Tag Archive for: Everest Base Camp

Beautiful Weather Continues for Rest Days in EBC

Beautiful view of Everest from base camp

The beautiful weather continues for the rest days in Everest base camp.  Everest guide Terray Sylvester calls in today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s April 28th.

Today we had another rest day in base camp – really warm, beautiful weather.  The good weather just continues.  It looks like it will be another few days before we move up on our second rotation.  We’re just giving our Sherpa teams time to move oxygen and other supplies up to the South Col because the fixed lines have now been fixed all the way to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft on the South Col).

So, everything is well.  Tomorrow we’ll probably do a little more training in the ice pinnacles near base camp or maybe some ice climbing or maybe head out for a hike above base camp.

All’s good here, we’ll be in touch!

Warm, relaxing rest days at Everest base camp

Warm, relaxing rest days at Everest 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Exploring the Everest Base Camp Surroundings

Guide Rob Smith hiking with climber Roi Negri on the flanks of Pumori above base camp

With a rest day in Everest base camp, the team did some exploring of the base camp surroundings to stay active.  Everest guide Terray Sylvester calls in today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s April 27th.

Today we had another rest day in base camp.  Some of us decided to take a hike up on the flanks of Pumori and another group headed off toward Kala Patthar down near Gorak Shep.  We had some snow flurries in the morning, but now it’s a pleasant, brezzy evening with, of course, the usual spectacular views.

We’ll probably be in base camp a couple more nights before heading up on our second rotation.  We’re just settling in to dinner, then followed up by a movie, and off to bed.

All is well here in base camp!  We’ll be in touch!

View of base camp from the Pumori slopes

View of Everest base camp from the Pumori slopes

Hiking above Everest base camp

Hiking above Everest 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Restful Rest Day at Everest Base Camp

Climber Sara Safari relaxing at Everest base camp

Another beautiful rest day in Everest base camp!  Everest guide Terray Sylvester calls in today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s April 26th.

Today we had another rest day in base camp.  We’ll be here resting for a few more days before we head up on our second rotation.  It was a beautiful sunny day with a little dusting of snow in the evening.  Our climber Sara Safari made an Iranian dish for all of us called “loobia polo“, a rice, beef, and green bean dish.

Now everyone is just settling in to watch “Baby Driver“.  So, it’s been a good day and we expect another good one tomorrow.

We’ll be in touch!

 

The 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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First Rotation – Completed!

Climber Dwight Crow and Garrett above acclimatizing above Camp 2

The first rotation is complete with our Everest team returning to base camp this afternoon!  Everest guide Terray Sylvester has this recap of the first rotation and the plan for the next few days:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s April 24nd.

We just returned to base camp this afternoon from our first acclimatization rotation higher on the mountain.  We spent two nights in Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) and two nights in Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) before coming back down to base (5310m/17,421ft).  We had beautiful weather throughout.  We were among one of the only teams in Camp 1 and Camp 2, so it was really nice having the mountain a little bit to ourselves.

We’re just settling back-in in base camp, had dinner of pork chops and pumpkin pie.  We’re gonna watch the latest James Bond film (“No Time to Die“).

Then we’ve got a few days of rest, showers, and relaxation in our future!  We’ll be in touch!

Climber Carter Beck crossing a ladder in the icefall

Climber Carter Beck crossing a ladder in the icefall

Climbing out of the Khumbu Icefall into the Western Cwm

Climbing out of the Khumbu Icefall into the Western Cwm

The team above Camp 2 on our active rest day

The team above Camp 2 on our active rest day

Descending through the Khumbu Icefall back to base camp

Descending through the Khumbu Icefall back 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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First Rotation – Camp 2

Everest Camp 2

Today, our Everest team moved up from Camp 1 to Camp 2 in the Western Cwm.  Expedition leader Garrett Madison called in via sat phone with today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition 2022.  Today is April 22nd.

Today our team climbed from Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) on Mount Everest, our advanced base camp (ABC).  We got here in the afternoon, settled in, had lunch, just finished up dinner, and heading to bed now.  The weather’s been great.  Everyone’s doing really well and we’re looking forward to a good day tomorrow when we will do another acclimatization hike up above Camp 2 here.

We’re happy to be here!  There are not many other teams here – I think we’re the only team that’s up at Camp 2 at the moment.  Some of the other teams will be on the way soon.  But, it’s nice to be up here at 21,300ft (6492m) on Mount Everest!

