Tag Archive for: Nepal

After departing Camp 2 at around 5am this morning, members of our climbing team wrapped up a successful second rotation and returned to base camp. The team had a positive experience up on the mountain and as you can see below enjoyed spectacular views along the way (more pictures to come!). The weather was cold and windy at night and heated up considerably during the day while climbing. Billy, Joel and Jim are spending an additional acclimatization night at Camp 2 with Brent and will be coming back down to base camp tomorrow. The team is in good health and we all look forward to a week of R&R before our last rotation.

The many teams at base camp from around the world are working together now to fix the ropes up through Camp 4, we expect this to happen tomorrow. At this point we will be able to begin to put in place the gear and oxygen necessary for our summit rotation. Michael Fagin, our meteorologist based in Seattle, will soon be reporting to us the weather window for summit day. Our team has been training for months in preparation for the days to come, we are all very excited to begin the ascent to the top of of the world. Stay tuned!

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Camp Two viewed from Camp Three

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Camp Two

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Madison Mountaineering 2016 Everest Team

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On the ascent toward Camp Three

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Today our team woke up at 6:30am and began the climb toward Camp 3 at 7,200m (23,625ft). The weather today is beautiful with no clouds in sight. Yesterday our climbers took a rest day at Camp 2 after the direct ascent from base camp. The game plan for today is to touch Camp 3 then return to Camp 2 for the night. Tomorrow our team will come back down the mountain and arrive at base camp early afternoon. A few members of the team are planning to helicopter back down to Namche for 3-4 nights to rest at lower altitude before returning for the summit rotation. We are expecting 5-6 days between this next rotation depending on the weather window for our summit push.

All climbers are in good health and we are all looking forward to the next rotation!

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Ankur enjoying the view of Everest!

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Climbers moving up from Camp 1

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After a alpine start this morning our climbing team safely arrived in Camp 2 this afternoon. Waking up at 11:30pm our team had a quick breakfast before taking off into the icefall. The weather conditions were clear through the night with snow rolling in throughout the morning. Garrett reports from Camp 2 that the team is tired but all in good condition after the big push. The plan is to rest tomorrow at Camp 2 then touch Camp 3 the following day. In total spending 4 nights on the mountain for this second rotation before coming back down to base camp.

Brent and Kent are acclimatizing here at base camp and will go on a hike toward Pumori tomorrow morning. They plan to climb to Camp 1 the following day. The summit window for Everest will be arriving shortly, stay tuned as we journey to the top of the world!

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Today our team is enjoying a restful day at Everest Base Camp and will be departing on their second rotation toward Camp 2 early this morning. Yesterday Lisa, Ankur, and Conan went on a afternoon hike with beautiful views looking over the Everest region. Ankur had a special delivery DHL package delivered to basecamp a couple weeks ago with a Scrabble game. Little did we know Ankur is a extraordinary scrabble player and the rest of the team will continue to win a game. The weather has been great with clear skies in the day and colder nights once the sun goes down. We are all looking forward to our next rotation and believe that the summit day is within two weeks from today!

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Larger than a American Chuckar, very domesticated and looking for handouts!

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Spectacular views with Everest in the background 

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Lisa practicing her yoga moves at 18,500ft

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Lisa and Ankur on a relaxing day hike with Conan

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Today was a relaxing day at Everest Base Camp with half the group deciding to stretch their legs and go on a four hour roundtrip hike to Pumori Base Camp. Pumori is right behind you if you are looking up at Everest from Base Camp and provides spectacular views. This afternoon Brent and Kent arrived into base camp which completes our 2016 climbing team. Kent will be acclimating over the next few days and is doing very well. Tomorrow we will go on another short day hike and begin to prepare for our second rotation up the mountain. At dinner this evening we had fresh vegetables, mango’s, chicken, and pasta.

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Sunset looking over our base camp

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View from Pumori Base Camp Hike

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View from Pumori Base Camp Hike

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Conan enjoying the sunny afternoon with our lead Sherpa’s

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Pumpkin Soup ~ Pumpkin Pie 

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Our standard Everest and Lhotse climbing team have finished the first rotation on the mountain, spending 2 nights at Camp 1 and 3 nights at Camp 2 to acclimatize and familiarize ourselves with the climbing route.  We are now in base camp resting and preparing for our second rotation. Climbers are enjoying base camp, taking hot showers, eating fresh food at every meal, and reading or watching films as we recover from our time spent up high on the mountain at over 21,000’.  Here are some reports from our climbers:

Lisa“I felt so good at camp 2, I wanted to just keep going!”

