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Namche to Deboche

Trekking to Deboche

Departing Namche Bazaar, today the Everest team trekked to the village of Deboche, spending some time at the Tengboche Monastery along the way.  Madison Mountaineering guide Rob Smith provides the expedition dispatch of the day:

Hey, this is Rob Smith here from the Madison Mountaineering Everest 2021 expedition.  All’s going well.  What a great day today!  We left Namche this morning after a nice blessing by the lodge owner and we all got a khata each.

Climbing out of Namche we traversed along the hill before dropping down to the river at Phungi Thenga for lunch.  We then had a 600m/2,000ft climb up the side of Tengboche Hill.  We stopped at the Monastery, which was looking splendid in the afternoon light.  Tengboche was very quiet, so we felt very fortunate to have it to ourselves.  Some of us also visited the memorial for the 1963 American Expedition on Everest.  And then we strolled downhill through the rhododendron forest to Deboche, where we are settled into our cozy lodge sat around the wood-burning stove and all is good!

This is Rob, signing off.

Everest climbing team departing the Panorama Lodge in Namche

Everest climbing team departing the Panorama Lodge in Namche

Mark P receives a blessing and a khata at the Panorama Lodge in Namche

Mark P receives a blessing and a khata at the Panorama Lodge in Namche

Mani stones on the trek to Dobuche

Mani stones on the trek to Dobuche

Arriving at the Tengboche Monastery

Arriving at the Tengboche Monastery

The Tengboche Monastery

The Tengboche Monastery

If climbing Mount Everest is in your future, please contact our office, we would love to have you climb with us!

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:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

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Acclimating above Namche

Above Namche Bazaar

Resting and acclimatization in and around Namche Bazaar, the Everest team hiked up to the Hotel Everest View.  Here’s expedition leader Garrett Madison‘s recap of the day:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team.  Today is April 6th and we had a nice rest day in Namche.

We trekked up to the Everest View Hotel and had a good view up the valley of Ama Dablam and Everest, but it was a little bit hazy because of the smoke from forest fires here in Nepal at the moment.  We came back to our lodge, the Panorama Lodge & Restaurant, in Namche, had a nice lunch, and then explored the town of Namche in the afternoon.

We just had a good dinner and now we’re off to bed.  Our plan is to head out tomorrow and trek up the valley to Deboche.

All’s well here in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal.  We’ll check in soon!

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

Hanging out at the Everest View Hotel

Hanging out at the Everest View Hotel

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

Acclimatization hike from Namche to the Everest View Hotel

If climbing Mount Everest is in your future, please contact our office, we would love to have you climb with us!

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:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

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Phakding to Namche Bazaar

Happy Madison Mountaineering trekkers

Today the base camp trekking team and the Everest climb team trekked along the Dudh Koshi and up the big hill to the capital village of the Khumbu, Namche Bazaar.  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, provides the details of the day’s trek:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest expedition team and trek.  Today we trekked from Phakding up to Namche.

It was a beautiful day, with some nice views crossing suspension bridges over the river gorge and of some snow-capped peaks.  We had a nice lunch in Jorsalle en route.

We arrived at Namche this afternoon, checked into our rooms, and walked around town a bit.  We just finished a nice dinner here, and we’re looking forward to a good night’s rest.

Tomorrow we are excited for an acclimatization hike and a rest here in Namche!

All’s well in Nepal and we’ll check in soon.

Thamserku rising high above the river Dudh Koshi

Thamserku rising high above the river Dudh Koshi

Garrett and Art M trekking to Namche

Garrett and Art M trekking to Namche

Kristin B crossing the Dudh Koshi before the big hill up to Namche

Kristin B crossing the Dudh Koshi before the big hill up to Namche

Trekking up to Namche Bazaar

Trekking up to Namche Bazaar

Kristin H enjoying the trek

Kristin H enjoying the trek

Arriving Namche Bazaar on a beautiful afternoon in Nepal

Arriving Namche Bazaar on a beautiful afternoon in Nepal

If climbing Mount Everest is in your future, please contact our office, we would love to have you climb with us!

