Tag Archive for: Khumbu Icefall

Healthy and Feeling Strong!

Alpenglow on Lhotse

The Madison Mountaineering team’s summit rotation is going smoothly so far! With teams in both Camp 2 and Camp 3 at the moment, they’ll come together in Camp 4 again in just a few days time. Sunny skies have made for excellent views while the team climbs higher up the mountain. That combined with a strong team and acclimatization has everyone in good spirits and excited for the days ahead. 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) team.

It’s May 22nd and our main team climbed up from Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) to Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) today. They made great time! (They) got up there in about four hours, settled into Camp 3. Myself with Terray, Reid, and Jeff are in Camp 2. We’re heading up to Camp 3 tomorrow, just one day behind them. The next day, they’re heading up to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft), and we’ll be up in Camp 3. And the following day, we’ll all be up in Camp 4 together.

Weather looks great! It’s been a little windy, but clear skies, great views, and everyone is doing really awesome, very solid. So, very thankful that everyone’s healthy and feeling strong. Check in soon.

Climbing through the Khumbu Icefall with Pumori behind.

Climbing through the Khumbu Icefall with Pumori behind.

Dawn in the Khumbu Icefall

Dawn in 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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Moving to Camp 3

Looking up the route with Everest and Lhotse towering high above.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team moved swiftly through the Khumbu Icefall and into Camp 2 a few days ago. Now, they are prepared to continue the move on up to Camp 3 soon! They’ve enjoyed great weather and route conditions so far, and hope for more of the same as they climb higher and higher towards the summit. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2:

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

We are up at Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) and the team is doing excellent! Good weather, good conditions, and we’re starting our move up to Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) tomorrow, and then up to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) the next day. We’re targeting May 25th for summit day.

So, a lot of people have been summiting the last few days and making their way down. So hopefully it won’t be too crowded for us, and we’ll have some good weather and good conditions up there. 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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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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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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Tucked in at Camp 2

Climbing through the icefall in the early morning hours of May 17.

The Madison Mountaineering Everest–Lhotse expedition team climbed through the Khumbu Icefall in the early morning hours of May 17 on their way to Camp 2, marking the start of their summit rotation. With no crowds and good conditions, the team moved swiftly through the complicated terrain of the icefall and reached Camp 2 in good time. Now, the team plans to take a rest day before moving up to higher camps! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition, we are up here at Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft).

We had a great climb from base camp (5364m/17,598ft) up through the Khumbu Icefall early this morning, we left at 1:00 AM and got up to Camp 2 about mid-day. It wasn’t crowded at all, good conditions, nice and cool for a good part of the day, then the sun came out in the afternoon.

But the team’s all settled in here at Camp 2. We’re having dinner and we’re excited for our rest day tomorrow! Beautiful conditions up here on Everest! Fingers crossed we’ll get to move up in a couple days time to push higher to Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) and Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on our summit rotation.

All is well! We’ll check in soon.

Headlamps piercing the darkness and illuminating the route ahead.

Headlamps piercing the darkness and illuminating the route ahead.

Starting up through the Khumbu Icefall!

Starting up through 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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Summit rotation about to start!

The team together during the first rotation on Mount Everest.

The Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team are about to begin their summit rotation! Under the cover of darkness, the team will emerge from their base camp tents, strap on their crampons, dawn their packs, and set out for higher places. They’ll first climb through the Khumbu Icefall and up to Camp 2, before taking a rest day and then moving higher up the mountain. Let’s do this! 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 are heading out early this morning on May 17th from base camp (5364m/17,598ft) to climb up to Camp 2, starting off on our summit rotation! Our plan is to head up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft), take a rest day, and then if all is looking good, we’ll head up the Lhotse Face towards Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft), Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft), and eventually the summit.

The team’s doing well, everyone’s feeling healthy and strong, very excited, all packed up and prepared, and ready to go! So, we’re looking forward to what lies ahead 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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Hello, from the Western Cwm!

Climbing in the early morning hours through the Khumbu Icefall with Pumori and Everest Base Camp behind.

The Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse team are making great progress on their acclimatization efforts as they move higher up the mountain! In the last few days, they’ve left their base camp, climbing through the Khumbu Icefall and into Camp 1. Today, they enjoyed a nice hike up to Camp 2 and then descended back to Camp 1, with plans to continue up for a few nights at higher camps soon. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) and Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) expedition team.

We are up at Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft), it is May 4th – May the fourth be with you! We had a great acclimatization hike today, part way up towards Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) in the Western Cwm and had some cloud cover, so it stayed cool for us. Now it’s snowing a little bit. We’re back in Camp 1 enjoying a lunch and settling in for our afternoon rest. We’re going to head up to Camp 2 tomorrow.

All is well here in Camp 1! We’ll check in soon.

Morning light on Pumori as the team climbs from Everest Base Camp to Camp 1.

Morning light on Pumori as the team climbs from Everest Base Camp to Camp 1.

A beautiful morning to be climbing in the Himalayas

A beautiful morning to be climbing in the Himalayas

Navigating up, down, over, and through icy blocks of the Khumbu Icefall

Navigating up, down, over, and through icy blocks of the Khumbu Icefall

Beautiful, blue skies as climbers ascend one of the ladders on the way to Camp 1

Beautiful, blue skies as climbers ascend one of the ladders on the way to Camp 1

Climbing through the Khumbu Icefall

Climbing through the Khumbu Icefall

Crevasse crossing

Crevasse crossing

Climbers ascending one of the many ladders that connect sections of the broken Khumbu Icefall.

Climbers ascending one of the many ladders that connect sections of the broken Khumbu Icefall.

Navigating the Khumbu Icefall with morning light falling upon Lingtren behind.

Navigating the Khumbu Icefall with morning light falling upon Lingtren behind.

Our Mountain Hardwear tent in Camp 1 with Mount Everest and Lhotse behind.

Our Mountain Hardwear tent in Camp 1 with Mount Everest and Lhotse behind.

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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