Stuart“I really enjoyed the climb through the icefall, and the time up at camp 2, I’m enjoying my rest time at base camp, we have a great team and looking forward to heading back up!”

Nick“It’s cold up there at Camp 2, but I know I will be alright!”

Ankur“Each rotation up the mountain is like an expedition itself.”

Jeff“I felt safe and protected throughout the rotation up through the icefall and at Camp 2.”

Joel“I’m amazed by the Sherpa, their strength, stamina, friendliness, willingness to serve and pleasant attitudes.”

Jim“Commitment to team and a day at a time!”

Our Private Everest climbing team has arrived and is preparing for the first rotation up the mountain.  The climbers have used the Hypoxico system to pre-acclimatize, and have reduced 3 weeks from the expedition by doing so.

Andrew and Fred are managing the virtual reality (VR) Everest project and have been working hard capturing content the last 3 weeks, covering the trek to base camp, Everest Base Camp, and the Khumbu Icefall climbing route up to Camp 1. Fred will continue filming up the mountain as we climb higher, hopefully capturing the first ever VR from the summit of Mount Everest!

 

Our 18 Sherpa climbers are also resting after working hard to establish our Camp 3 on the Lhotse Face.  Things are moving fast and it looks like the fixed lines might be up to the summit by early May.  Our base camp cook team (8 Nepali staff) is taking good care of us by cooking fresh & hearty meals!  We’ve lost a few pounds up high so we need to replenish!

 

Madison Mountaineering 2016 Everest Team

Guide Team for standard Everest (& Lhotse) program:

-Garrett Madison

-Conan Bliss

-Billy Nugent

 

Guide Team for Private Everest climb:

-Brent Bishop

 

VR Everest Film Team:

-Fred Alldredge (high altitude camera man)

-Tundu Sherpa (high altitude camera assistant)

 

Everest Base Camp Manager & VR Digital Asset Manager:

-Andrew Tierney

 

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Today our team packed up from Camp 2 and made a safe descent through the Khumbu Icefall. Arriving into Base Camp a little before lunch time. Up on the mountain the winds were strong and our team spent a lot of time in our field tested Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 tents. Spending five days up on Everest our climbers were able to acclimate and get ready for the next rotation. Tomorrow will be dedicated to rest and recovery with no planned activities in the day. Tonight we had a feast of a meal and I’m sure that will continue in the days to come. Weather the past few days has been blue skies with no clouds, which means it is very cold once the sun goes down. We are all in good health and look forward to the adventures ahead of us.

 

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Spending a second night at Camp 2, our climbers acclimatize and continue to move higher up the mountain. Over the past two days our team has enjoyed the comfort of our advanced base camp with hot meals and beautiful views. From base camp we watched many helicopters make rounds to Camp 1 yesterday, carrying loads dangling beneath filled with fixed ropes for higher on Everest. In years past Sherpa had carried the fixed ropes through the Khumbu Icefall. Tomorrow if the weather allows our team will descend the mountain and arrive back at Base Camp. Strong winds have been ripping across base camp at night which makes for a exciting night in the tent.

Once back at base camp our team will rest for 4-5 days before making their second rotation toward Camp 3 at 7,200, (23,635ft).

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Garrett reports to base camp that the team has successfully reached Camp 2 at 6,400m (21,000ft). Currently it’s snowing and very cold with high winds. Our Camp 2 is our advanced base camp with a large dining tent with food and supplies to support the expedition further up Mt. Everest in the weeks to come. Our team is healthy and doing well, they are now in their down suits staying warm as the temperature continues to drop into the evening. The plan is to stay here for 3 nights to acclimate and go on day hikes if the weather allows. Will upload pictures as soon as I am able!

After successfully making it through the Khumbu Icefall yesterday our team has enjoyed a rest at Camp One. Today our lead guides, (Garrett, Conan, and Billy) made a nice breakfast for the team before taking off on a day hike to continue to acclimatize. Everyone is in good health and ready to continue the journey up Mt. Everest tomorrow. With weather conditions stable our team will climb 3-5 hours to reach Camp Two at 6,400m (21,000ft) tomorrow. Spending a couple nights at Camp Two our team will complete their first acclimatization rotation and return to base camp to rest. The views are spectacular and we will have photos up of Camp Two tomorrow!

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Madison Mountaineering Camp One

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