Tag Archive for: Himalayas

Check in from the Ama Dablam team!

The team on the summit of Ama Dablam with Everest and Lhotse in the background! From left: Guide Terray Sylvester, our climber, Joe, and Sirdar and Guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Safely back in base camp, the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team spent the day re-introducing themselves to the luxuries of life off of the mountain! After a great day successfully reaching the summit on the day prior, the team relaxed, celebrated, and began getting prepared to make their way back down the valley. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this celebratory dispatch from Ama Dablam base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the autumn 2024 Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is November 8th. Today, we had a rest day here in base camp (4600m/15,100ft) after our successful summit push. Yesterday, we topped out on Ama Dablam at about 7:30 AM in the morning, and then we descended all the way back down to base camp and had a nice dinner here and got a good nights sleep.

So, we spent today taking showers and getting packed and prepared for our trek back down the valley to Lukla (2860m/9,383ft). Our plan is to leave for Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) tomorrow morning and then finish off the trek the following day.

All in all, we had a fantastic summit push! Two days ago, or three days ago on November 5th, we moved up to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft). The following day, we moved to Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft), rested most of the day, and then that evening at about 11:00 PM we started our summit climb and topped out at about 7:30 AM in the morning! The climbing conditions were perfect – zero wind and perfectly clear skies, which meant we had great views of the peaks around us and before the sun came up, excellent views of a brilliant, starry sky over the Himalayas!

So, all is well here in base camp and we’ll be in touch from Namche Bazaar tomorrow!

Our climber, Joe, stepping onto the summit! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climber, Joe, stepping onto the summit! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Approaching Camp 2. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Approaching Camp 2. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Celebratory cake back in base camp the evening after our team summited!

Celebratory cake back in base camp the evening after our team summited!

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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Ama Dablam Summits!

It comes with great excitement to share that at 7:36 AM local time on November 7, the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team successfully reached the summit! The team left their tents at Camp 2 and climbed through the night, navigating technical terrain under starry skies. In the morning hours, the sun began to come up revealing excellent views of many surrounding peaks and the route below. It was near perfect weather and route conditions for our summit day! After taking the final few steps onto the summit, the team shared hugs and high-fives in celebration before reporting the good news to our other teams in the Khumbu region. The team is now safely back in base camp and will begin to pack their bags and start their departure from the Himalaya soon! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Ama Dablam:

Hello from base camp! This morning we summited Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) from Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) in excellent weather. We left Camp 2 at about 11 p.m. and stepped onto the summit not long after sunrise in perfectly clear skies without a breath of wind. After soaking up the views of Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), Makalu (8463m/27,766ft), Kanchenjunga (8586m/28,169ft) and other peaks, we descended all the way here to base camp (4600m/15,100ft). We just wrapped up dinner and we’re looking forward to some well-earned sleep!

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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In position to go for the summit!

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

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team is in position to make a push for the summit from Camp 2! While climbing up from Camp 1, the team had great weather and moved smoothly between the two camps along the southwest ridge. In just a short time, the team will get an alpine start and make their push for the summit! Stay tuned for more updates. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this brief dispatch from Ama Dablam before going for the summit:

Hello from Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft)! We just finished a fun and scenic climb here from Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft). We were the first team on the route today. So we were able to move at our own pace and enjoy the varied terrain and excellent views. Now we’ve settled into camp. We’re planning to get a good rest and go for the summit (6812m/22,349ft) late tonight.

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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The summit rotation on Ama Dablam has started!

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

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team has started their summit rotation! After several days of rest and relaxation, we’ve shouldered our packs and left the comforts of our base camp. With good weather ahead, we plan to continue climbing up the mountain, with hopes of standing on the summit in just a few days time! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Ama Dablam:

Hello from Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft)! This morning we moved here from base camp (4600m/15,100ft) through a dusting of fresh snow. Now we’re settled in our tents and waiting for our dinners to cook.

The team is doing well. We’re looking forward to a pleasant night here and a scenic climb to Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft) tomorrow. 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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First rotation complete!

Views of Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team is safely back in base camp after completing the first rotation on the mountain! Weather has continued to be excellent so far, offering the team beautiful views and climbing conditions as they climbed their way up the mountain. With some rest and recovery ahead, we’ll begin to prepare for the summit rotation starting soon! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Ama Dablam:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the autumn 2024 Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is November 1st.

Over the last few days, we completed our acclimatization rotation. The team spent two nights at Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft) and we made a foray up toward Camp 2 (5980m/19,619ft), and now the whole team is back down in base camp (4600m/15,100ft). We’re resting now and we’ll be preparing for our summit push which is coming soon!

All in all, it was a great time up on the mountain, really beautiful weather! The good days have just continued, clear skies and great views. And, really fun scrambling on the way up to Camp 1 and up to Camp 2.

So, all is well here in Nepal and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Our climbers, Joe and Thierry, in Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers, Joe and Thierry, in Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers Kat, Joe, and Thierry approaching Camp 1! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers Kat, Joe, and Thierry approaching Camp 1! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

All smiles back in base camp! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

All smiles back in base camp! (Photo by 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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Training and Puja Day!

The team after their puja in base camp, with Ama Dablam in the background!

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team had a busy day in base camp as they prepare for their first rotation! After awaking to sunny skies, the team conducted their pre-climb puja ceremony to ask the mountain for safe passage before heading up. Following the ceremony, the team went out into the field for technical training to review and simulate the route that lies ahead. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Ama Dablam:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the fall 2024 Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is October 29th.

Today, we had a really nice day actually, a nice busy day! This morning was our pre-climb Puja. So, that’s our ceremony that we do before every climb to ask the mountain for safe passage before we start moving up above base camp (4600m/15,100ft). Then we had a nice lunch of salmon steaks, and sandwiches, and a good beef and tomato soup! And then, after lunch we headed over to the training location not far from base camp and we practiced our technical skills: ascending fixed lines in steep terrain, rappelling, transitions, all of the above. Everyone did really well with that! Now, we’re just walking back to base camp. It’s a little misty and we’re looking forward to moving up to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft) tomorrow to start our rotation.

Also tonight, we will have another movie night. So far we’ve watched Top Gun: Maverick, and then last night we started The Godfather, but that’s a really long movie, so we made it about halfway through. We’ll probably finish it off tonight! And that’s about it.

So, all is well here in Nepal and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Our climber, Tom, practicing technical skills with sirdar and guide Aang Phurba Sherpa! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climber, Tom, practicing technical skills with sirdar and guide Aang Phurba Sherpa! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Joe, one of our Ama Dablam climbers practicing technical skills! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Joe, one of our Ama Dablam climbers practicing technical skills! (Photo by 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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Acclimatizing for Ama Dablam!

Evening light on Ama Dablam above our base camp.

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team spent the day acclimatizing as they continue to prepare for their climb! More beautiful views fueled the team as they climbed up towards Camp 1. The team couldn’t ask for better weather on the expedition so far and with more good weather tomorrow, the team will conduct their Puja ceremony along with technical skills training near their base camp. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the fall, 2024 Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is October 28.

Today, we woke up to another beautiful day here – no wind, nice sunshine. So, we went for a hike up to Yak Camp, which is about a little over halfway, two-thirds of the way up to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft). It was a really nice hike, great views all around the valley, Thamserku (6608m/21,680ft), Kangtega (6782m/22,251ft), up toward Cho Oyu (8188m/26,864ft), Cholatse (6440m/21,130 ft), Taboche (6495m/21,309ft) – all the beautiful peaks around here! Then, we came down for a nice lunch and we’ve been relaxing this evening.

Tomorrow, we are looking forward to our Puja, our pre-climb ceremony to ask the mountains for safe passage! Then, we’ll be doing some technical training later in the day.

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

Fresh apple pie for dessert in base camp this evening!

Fresh apple pie for dessert in base camp this evening!

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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Settling into base camp!

Approaching Ama Dablam Base Camp. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team has reached their base camp and begun to get settled into their temporary home! The team enjoyed excellent views on their hike up from Pangboche and are filled with excitement as they are many steps closer to the mountain, with their first rotation set to start in just a few days. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is October 27th.

Today we hiked from Pangboche village (3985m/13,074ft) up here to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft). It was a great hike, another sunny day with fantastic views of the mountain along the way! Now, we’ve gotten settled into our box tents here in base camp and some of our members have had nice, hot showers and we’re just settling down to dinner in our Mountain Hardwear Space Station Dome. It’s a beautiful evening, a starry sky with just a faint blush of peak off to the west and we can see a few headlamps high on the southwest ridge heading toward the summit of Ama Dablam.

So, all is well here in Nepal and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

The team with their objective! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The team with their objective! (Photo by 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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Blessings at the Pangboche Monastery

Nima Sange Sherpa hiking to the Pangboche Monastery with Lobuche East and Island Peak climbers Erik and Mike. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Himalayan expedition teams continued their journeys today toward their respective destinations. Our Ama Dablam team parted ways from our Everest Base Camp, Lobuche East, and Island Peak climbers and looks forward to settling into their base camp tomorrow! Together, the team visited the Pangboche Monastery for a blessing from the Lama before saying their goodbyes as we all go our separate directions up the Khumbu Valley. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) climb here in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal – today is October 26th. Today we woke up in Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) and walked up to Pangboche village (3985m/13,074ft). We had a cup of tea in the morning sunlight at the Namaste Lodge, and then we walked up to the monastery here in town where we received a blessing from one of the Lamas. The monastery here in Pangboche is the oldest one here in the Khumbu Valley and it’s really a nice place to spend a couple of hours. Then we descended back into town and moved into the lodge where we’ll spend tonight. Tomorrow morning we plan to hike up to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft).

Also today, we split off from our Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) trekkers. After the blessing they headed up to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) where they’ll spend two nights before moving higher up the valley toward Everest Base Camp, Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft), and then back over to Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft).

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

Arriving in the Pangboche monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Arriving in the Pangboche monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Everest Base Camp trekker Miga visiting the monastery in Pangboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Everest Base Camp trekker Miga visiting the monastery in Pangboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our guest, Erik, spinning prayer wheels at the monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our guest, Erik, spinning prayer wheels at the monastery. (Photo by 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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Visit at the Tengboche Monastery!

The team making their way from Namche Bazaar to Deboche! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Himalayan expedition teams continued up the valley today with stops along the way at the Tengboche Monastery and the neighboring bakery. Now settled into the lodge for the night, we’re looking forward to a good night’s sleep and another good day tomorrow! One of our team members is now on their way toward Gokyo Ri, but will soon be reunited with our team in just a few days on Lobuche and Island Peak! The views have been excellent and our team is in good spirits as we move further into the mountains! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2024 Madison Mountaineering autumn programs here in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal.

Today we walked from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to the village of Deboche (3820m/12,532ft). It was another beautiful day here in Nepal! Along the way, our guest who is heading to Gokyo Ri (5340m/17,519ft) and then looping back to climb Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft) and Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft), he split off. He’ll head up into the Gokyo Valley to Dole (4038m/13,248ft) today. The rest of us, our Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) team and our EBC (5364m/17,598ft) trekkers, plus Island Peak and Lobuche East climbers, we all continued past Tengboche Monastery here to Deboche. At Tengboche (3867m/12,687ft), we had a nice visit in the monastery and received a blessing from the Lama there and then we relaxed and had some nice drinks, coffee drinks, hot drinks, and pastries at the bakery adjacent to the monastery. Now we’re settling into our lodge and looking forward to dinner in a few hours.

So, all is well and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

En route to Deboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

En route to Deboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our Everest Base Camp trekker Miga with Madison Mountaineering Office Manager Mike Sanders, Nima Sangye Sherpa, and Ama Dablam climber Joe! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our Everest Base Camp trekker Miga with Madison Mountaineering Office Manager Mike Sanders, Nima Sangye Sherpa, and Ama Dablam climber Joe! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Visiting Tengboche Monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Visiting Tengboche Monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Ama Dablam climber Kat completing a “kora” — or circumambulation — of Tengboche Monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Ama Dablam climber Kat completing a “kora” — or circumambulation — of Tengboche Monastery. (Photo by 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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