Tag Archive for: Everest Base Camp

Summit rotation about to begin!

Oxygen systems briefing in Everest Base Camp.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team is about to begin their summit rotation! In a few short hours, the team will emerge from their base camp tents, shoulder their packs, and begin their final rotation on the mountain. The team has put in the work, and are feeling strong and ready! To start, we’ll climb through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp 2. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are off tonight, heading up from base camp (5364m/17,598ft) on our way up the mountain towards Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft). We’re tentatively targeting May 25th for a summit date. So we’ll get up to Camp 2 over the next couple days and recheck the weather forecast, reevaluate, fine tune our summit plan.

But everyone is doing great! The team is in good spirits. Everyone’s very healthy, well nourished, strong, and excited for what lies ahead. So, fingers crossed, we’ll get lucky with some good weather and good conditions. And looking forward to the climb ahead! 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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Back in Everest Base Camp!

Returning back to Everest Base Camp after a successful acclimatization rotation.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team made it back to their base camp safe and sound, marking the end of their acclimatization efforts on the mountain. With clear skies overhead, the team made their way down from Camp 2, through the Khumbu Icefall and into Everest Base Camp. Next up, the team will rest, recover, and start to prepare for their summit rotation! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in from Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft).

We had a great first rotation up to Camps 1 (6050m/19,849ft) and 2 (6500m/21,325ft), touched Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) yesterday. Great views up there, and made our way down to base camp today.

The team’s all back here. We just had dinner, resting up. Actually, Terray and Reid stayed up at Camp 2 and slept at Camp 3 last night, and made it back down to Camp 2 today. So they’re doing great, and we’ll check in with them tomorrow.

But, all’s well here! The weather’s cleared up, so we got some nice views. Everyone’s happy to be down, and we’ll check in soon!

Headlamps line the Lhotse Face under a clear night sky.

Headlamps line the Lhotse Face under a clear night sky.

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

Camp 1 on Mount Everest

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has embarked on their next acclimatization rotation, through the Khumbu Icefall and into Camp 1. They’ll spend time here acclimatizing before packing up, once again, and moving higher up the mountain. This time is an essential part of our Everest expedition. The team is in good spirits and excited to be climbing! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in from Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) on Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft), 19,450 feet.

Today, we departed base camp (5364m/17,598ft) at 1:00 AM and climbed up through the Khumbu Icefall. It was pretty snowy and cloudy, but the route was in really good condition. Great conditions all around, seemed really safe, comparably, and good time! We made good time getting up to Camp 1.

So everyone’s doing great up here! We just finished dinner. The clouds have parted, we have some great views of Everest, Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft), surrounding peaks, Pumori (7165m/23,507ft). So, beautiful evening up here in Camp 1.

We’re going to take a rest day tomorrow. All is well here in Camp 1 on Mount Everest! We’ll check in soon. Thanks!

Crossing a crevasse in the icefall

Crossing a crevasse in the icefall

Navigating the Khumbu Icefall

Navigating the Khumbu Icefall

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 steps into the Khumbu Icefall

First foray into the Khumbu Icefall (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Today, the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition took their first steps into the Khumbu Icefall. With clear skies and solid trainings under their belt, the team moved efficiently through the lower section of the route. It was a good taste of the climbing to come in the next few days when they’ll shoulder their packs and climb to Camp 1 (and beyond) as part of another acclimatization rotation. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this update after a fun day in the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition.

Today, we had a training climb up through the Khumbu Icefall, partway to get familiar with the route. It was great! We had perfect weather, and nice views all around. It was really fun climbing up the steep sections, around seracs, crevasses, and back down the fixed ropes to our base camp (5364m/17,598ft)!

So all’s well. We are going to take a rest day tomorrow and plan to head up the following day to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft), start our first rotation! Everyone’s doing great and we’ll check in soon.

Climbing up the lower section of the route with Everest looming high above.

Climbing up the lower section of the route with Everest looming high above.

First steps into the icefall.

First steps into the icefall.

Climbers navigating the Khumbu Icefall with blue skies overhead.

Climbers navigating the Khumbu Icefall with blue skies overhead.

Back for dinner!

Back for dinner!

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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Almost ready for the next rotation!

The team together on an acclimatization hike as they await the next rotation.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has been busy in base camp, as well as higher on the mountain. While the climbing team continues their technical trainings and acclimatization efforts, the Sherpa team has been hard at work up in Camp 2 preparing our camps staged higher up the route. Our climbing team plans to follow the Sherpa teams path soon so that they can continue to adapt their bodies to the higher altitudes and familiarize themselves with the route. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are in Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) and the team is doing well. We’ve been training the last few days, going on acclimatization hikes, and enjoying the comforts of base camp here: great meals, hot showers, movies, a lot of good times, good camaraderie here in base camp.

Our Sherpa team, meanwhile, has been hard at work. They’ve been up to Camp 2 twice in the last three days carrying loads, working to get our Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) set up. We’ve had 28 of our Nepal Sherpa staff up there each time.

We’re looking forward to starting our first rotation here in a few days time, getting our team up there to acclimatize to gain some familiarity with the climbing route and to see the upper mountain!

