Tag Archive for: Khumbu Glacier

Technical Training in Base Camp

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, monitoring the training. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team has been hard at work in Everest Base Camp (EBC) doing technical training in the neighboring Khumbu Glacier! With our second team arriving in EBC shortly, climbers will continue their training and acclimatization before making their first rotations. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with this dispatch from EBC:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition – it’s April 15th.

Today our team here in base camp (5364m/17,598ft) went out into the ice formations of the Khumbu Glacier next to base camp to begin practicing technical skills, ascending and descending on fixed lines. We’ll spend at least a few more days practicing technical skills before we start moving up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft). And then, in the evening we had a great dinner of cashew curried chicken, fresh vegetables, and then we watched We’re the Millers afterward for our movie.

Meanwhile, our second team of climbers is in Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft), making their way up the Khumbu Valley to base camp!

So, it was another great day here at the foot of Mount Everest and we’re looking forward to another good day tomorrow! We’ll be in touch.

Climbers, Debbie and Erwin navigating through the Khumbu Glacier during training! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers, Debbie and Erwin navigating through the Khumbu Glacier during training! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Serge Larouche, practicing traversing on steep ice. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Serge Larouche, practicing traversing on steep ice. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Erwin Visser, practicing crampon and fixed line descent skills. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Erwin Visser, practicing crampon and fixed line descent skills. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, navigating an icy canyon near base camp. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, navigating an icy canyon near base camp. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Our second wave of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse climbers making their way up the Khumbu Valley! (Photo: Cacho Beiza)

Our second wave of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse climbers making their way up the Khumbu Valley! (Photo: Cacho Beiza)

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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Everest Base Camp Awaits!

The team on top of Kala Patthar, with Pumori in the background! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

After one final acclimatization hike to the top of Kala Patthar, the team is eager to arrive in base camp tomorrow! Today presented more incredible views of Everest Base Camp and the surrounding sights, giving the team a preview of what’s to come. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with todays dispatch from Gorakshep:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2023 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition. Today is April 12th!

Today we moved from Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft) to Gorakshep (5164m/16,942ft), and then we hiked up Kala Patthar (5644m/18,519ft) to just about 5,500 meters. From there we had our first really good views of the summit of Everest plus Nuptse, and just a little corner of Lhotse peaking out in the distance. Beautiful day today, yet again – clear skies and pleasant temperatures!

We’re going to spend a night here in Gorakshep, and then tomorrow we’ll head over to base camp (5364m/17,598ft) and finally move into our tents there. So, that’s exciting! (We) can’t wait to get into camp at the foot of Everest.

The team is doing well and we’re looking forward to tomorrow! We’ll be in touch then.

Mount Everest (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Mount Everest (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team ascending Kala Patthar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team ascending Kala Patthar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Nearing the top of Kala Patthar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Nearing the top of Kala Patthar! (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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First Views of EBC!

Passing Cholatse en route to Lobuche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team has arrived in Lobuche! After this morning’s walk from Pheriche where they’d spent the last few days, the team settled into their rooms at their next stop before continuing on towards Everest Base Camp (EBC). Fueled by treats from “the highest bakery in the world” the team hiked up a moraine bordering the Khumbu Glacier, which revealed the team’s first views of EBC. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with this dispatch from Lobuche:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2023 Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition – today is April 11th.

This morning we walked from Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft)! Along the way we stopped and had a nice brunch in Dukla, and then in the afternoon we visited the bakery here in Lobuche, which advertises itself as the highest bakery in the world at over 5,000 meters! We hiked up on the lateral moraine next to the Khumbu Glacier and got our first view of Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft), plus great views of Pumori (7161m/23,494ft), Lingtren (6749m/22,142ft), Nuptse and Changtse (7543m/24,747ft) out on the Chinese border.

So, tomorrow we’ll continue to Gorakshep (5164m/16,942ft) and up to Kala Patthar (5644m/18,519ft) where we’ll get more great views of Everest and base camp!

All is well here in Nepal! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Climber, Erwin Visser, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, leaving Pheriche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Erwin Visser, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, leaving Pheriche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, sightseeing on a lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, sightseeing on a lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Peter Horsman, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, taking in the view near Lobuche! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Peter Horsman, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, taking in the view near Lobuche! (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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