Today our Mount Everest climbers stopped in Pangboche and visited Lama Geshe, the high lama of the Khumbu valley. The climbers received individual blessings from Lama Geshe as well as a team blessing. We then hiked to Shomari for lunch and then on to Dingboche for the night. The food has been delicious and we have been enjoying hot tea with every stop. Everyone is doing well and ready for an acclimatization hike tomorrow! The weather has been fantastic and everyone is in good health and spirits! The team is very excited to continue toward Everest Base Camp and begin the journey to the top of the world. 
Tag Archive for: Nepal
This morning after a great breakfast we left the wonderful Panorama hotel in Namche where we spent the last two nights, and enjoyed many fine pastries! This wonderful town is provides some of the best views that we have seen thus far. The team hiked up toward Everest View Hotel in the morning to see breathtaking views of Ama Dablam and Everest. Now we are hiking up the Khumbu valley through Tengboche where we visited the monastery, and now heading to our lodge for the night, the Rivendell. Many fine views of Mount Everest today! Photos: trekking along the route with Mount Everest in the distance, our team being blessed in Namche, loading the duffel bags in yaks this morning.
Today the climbers completed a beautiful trek to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Khumbu! We had good weather, and some spectacular views of surrounding peaks! The team is strong! After arriving in Namche we visited the bakery, had a few pastries like chocolate cake & apple strudel, with a few cappuccinos. Then we went back to our lodge and took hot showers, a great way to end the day, We are now enjoying our dinner! We plan to spend two nights here in Namche as we continue to acclimatize and enjoy the spectacular views. Onward!
Photo: Stuart at the sagarmatha park entrance gate
Our Trekkers left Kathmandu this morning on the way to Lukla, but due to quickly deteriorating weather conditions the aircraft was diverted to Phaplou, nearby Lukla. The team will spend the night there and attempt to finish the flight tomorrow morning. All is well, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow!
Today we caught the first flight out of Kathmandu to Lukla! We lucked out before the clouds and rain, and trekked through lush green river valleys and over suspension bridges to our destination for the evening, the Paradise lodge in Phakding. We are very happy to be on our way to Everest base camp! The fresh mountain air is a nice change from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu. Our trekking team’s flight could not land at Lukla so currently they are in Phaplu, and will try to fly to Lukla later today or tomorrow. Here is a photo of our team on the trek today, and another of our plane taking off on the runway at Lukla after dropping us off.
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Arrival into Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla
The Madison Mountaineering Spring 2016 Everest trekking season has officially launched! Today our second trekking team of the season is arriving in the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Trekking through the Khumbu Valley to Everest base camp is a life changing experience for many, as the spectacular mountain scenery integrated with Sherpa culture and Buddhist religion makes for a truly engaging combination. Our team’s will follow the same route to Base Camp as the Everest climbers and recount the historical ascents with the climbers who share our lodges along the way.
Beautiful photos taken by Fred Crosetto below from our first Spring 2016 Everest Trek! Enjoy :)
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Madison Mountaineering climbers around the world are gearing up for Everest 2016! In a few short weeks we will converge in Kathmandu, Nepal and begin the journey to Mount Everest, known by the locals as Sagarmāthā. Mount Everest is Earth’s highest mountain at 8,848m (29,035ft) above sea level. Here in Seattle,WA our team is actively preparing mountaineering gear, food supplies, and taking care of other important expedition logistics before our departure. We look forward to returning to Nepal to witness and share with you the growth and progress that has been made since last year’s season ending earthquake.
Expedition dispatches will be posted here as frequently as possible. Also follow us @MadisonMtng on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook.
Stay tuned! :)
Interesting Everest Fact: The international border between Tibet and Nepal runs across Everest’s precise summit point.
The climbing team is safely back in Kathmandu, Nepal! We had a wonderful dinner last night and today we are sorting equipment and preparing to head home to the USA. It’s been a wonderful trip with amazing people. On November 10th we climbed to within about 100 feet of the summit of Burke Khang (22,935 feet), and did not feel that the snow cornice at the top was stable enough to climb upon, so we ‘almost’ summitted the peak. We are calling this expedition a success, because even though we did not make it to the very top of the peak, we climbed 99% of the mountain and decided to turn back because of a potential safety risk involving unstable snow at the top. All of the climbers had a great time and did not suffer any injuries, and we are much better friends after an enjoyable month together. To climb on a virgin peak was an incredible experience that will never be forgotten. The trek into base camp was spectacular, and from there to our Advanced Base Camp and up to our high camps was very challenging, with incredible views of Mount Everest. The snow and ice slopes involved sustained climbing at around 60-70 degrees. We were the only team in the area, so it was a true exploration of the mountain and surrounding peaks. We plan to return again next year for another ‘first ascent’ of an unclimbed peak in Nepal, please contact us if you would like to know more!
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Team photo at the Yak & Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal:
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Final team dinner back in Kathmandu! Till next time!:
The Madison Mountaineering climbing team had a safe descent to Lukla airport by helicopter yesterday afternoon. Our climbing team decided to take a helicopter back to Lukla instead of the long trek down on foot. Everyone is in good condition and ready to relax and reflect on this exploratory expedition once back home. The climbing team will be picked up by plane and flown back to Kathmandu where the journey began. We will have a final dispatch written by Garrett Madison that reflects on this expedition of a lifetime in the near future.
If you have a few minutes, check out this article by CNN that discusses the physical attributes that make Sherpas superhuman mountaineers. An integral part of our high altitude expeditions is the assistance from our Sherpa family. Many thanks and continued companionship!
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Photos below were taken by Sid Pattison and Garrett Madison, enjoy!
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Sunset on Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse from our Camp 2. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Throwing duffels on the helicopter pad before heading back to Lukla. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Sorting gear at advanced base camp. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Sid Pattison on the descent! Photo by Garrett Madison.
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Sid Pattison enjoying the view of a lifetime! Photo by Garrett Madison
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Looking across from Camp 2. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Keeping it safe with fixed lines. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Helicopter arriving at Camp 1. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Hanging out with our sherpas at our high point, the corniced snow ridge just below the summit. Photo by Sid Pattison.
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Base Camp with prayer flags. Photo by Sid Pattison.
After yesterday’s exciting summit attempt, the Madison Mountaineering climbing team is safely trekking their way back down the mountain. Once the team is back at advanced base camp, expedition leader Garrett Madison will schedule a helicopter pickup which will transport the team to Lukla airport. From here the team will be ready to take a flight back to Kathmandu where the journey began! This expedition has been nothing short of an epic adventure that pioneered a unclimbed peak in the Himalayan mountain range of Nepal. With over 100 peaks being recently opened up for climbing, I can safely say that the Madison Mountaineering team will be back in 2016 to continue to explore these unchartered lands.
Beautiful photos shared by expedition leader Garrett Madison of the Burke Khang descent and yesterday’s summit attempt are shown below!
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Afternoon view of Everest & Lhotse from Burke Khang:
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Climbing access pitch to summit ridge on Burke Khang:
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The snow corniced ridge just below summit of Burke Khang:
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Packing up at camp 2, just below the summit ridge of Burke Khang:
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Climbing in the early AM from Camp 1 toward the summit of Burke Khang:
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Climbing up from Camp 1 to Camp 2 on Burke Khang:
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Dawn, before sunrise with Everest, moon above on Burke Khang:
