Tag Archive for: Lhotse

Guide Cacho Beiza and climber Josh Garrison spinning a prayer wheel in Namche Bazaar (📸: @terray_s)

The Everest team finished their last dropback rest day in Namche Bazaar and will fly back to Everest Base Camp tomorrow as reported by Everest guide Terray Sylvester:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 10th.

Today our climbers enjoyed their final rest day in Namche.  Tomorrow we’ll fly back up to base camp to begin preparations for our summit push.

All is well here in Namche and 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:

Climbers Carter Beck and Saskia Jacobson spinning prayer wheels (📸: @terray_s)

Today our Everest team had a chance to experience more of the unique culture of Nepal while continuing their dropback rest period before the upcoming push for the summit.  Everest guide Terray Sylvester provides today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 9th.

Our climbers are still resting in Namche as part of their dropback.  We’ll fly back to base camp on Wednesday, the 11th.

Today we hiked up to Khumjung, a village just a little ways above Namche.  We visited the monastery there where the monks were in the process of reading the Kangyur.  It is a 108 volume set of scriptures that tells the life of The Buddha.  It happens just once a year and the reading rotates from monastery to monastery around the valley.  So it was kind of a special occasion to catch it there.  We listened to part of that and we also looked at the reputed Yeti scalp, which is in the monastery there in Khumjung.  Then we walked back and had lunch in Namche.

Now we are just relaxing before bed.  All in all it was a really pleasant day and we’re looking forward to another one tomorrow.

We’ll be in touch!

Approaching Khumjung (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

Approaching Khumjung (📸: @terray_s)

Buddhist scriptures in the monastery at Khumjung (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

Buddhist scriptures in the monastery at Khumjung (📸: @terray_s)

The mani stone walls in Khumjung, some of the longest in the Khumbu (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

The mani stone walls in Khumjung, some of the longest in the Khumbu (📸: @terray_s)

Decorations in Khumjung (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

Decorations in Khumjung (📸: @terray_s)

Walking above Namche (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

Walking above Namche (📸: @terray_s)


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:

The team having lunch at Sherpa Barista (📸: @terray_s)

Still soaking up the “rich, thick air” in Namche Bazaar, our Everest team continues their dropback period.  Here’s Everest guide Terray Sylvester with today’s dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 8th.

Today we had another rest day in Namche.  Folks took it easy, just like yesterday – haircuts, massages, hamburgers for lunch down at the Sherpa Barista, and some hikes and walks around town. Tomorrow we will have another rest day here.

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

Climber Carter Beck getting a haircut and beard trim

Climber Carter Beck getting a haircut and beard trim (📸: @terray_s)


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:

A sunny morning at Namche Bazaar

The team continues to relax in Namche Bazaar as part of their “dropback” period.  Everest guide Terray Sylvester provides today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 7th.

I’m calling in from Namche Bazaar.  Our Everest and Lhotse climbers are on the first day of their dropback here.  We flew down from base camp yesterday and we’ll be here for a few more days resting and recuperating and preparing for our summit push.

It was a good day today – beautiful weather here in Namche, just a little bit of rain in the evening.  But, really nice to wake up among the trees and greenery.  People enjoyed the good food in town today – hamburgers and pastries, got hair cuts, massages, …  So it’s been a really pleasant day!

We’ll be here for a few more days before flying back to base camp.

We’ll be in touch!

The team enjoying breakfast at the Panorama Lodge

The team enjoying breakfast at the Panorama Lodge


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:

Climbers Josh Garrison, Sara Safari, Saskia Jacobs and Cameron Kenny arrive in Namche

The team flew down to Namche Bazaar and has started their “dropback” period where the lower elevation will give their bodies time to recover from altitude.  Everest guide Terray Sylvester provides today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 6th.

Today our climbers flew down from base camp (5310m/17,421ft) to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft).  It was a bit cloudy in the morning which delayed helicopter flights but all of us took off from base camp by about 3:30pm / 4:00pm and made it down to Namche not too long after.  So, we will rest here for a few days before flying back up to base camp to begin our summit push.

People are feeling well and looking forward to the excellent coffee, hamburgers, pizza, pastries, and other good things to enjoy here in Namche before we get back up to base camp.

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:

Climber Cameron Kenny ascending through the Khumbu Icefall

The second rotation is complete and the team has returned to base camp.  Here’s Everest guide Terray Sylvester with a recap and the plan for what’s next:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 5th.

We just returned from Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) back to base camp (5310m/17,421ft).  We spent three nights on the upper mountain for our second acclimatization rotation.  We went directly from base camp up to Camp 2, then took a rest day, and then we went up and touched Camp 3 at just about 7000m on the Lhotse Face.  We then spend another night at Camp 2 and came back down here to base camp today.  We had fantastic climbing conditions and weather throughout.  We managed to avoid most other parties on the route.  On the day we went up the Lhotse Face we had absolutely perfect conditions with spectacular views.  It felt really good to get up a little bit higher and finish laying the groundwork of our acclimatization for our summit push.

Now we’re back in base camp and we’ll just be resting for that summit attempt.  We’re going to do a “drop back” where we head down to lower elevation in Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to let our bodies recover from being up at altitude for nearly a month and maximize our strength for the summit push.

We just finished dinner of pork chops and macaroni and cheese and vegetables and cake.  Now we are watching “The Bourne Legacy” and we’ll go to bed after that.

All is well and we’ll be in touch!

The team getting comfortable with their down suits before the climb to Camp 3 the following day

The team getting comfortable with their down suits before the climb to Camp 3 the following day

Climbing the Lhotse Face

Climbing the Lhotse Face

Part of the team in Camp 3

Part of the team in Camp 3

Climber Todd Ammerman with Guide Cacho Beiza in Camp 3

Climber Todd Ammerman with Guide Cacho Beiza in Camp 3


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:

Camp 2

Today the Everest team tagged Camp 3 on the Lhotse Face and returned to Camp 2 as part of the second rotation.  Here’s expedition leader Garrett Madison with today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is Wednesday, May 4th.

We had a great day up here climbing to Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) and returning to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft)… [transmission drops]


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:

Camp 2

The second rotation has kicked off with an excellent night of climbing up the Khumbu Icefall and a warming morning in the Western Cwm.  Here’s expedition leader Garrett Madison with today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is May 2nd.

Today we woke up and had breakfast at 01:00am in base camp (5310m/17,421ft), left base camp at 02:00am, and climbed up the Khumbu Icefall.  We had a beautiful night and early morning of climbing.  There’s some fresh snow in the icefall which made it very nice.  Once the sun came up we have some good views.  Not many people in the icefall today, just a couple of other teams – some friends we recongized.

We got up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) around 08:00am and then we continued on up to Camp 2.  Got up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) midday, had lunch, and just took an afternoon nap.

We just finished our dinner.  Everyone’s up here doing great!  We’re tired, it was a big, hard day – long day, hot at the end coming into Camp 2 but everyone did really well.  We’re recovering well and looking forward to a nice rest day tomorrow.  It’s snowing right now outside our tents.  We’re tucked in and looking foward to a good night’s rest.

We’ll check in soon, thanks!


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:

Everest Base Camp at night

Our Everest team is ready for the second rotation and will be heading up as soon as the weather allows.  Here’s expedition leader Garrett Madison with the day’s dispatch:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is May 1st.  It’s been a snow day here in base camp.  Nice weather, but cloudy and snowing – we’ve had fun.

We’ve been getting ready for our planned departure tonight to begin our second rotation up to the higher camps.  However, we’re going to wake up around midnight and check the weather.  If it’s good, we’ll go.  If it’s snowing, it’s a blizard, we’ll obviously stay here and wait one more day.

Everyone’s doing great and we’re excited to get up the mountain soon.

We’ll check in again 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.

Instagram:

Guide Rob Smith and climber Chase Merriam sharpening skills at the base of the Khumbu Icefall

The beautiful weather of the rest break has been snapped by some snow and fog at Everest Base Camp.  Here’s expedition leader Garrett Madison with the day’s dispatch:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is Saturday, April 30th and we’re in Everest Base Camp.

It’s been snowing and foggy today.  It’s supposed to have some snow tomorrow and little more cloudy weather for the next day or two, but we’re all doing great.  We did some training today out on the Khumbu Icefall and Glacier just next to base camp and everyone’s doing good here in base camp.

Our small private team of Kenton Cool, Rebecca Louise, and Elia Saikaly are all up at Camp 2 (on an acclimitization rotation).  They will be coming down in the next couple of days.

All’s well here on Mount Everest, we’re acclimatizing, we’re doing great, watching lots of movies after dinner, and enjoying our time here.  We’ll check in soon, thanks!

Everest Base Camp sweet Everest Base Camp (aka home)

Everest Base Camp sweet Everest Base Camp (aka home)

Climber Josh Garrison continues training prior to the second rotation on Everest

Climber Josh Garrison continues training prior to the second rotation on Everest

More practice near Everest base camp

Climber Chase Merriam doing more fixed line practice near Everest base camp

Everest second rotation warm-up on the Khumbu Glacier

Everest second rotation warm-up on the Khumbu Glacier

Refining climbing skills before the second rotation on Everest

Refining climbing skills before the second rotation on 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 Madison Mountaineering flash briefing.

Instagram: