Tag Archive for: Cho Oyu

The team at Prayer Flag Point on today's acclimatization hike! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team continued their acclimatization efforts today, touching over 16,000 feet at Prayer Flag Point above Pheriche! After taking in more spectacular views, everyone was excited to descend, knowing the treat that lied ahead – pastries and coffee at the famous Dingboche Bakery! The treats fueled the teams bodies to get them back to Pheriche, where they enjoyed dinner and alpenglow on the surrounding peaks, towering above the village. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition – today is April 10th.

Today we hiked above Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) up to prayer flag point, at a little over 16,000 feet, above 5,000 meters. It was a beautiful day! The clear weather has continued, so we had great views of Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) and Makalu (8463m/27,766ft) in the distance, and just a little corner of Cho Oyu (8188m/26,864ft). Then we came back down and relaxed in the bakery at Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft) before walking back to Pheriche.

It’s a beautiful evening right now! We’re watching alpenglow on the peaks around Pheriche. Tomorrow, we’re looking forward to moving up to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft).

We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. (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:

After receiving a kind hearted blessing from the owner of the Panorama Tea House, we trekked to Khumjung at an elevation of 12,600 ft. The team witnessed devastating destruction from the earthquake that struck Nepal earlier this year. We were thankful to meet Bill’s friend, Dr. Mingma, who gave us a tour of the school and hospital that Sir Edmund Hillary built in 1961. The school started off as a two classroom facility and now educates over 350 students. We have since continued through the beautiful Himalayan valley to Machermo, a small village in the Khumbu region among the snow capped peaks of eastern Nepal. It is nestled in the Dudh Kosi River valley at an elevation of 14,665 ft, just below the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in the Himalaya region. We are all enjoying the breathtaking views of Cho Oyu, the 6th highest peak in the world! The team is bonding very well, everyone is enjoying the spectacular views, the fresh air, friendly sherpa people, and good food! Tomorrow we will trek to the village of Gokyo, the last stop before we reach base camp. Moral is high and we are all very  excited to make it to Burke Khang Base Camp. Captain Challenge continuously brings a laugh to everyone in the group. This is a truly special group of individuals!

“Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

BK1

Trekking toward Burke Khang Base Camp

BK2

Trekking toward Burke Khang Base Camp

BK3

Trekking toward Burke Khang Base Camp

BK4

Garrett Madison and Bill Burke:

BK8

Team relaxing and soaking up the sun!

BK9

Our sherpa head guide, Ang Phurba:

IMG_4116