We’ll check in soon.  Thanks!

(photo from the Madison Mountaineering archives)

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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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First Rotation – The Western Cwm

The Western Cwm

In the midst of the first rotation, our Everest team continued their acclimatization by hiking around Camp 1 in the Western Cwm.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with a recap of the day:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition.  It’s April 21st.

Today we woke up in Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft), had a nice breakfast and coffee, and then went for an acclimatization walk about an hour, hour and a half, above camp just partway to Camp 2.  We had wonderful views of Everest, Lhotse, and the Nuptse ridge above us.  We came back down to Camp 1 and had lunch.  It’s really peaceful up here.  We’re just about the only party in Camp 1, which is really pleasant.

We had a nice dinner, watched the alpenglow fade on Everest, and now we are just getting to bed.

Looking forward to moving to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) tomorrow!  All is well here.  We’ll be in touch.

(photo from the Madison Mountaineering archives)

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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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First Rotation – Camp 1

Camp 1 from above

To start the first acclimatization rotation, the Everest team climbed up through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp 1.  We received a partial audio message via sat phone from expedition leader Garrett Madison and that was augmented with a text message via Garmin inReach from guide Terray Sylvester.

From Garrett:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse team expedition!  Today’s April 20th and today we climbed from base camp (5310m/17,421ft) up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft).  We left base camp about 02:00am after… [transmission cuts out]

From Terray:

Hello from Camp 1! We left base camp at 2 a.m. and had good climbing conditions through the Khumbu Icefall with few people on the route. The team is strong, healthy overall. We’re looking forward to an acclimatization day here tomorrow before moving up to Camp 2.

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Ready for First Rotation!

Everest team getting a taste of the Khumbu Icefall before the 1st rotation

Climb on!  The time has finally come to get going up the mountain.  Our Everest team is ready to start its first acclimatization rotation.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with the day’s recap and the plan for the days ahead on the mountain:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 19th.

Today we enjoyed beautiful weather as we dipped our toes into the lower portion of the Khumbu Icefall.  We climbed up to about 17,600ft (5364m) or so in the icefall, just enough to go up a few steep sections and do a rappel on the way down.  A chance to get a little feel for it before we wake up at 01:00am this evening and head up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft)!

We’re looking forward to starting our first rotation on the mountain.  We’ll go up to Camp 1 where we plan to spend two nights, then we’ll move up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) for two nights and then come down on the fifth day.

Everyone’s in good spirits and the weather continues to be absolutely beautiful.

So, we’re looking forward to getting on the mountain!  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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Rest Day and Birthday Cake at Base Camp

Celebrating climber Roi Negri's birthday at Everest base camp

Our Everest team enjoyed a rest day at Everest base camp today – it also came with cake!  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 18th.

Today was a rest day and people were free to catch up on laundry, take showers, go for walks around base camp and a bit farther afield. It was beautiful weather, yet again.

In the evening we had a dinner of cheesy potatoes, teriakyi BBQ chicken, fresh veggies and for dessert a birthday cake for our climber, Roi Negri. Then we watched the “The Big Lebowski.”

So, all is well here and we will 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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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Puja Ceremony at EBC

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Today, the Everest team wrapped up their technical skills training and enjoyed their traditional Puja Ceremony at base camp.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 17th.

Today we wrapped up our technical training on the ice pinnacles right below base camp here on the Khumbu Glacier.  And then, in the afternoon, we had our pre-climb Puja.  Today is an auspicious day for that in the Tibetan calendar.  And so it was a great ceremony with blessings for everybody and lots of dancing afterward.  That ceremony is just intended to ask permission to climb the mountain and ensure safe passage up and down for all of us.

The team is in good spirits – everyone is doing really well with their training.

Tomorrow we’ll likely have a rest day as we prepare for our move up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) for our first acclimatization rotation, which will probably happen sometime in the next few days.

So, we’ll be in touch!

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Sirdar Aang Phurba putting barley flour on climber Cameron Kenny’s face to ensure a long life

Sirdar Aang Phurba putting barley flour on climber Cameron Kenny’s face to ensure a long life

Puja dance celebration

Puja celebration

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

The whole 2022 climbing team after the puja

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 Garrett Madison’s daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

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