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:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

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The Trek to Base Camp – Debuche (3730m)

Departing the Panorama Lodge in Namche with blessings

Leaving Namche Bazaar today, the Ama Dablam team was blessed by our friends at the Panorama Lodge and started making their way towards Tengboche.  Before reaching the lunch stop at the village of Phunki Tenga, they said farewell to the Gokyo trekking team as the trail split and the Gokyo trekkers headed north into the Gokyo Valley and the village of Mong.  After lunch on the riverside terrace overlooking the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola rivers, the Ama Dablam team crossed the big footbridge and made their way up to the hill to the Tengboche Monastery and the always awesome Cafe Tengboche for some well earned Khumbu apple pie at 3855m / 12,648 ft.!

From there it was just a bit further on, downhill, to the Rivendell Lodge in Deboche for the evening.

[ UPDATE:  Apparently the cafes in Phunki Tenga and Tengboche were closed due to the coronavirus so no apple pie!  🙁 ]

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

– Instagram:

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First views of Ama Dablam!

Ama Dablam: The objective is in sight

During today’s active rest day, the teams did an acclimatization hike up to the Everest View Hotel and caught their first views of Ama Dablam, Everest, and Lhotse.  It was a beautiful, crystal clear blue sky day and the scenery was simply eye-popping.

Tomorrow the Ama Dablam team will head out of Namche and traverse the magnificent valley towards Tengboche.  Along the way, they will say farewell to the Gokyo trek teams as they head north into the Gokyo Valley.

First view of Ama Dablam from the Everest View Hotel

First view of Ama Dablam from the Everest View Hotel

Moe is excited to see Ama Dablam

Moe is excited to see Ama Dablam

Our Sirdar Aang Phruba is psyched to get climbing Ama Dablam

Our Sirdar Aang Phruba is psyched to get climbing Ama Dablam

Ama Dablam

Ama Dablam

Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

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

– Instagram:

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The Trek to Base Camp – Namche Bazaar (3440m)

Chase M, Jenn D, Aang Phurba, and Garrett trekking to Namche

Today the teams trekked from Phakding up to Namche Bazaar under beautiful, sunny skies.  Here’s expedition leader, Garrett Madison, with the update from Namche:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Ama Dablam team expediton and Gokyo trek teams.  We are in Namche Bazaar.

We had a wonderful trek today from the village of Phakding up the Khumbu Valley to Namche.  Beautiful views crossing the supension bridges over the river gorge and making our way up the big hill to Namche.  We’re all doing good.

It’s very quite, very peaceful, very beautiful here in the Khumbu Valley.  Just a few other trekkers we’ve seen so far.  It’s really nice to be reaquanted with some of our local friends and family that we stay with when we come to visit Nepal.  They’re very happy to see us.

We look forward to another great day here tomorrow in Namche!

 

Crossing the Larcha Dovan bridge to Namche (🎥: @eliasaikaly)

Jenn D studies the bridge before Namche

Jenn D studies the bridge before Namche

On the trek to Namche

On the trek to Namche

Namche Bazaar (3440m)

Namche Bazaar (3440m)

At the Panorama Lodge, Namche

At the Panorama Lodge, Namche

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

– Instagram:

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Ama Dablam team nearing base camp

Ama Dablam

Our autumn Ama Dablam expedition kicked off earlier this week and the team has been trekking their way up to base camp from the mountain airport village of Lukla (2860m / 9,380ft.).  The first stop was the village of Monjo where they entered the Sagarmatha National Park. and from there up to Namche Bazaar where a couple of days were spent resting.  On their acclimatization hikes above Namche, the team caught the first glimpses of their objective:  Ama Dablam.  Great hiking weather with dramatic clouds unveiling the summit.  From Namche, the team pressed on to Deboche and were able to spend some time enjoying the Tengboche Monastery on their way.

Today they are now at the last village before Ama Dablam base camp, Pangboche and should be crossing the river and finishing up the trek to BC tomorrow.

