 (6800m/22,310ft) in beautiful weather! She’ll spend one night up there and then come back down to base camp (4859m/15,944ft).

Our climber in base camp rested after his acclimatization rotation. It was a beautiful day in base camp – fully sunny for the first time in a couple of weeks! So it was great opportunity to wash clothes, take a shower, and rest up for the summit push which we’ll start soon.

We just finished dinner – fried chicken! Then we watched the Mark Wahlberg movie, Ted afterward.

We’re heading to bed now. All is well here in Nepal!

Madison Mountaineering Manaslu Base Camp (📸: Terray Sylvester)

Madison Mountaineering Manaslu Base Camp (📸: 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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First Rotation Wrapping Up!

Back in Manaslu Base Camp. Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering Archive (📸: Terray Sylvester)

The teams first rotation is coming to an end having spent multiple nights up on the mountain between Camps 1, 2, and 3. Over the course of the next few days, the team plans to rest up in base camp while they wait for a weather window to make their summit push! 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 21st.

Our climbers here on the mountain are wrapping up their acclimatization rotations. One of our climbers returned to base camp (4859m/15,944ft) today after having spent nights at Camps 1 (5700m/18,700ft) and 2 (6400m/21,000ft). We have another climber who’s still on the mountain planning to spend one additional night up at Camp 3 (6800m/22,310ft).

So, we’re looking forward to some rest time here in base camp and then keeping our eyes out for a weather window to head for the summit!

All is well 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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Greetings from Camp 3!

K2 earlier during this expedition. Photo pulled from Madison Mountaineering archive. (📸: @terray_s)

The Madison Mountaineering K2 expedition team has reached camp 3 and our sherpa team has fixed ropes all the way to camp 4! With more good weather on the way, the team will continue on to camp 4 tomorrow, while our sherpa team plans to continue fixing lines above camp 4. Expedition lead, Garrett Madison, checks in with today’s dispatch from K2 base camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the K2 expedition team – today is Wednesday, July 20th.

Today our team climbed from camp 2 (6700m/21,980ft) up the black pyramid to camp 3 (7250m/23,800ft) on K2! Our team’s doing great. Everyone’s in camp 3 having dinner, getting ready to go to sleep, and have a restful night.

Today our sherpa rope fixing team was able to fix lines up to camp 4 (7681m/25,200ft). They reported some semi-deep snow conditions, but not too bad. They all returned back to camp 3 after their work today. So, the ropes are into camp 4 – that’s good news! Tomorrow they’re going to go back to camp 4 and work on fixing above camp 4 on the shoulder and through the bottleneck. Hopefully they’ll make good progress! Our climbing team is planning to climb from 3 to 4 tomorrow as well.

All is well on K2! It was a little breezy today at 7,000 meters, but clear at the moment! Looks like it’ll be a nice day tomorrow for climbing.

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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