Tag Archive for: Namche Bazaar

Alpenglow on the Himalaya!

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team continued onward from Namche Bazaar today, making stops at the Tengboche Monastery and the local bakery before arriving in Deboche. This evenings sunset cast beautiful alpenglow lighting upon the surrounding Himalaya while the team ate dinner and prepared to continue on their journey tomorrow. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from Deboche:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – it’s October 24th.

Today we walked from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to the village of Deboche (3820m/12,532ft). Along the way we stopped at the famous Tengboche Monastery (3867m/12,687ft) and had a coffee and some pastries in the bakery there, and then toured the monastery. There was a big puja underway, so that was interesting to see! Then in the evening, we caught a beautiful sunset that lit up Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) with really nice alpenglow light.

So, we just finished dinner and are looking forward to another great day in the Khumbu Valley tomorrow! Tomorrow, we plan to hike up to Phortse (3840m, 12,598ft), then head over to Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft), which is where we’ll spend the night. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Climber, Jocelyn crossing the Dudh Koshi River on the way to Deboche! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climber, Jocelyn crossing the Dudh Koshi River on the way to Deboche! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers at Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers at Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Approaching Tengboche with Kangtenga in the distance. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Approaching Tengboche with Kangtenga in the distance. 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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Perfect Weather On the Way to Namche!

Sirdar and Guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa crossing the famous suspension bridge below Namche with Guide, Hannah Smith. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Today, the team arrived in Namche Bazaar under crisp, clear blue skies. Namche is the main hub of the Khumbu region, and the biggest village climbers and trekkers alike will visit on their way further up the valley. Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – it’s October 22nd.

Today we walked from Phakding (2610m/8,562ft) to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft). We had another day of excellent weather. When we arrived in Namche we enjoyed a coffee at Sherpa Barista. Tomorrow we plan to take a rest day here in Namche.

So all is well in Nepal! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Walking from Phakding to Namche. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Walking from Phakding to Namche. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Expedition Leader, Garrett Madison giving the morning briefing. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Expedition Leader, Garrett Madison giving the morning briefing. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team arriving in Namche. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team arriving in Namche. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team in Jorsale. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team in Jorsale. 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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Summit Push Preparations

Climber Saskia Jacobson practicing the use of the oxygen mask (📸: @terray_s)

Summit push preparations are in full swing at Everest base camp.  Here’s Everest guide Terray Sylvester with a recap of the day’s activities at base camp and the plan for what’s next:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 12th.

Today we did some preparation for our summit push.  We did an instructional oxygen system talk here in base camp and we sorted food for our high camps.  The weather forecast still looks good for our departure, not tomorrow but the following morning early, pre-dawn.

Spirits are high and we’re all looking forward to getting started up the mountain

We will be in touch!

Guide Rob Smith providing instruction on the oxygen system (📸: @terray_s)

Guide Rob Smith providing instruction on the oxygen system (📸: @terray_s)

Climber Todd Ammerman gives the O2 mask two thumbs up! (📸: @terray_s)

Climber Todd Ammerman gives the O2 mask two thumbs up! (📸: @terray_s)

Climber Cameron Kenny trying on his oxygen mask (📸: @terray_s)

Climber Cameron Kenny trying on his oxygen mask (📸: @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:

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Back at EBC

Josh Garrison departing for EBC (📸: @terray_s)

The “dropback” rest period 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 Everest and Lhotse expedition.  It’s May 11th.

Today our climbers flew back from Namche Bazaar where they were resting for a few days pre-summit attempt. Great weather for the flights, really beautiful scenery. We settled back into base camp and had a nice dinner of pork chops, roast pumpkin, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and fruit salad for dessert.

Now, we are settling in to watch “Gladiator“! Our summit plans have taken shape and in all likelihood we will leave base camp within the next couple of days, aiming for a summit in just a little over a week.

So, all is well here in base camp. It’s a beautiful warm and misty night.

We will be in touch!

Sara Safari leaving Namche for EBC (📸: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/terray_s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@terray_s</a>)

Sara Safari leaving Namche for EBC (📸: @terray_s)

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

Cockpit view (📸: @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:

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Last Dropback Rest Day

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:

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Active Rest in Namche

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:

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Namche Dropback Period Continues

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:

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Resting Up in Namche

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:

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Dropback to Namche

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:

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Namche Bazaar to Deboche

Climbers enjoying a tea break in Kyangjuma

Today our trekking and climbing teams moved up from Namche Bazaar past the Tengboche Monastery to the village of Deboche along the Imja Khola river.  Madison Mountaineering guide Terray Sylvester provides a recap of the day.

Also, be sure to check out Alan Arnette’s interview with Garrett Madison from Namche Bazaar:  https://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2022/04/07/everest-2022-interview-with-garrett-madison-from-namche-bazaar/

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s Thursday, April 7th.

Today we trekked from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to the little village of Deboche (3820m/12,532ft).  We had nice weather along the way with more views of Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse.  We stopped for lunch at a little town called Phungi Thenga.  Then we crossed a suspension bridge across the Dudh Koshi river, which means “Milk River” because of the color of the water from the glacial silt in it.  Then we ascended the long switchbacks up to Tengboche Monastery at about 12,700ft, checked out the monastery and some of the other sites around it and then walked down the last 20 minutes to Deboche.

So we’re about to have dinner here and looking forward to tomorrow which will be a nice day.  We’ll walk through Pangboche and get the blessing of the local Lama there.

We’ll be in touch!

The climbing team at the Panorama Lodge in Namche Bazaar

The climbing team at the Panorama Lodge in Namche Bazaar

Climber David Courtney receiving a blessing before leaving Namche

Climber David Courtney receiving a blessing before leaving Namche

Climber Josh Garrison receiving a blessing before leaving Namche

Climber Josh Garrison receiving a blessing before leaving Namche

Along the trail to Deboche

Along the trail to Deboche

Climber Stephane Mayer visiting Tengboche Monastery with his family

Climber Stephane Mayer visiting Tengboche Monastery with his family

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:

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