So, all is well here at Everest Base Camp. We’re definitely psyched the season is progressing well and we’ll check in soon! Thank you.

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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Full Steam Ahead!

The team together following our Puja ceremony (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has been hard at work in Everest Base Camp! Following the first rotation on Lobuche East, the team welcomed our express climbers, continued their technical trainings and acclimatization efforts, and took part in the Puja Ceremony where we ask the mountain for safe passage. Meanwhile, our Sherpa team loaded up and left for Camp 2 where they’ll start to establish our higher camps. It won’t be too long before we start the move up for our next rotation! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Mount Everest:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition.

We’ve had a great couple days training here in base camp (5364m/17,598ft) practicing ascending fixed-lines, traversing, arm repelling, descending. (We’ve) enjoyed some great weather here, some really good technical training, which also helps us with our acclimatization.

Our Sherpa team went up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) today and established our campsite there, and is building Camp 2 in preparation for us to move up in a weeks time, approximately. So, everything’s going smoothly here!

We’re glad the Khumbu Icefall is open, and the route is clear, navigable, and seems very safe. So everything is going full steam ahead here on Mount Everest!

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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Weekend Update from Mount Everest

Summit photo atop Lobuche East!

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition teams have been keeping busy all over the Khumbu Valley! Over the weekend, our main team successfully summited Lobuche Peak, which is where we hold our first acclimatization rotation. Meanwhile, the Everest Express team flew from Kathmandu to Pheriche and are working their way up towards Everest Base Camp. Not too far away as the crow flies, we also had successful summits on Island Peak! Wherever the teams were at, we enjoyed excellent weather and had lots of fun in such a special place. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hey! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

Our main team returned back to Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) after climbing Lobuche Peak (6119m/20,075ft) with great conditions and great views up top – a nice way to continue working on skill development, and getting some acclimatization and training in!

Our Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft) team just summited Island Peak. Congrats to Sandra and CR!

Myself and three of our express climbers are now in Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft) heading to Everest Base Camp! So we’ll all be together in Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

The weather’s been great; blue skies, clear views. We’re just patiently keeping an eye on the Khumbu Icefall route, that currently has an impasse, watching and waiting, as the ice fall doctor team continues to try to find a safe way up through the difficult section.

All is well here at Everest Base Camp in Nepal! We’ll check in soon.

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Technical training in Everest Base Camp

Excellent views while climbing Lobuche East!

Excellent views while climbing Lobuche East!

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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Checked into the Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp!

The Madison Mountaineering team in Everest Base Camp!

Welcome “home” to the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team! We’ve arrived in Everest Base Camp and are getting ourselves familiar with our home for the next month or so. The team finally got to meet our Sherpa team, who’s been hard at work getting base camp setup. Everyone is in good spirits and excited to be here! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We have reached Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft)! Had a beautiful day trekking up from Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft) with wonderful views of Everest and the surrounding peaks. It’s really nice to meet our Sherpa team and start to settle in. We’re gonna wake up tomorrow, see off our trekkers, and start dialing in our systems here and getting familiar with our home for the next month.

Everyone’s doing great! We’re excited to be here and we’ll check in soon.

Living the base camp life!

Living the base camp life!

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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Next stop: Everest Base Camp!

Enjoying the sunshine while stopping for a break on the trail to Lobuche village.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has reached their final stop on the way to Everest Base Camp! They enjoyed excellent conditions on the trails today with blue skies overhead, making way to perfect views of the surrounding Himalaya. Tomorrow, we’ll pack our bags one last time before trekking to base camp and settling into our temporary homes for the duration of the expedition. Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Lobuche village:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

Today, we are up at Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft). We had a great trek up from Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) and stopped by at the Everest Memorials on our way.

The team is doing great! Beautiful sunny day today. Awesome views of all of the surrounding peaks! And we’re looking forward to arriving in our Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) tomorrow.

So, everything’s going well here 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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Acclimatization Day in the Khumbu

Excellent Himalayan views during our acclimatization day

What a day! The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team continued their acclimatization efforts by doing a hike that climbs high above the Khumbu Valley, before descending back down for another night in Pheriche. The team was treated to awesome views of many of the peaks that line the valley below, and then had a well-deserved lunch at Cafe 4411; one of our favorite places to stop on the trek to Everest. Onwards and upwards again tomorrow! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checked in with this dispatch from Pheriche:

Hey, this is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition!

Today, we went for an acclimatization hike out of Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft), climbed up to about 16,800 feet. We had some great views today! Beautiful views of the surrounding peaks: Makalu (8463m/27,766ft), Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft), Taboche (6495m/21,309ft), Cholatse (6440m/21,130ft), Cho Oyu (8,188m/26,864ft). We came back down for lunch in Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft) at Cafe 4411. And now we’re settling in for dinner here tonight in Pheriche.

So tomorrow, our plan is to head up to Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft) for a night or two, and then on to base camp (5364m/17,598ft).

Everyone’s doing well! We are just having a wonderful time up here, beautiful days. Happy to be in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal!

Views during an acclimatization hike above Pheriche

Views during an acclimatization hike above Pheriche

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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