Team arrives Lukla

Brook and Rick at the hanging bridges below Namche

Brook and Rick at the hanging bridges below Namche

Having a great trek and now are on the Namche cappuchino tour

Ama Dablam team - Brook, Conan, Rick

Ama Dablam team – Brook, Conan, Rick

Ama Dablam

First glimpse of the Ama Dablam

Ama Dablam team checking out the Tengboche Monastery en route to Pangboche

Also follow the team on Instagram:  @MadisonMtng

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Namche to Deboche

Outside the Tengboche monastery

Here is expedition leader, Garrett Madison, with today’s report on the trekking progress towards Everest Base Camp:

Helllo, this is Garrett calling in for the Mountain Hardwear Mount Everest Expedition.  Today is September 11th we had a great trek today from Namche down the hillside and across the river, up to the Tengboche Monastery, and then down into the rhododendron forest to the village of Deboche.  We are staying in the Rivendale Lodge here in Deboche.

 

We just had a great dinner and folks are heading off to bed.  It’s raining hard outside – it’s feeling like a bit of the monsoon season.  But we are hoping for clear sky tomorrow and a nice view of Mount Everest and Ama Dablam.  All’s well here on the trek to Everest Base Camp.

Enjoying tea on the trek to Debuche

Enjoying tea on the trek to Debuche

Outside the Tengboche monastery

Outside the Tengboche monastery

Post dinner guitar session at the Rivendell lodge, Debuche

Post dinner guitar session at the Rivendell lodge, Debuche

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow the team as they trek to Everest Base Camp and then make their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain on:

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

– 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
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Acclimatizing around Namche

Tim Emmett in Khumjung today, mani stones beside

Today the Everest team continued their acclimatizing around Namche and up to Khumjung.  Garrett Madison, expedition leader, provides a recap of the day:

Helllo, this is Garrett calling in for the Mountain Hardwear Mount Everest Expedition.  Today is September 10th and we had a great day trekking around Namche.  We went up to the Everest View Hotel and got a few glimpses of Everest and Lhotse.

 

Then we made our way over to the village of Khumjung and visited with some friends of ours, Renji Sherpa and his wife and son.  They made us some boilled potatoes.  We had some milk tea and then followed up by some Chhaang, or rice wine, which is really tasty.

 

Later we made our way back to Namche for lunch, had a restful afternoon, and a nice dinner here at the Panorama Lodge.  Now we are all off to bed and looking forward to a great day tomorrow.  Our plan is to head out around 8:30 in the morning, trek through Tengboche – visit the monastery there, and then down to the rhododendron forest of Deboche to the Rivendale Lodge.  So, looking forward to a great day tomorrow.  All’s well here in Namche!

Garrett, Tim Emmett, Kancha Sherpa (last surviving member of 1953 Everest expedition), Zac Bookman

Garrett, Tim Emmett, Kancha Sherpa (last surviving member of 1953 Everest expedition), Zac Bookman

Above Namche

Above Namche

Above Namche

The team in Khumjung

Tim Emmett in Khumjung today, mani stones beside

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow the team as they trek to Everest Base Camp and then make their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain on:

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

– 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

 

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Namche Rest Day

First View of Everest

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, provides a recap of today’s rest day at Namche:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Mountain Hardwear Mount Everest Expediton autumn season.  Today we had a rest day in Namche and went for a hike up to the Mount Everest museum above town and had great views of Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.  Beautiful day!

 

Then we came back down to the Panorama Lodge for lunch and shortly thereafter the rest of our crew arrived by helicopter!  So we went over to the helipad and greeted them.  We then spent the afternoon together drinking coffee, enjoying Namche, and we just finished a nice dinner.

 

It’s great to be all together here and we are looking forward to a good acclimization hike tomorrow up to the Everest View Hotel.  All’s well here in Namche.

Statue of Tenzing Norgay above Namche

Statue of Tenzing Norgay above Namche

First View of Everest

First View of Everest (on the left)

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow the team as they trek to Everest Base Camp and then make their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain on:

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

– 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
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