Tag Archive for: Nubri Valley

Getting ready to go up!

Our team dialing in their down suits for their upcoming summit push!

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team spent the day reviewing their oxygen systems and down suits, which they’ll use on their summit push! Today was somewhat of a rest day, albeit a productive day nonetheless as the skills reviewed are important to be familiar with as we climb above 8,000 meters. With this review behind us, the team is now one step closer to heading off on their summit push! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Manaslu base camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – today is September 19th.

Today we’re taking a rest day here in base camp (4859m/15,944ft) since at this point we have completed our acclimatization on the upper mountain. This morning has been very beautiful – blue skies and warm temps. We’ve been walking around base camp in sandals! Yesterday evening was also really nice. We watched the full moon rise over Saula Himal (6235m/20,456ft), it’s the mountain range just across the Nubri valley from us to the east.

We also have ticked off a couple of important tasks this morning! We started the day by going over our oxygen systems to make sure our climbers are totally familiar with masks, regulators, and cylinders we’ll be using during our summit push. We had what we call a down suit party where everyone puts on their down suits and we make sure they’re adjusted properly and everyone’s familiar with all the features so that we’re good to go once we start climbing in the colder temps above Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft), above Camp 3 (6800m/22,310ft).

So, it’s been a productive day here! We’re about to sit down to dinner and then we’ll watch a movie, and we’ll be in touch tomorrow! All is well here in Nepal.

Our climber, Chie, practicing with our oxygen system.

Our climber, Chie, practicing with our oxygen system.

Our climber, James, practicing with our oxygen system.

Our climber, James, practicing with our oxygen system.

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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Acclimatization is complete!

The team touching Camp 3. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team has made their way back to base camp after finishing up their final acclimatization rotation before making their summit push! The team had great weather overall on the mountain, with great views of the route, the mountain above, and the far-off peaks and valleys surrounding them. The team is feeling great and looks forward to a few days enjoying the comforts of their base camp before getting back on the mountain and going for the summit! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – today is September 18th.

Today we woke up early in Camp 2 (6400m/21,000ft) and descended back to base camp (4859m/15,944ft). We arrived just before lunch, had a good meal, and then everyone spent the afternoon taking showers, starting on some laundry, and getting settled back in our cozy box tents here in base camp.

With that, we’ve wrapped up our acclimatization before our summit push. At this point, we’ve spent three nights in Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft) and two nights in Camp 2. It seems like the whole team is doing really well! Everyone was feeling good higher on the mountain, feeling strong. So, I’m looking forward to a good summit push!

We’ll probably spend three to four days here in base camp and then hopefully start up toward the summit! But, it all depends on the weather and conditions on the mountain.

This last rotation was a lot of fun, in large part because we had such great weather! Yesterday afternoon and today we had really clear skies, which meant we could see out into the hills of Tibet and far down the Nubri valley, which is surrounded by glaciated peaks out toward the Ganesh range, and then even out toward Shishapangma (8027m/26,335ft), far in the distance.

So, all is well here! We’re just about to have dinner and watch a movie. It’ll probably be another Indiana Jones film, and then we’ll go to bed! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

The team descending back to base camp at the end of a successful acclimatization rotation. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The team descending back to base camp at the end of a successful acclimatization rotation. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers, Chie and Sara, in their tent at Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our climbers, Chie and Sara, in their tent at Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Approaching Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Approaching Camp 1. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Climbing through the icefall below Camp 2. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Climbing through the icefall below Camp 2. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Sara with Siddhi Tamung, a member of our Sherpa team, during the rotation. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Sara with Siddhi Tamung, a member of our Sherpa team, during the rotation. (Photo by 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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Second rotation is underway!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team is back on the mountain! The climb to Camp 1 marks the start of their second rotation on the world’s eighth-highest peak and the team is feeling strong with the acclimatization they gained from their first few days in Camp 1, just a short time ago. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Camp 1:

Hello from Camp 1 (5700m/18,700ft)! This morning we climbed back to our tent platforms here at 5700m under sunny skies. There was a layer of clouds below extending down the Nubri Valley — a beautiful sight as we made our way up the Manaslu Glacier. In the words of our climber, James, the team is ‘highly motivated,’ feeling the benefits of the extra red blood cells we gained on our previous rotation, and glad to settle back into Camp 1 in great weather. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

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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Hello from Manaslu Base Camp!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team has arrived in base camp! Upon reaching their temporary home, clouds in the sky parted ways and revealed the summit high above – the team’s first sight of the summit on the trip so far. Expedition leader Terray Sylvester checks in with this exciting dispatch from base camp:

Hello from Manaslu Base Camp (4859m/15,944ft)! Today we hiked here from Sama Village with excellent views of the lower Manaslu Glacier and the Nubri Valley far below us. In the afternoon, the summit (8156m/26,759ft) emerged from the clouds as we settled into camp. We just wrapped up dinner and our first movie of the expedition: Back to the Future. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

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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Touring the Punggen Valley

Punggen Gompa, the oldest monastery in the Manaslu area.

Today the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team continued their acclimatization efforts in the areas surrounding Sama Village. The day started with clear and sunny skies, revealing spectacular views of the valleys and mountains surrounding the small village. Energized by the sun and with ever-growing excitement for the journey ahead, the team set off and toured the Punggen Valley and paid a visit to the Punggen Gompa, the oldest monastery in the area. Upon starting their journey home for the day, the team was invited for a visit into the home of one of the Buddhist nuns where they shared tea and cheese, a welcome surprise, and end to another great day in the Himalayas! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – today is September 4th.

Today we took a really nice acclimatization hike up into the Punggen Valley, which is not far from Sama Village where we’re staying. The hike leads up along the torrent that comes out of the Punggen Glacier, and then through really beautiful pastureland where yaks and horses are grazing, and then up to the Punggen Gompa which is the oldest monastery in the Manaslu area.

As we were walking back from the monastery, one of the Buddhist nuns who lives in that whole monastery complex invited (us) into her house and treated us to butter tea, which is a very traditional drink here in the mountains of Nepal as well as fresh yak milk and yak cheese – actually those came from a nak, it was nak milk and nak cheese. A nak, N-A-K, is the female version of a yak, all yaks are male.

Then we walked back down to Sama Village. So, all in all it was a really pleasant day! Tomorrow we’re looking forward to another acclimatization hike up towards base camp (4859m/15,944ft). We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

A sunny morning in Sama Village!

A sunny morning in Sama Village!

The team at the entrance to the Punggen Valley.

The team at the entrance to the Punggen Valley.

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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Acclimatization day in Samagaun!

The team acclimatizing near Birendra Lake with Manaslu Glacier in the background! (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Manaslu expedition team had a lovely day acclimatizing and exploring Samagaun and the surrounding areas! The team paid visits to a high alpine lake along with several monasteries, making for time well spent at over 3,500 meters while our climbers get used to lower levels of oxygen. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition, it’s September 3rd.

Today we had a really nice day! We had a sunny morning and so we went for an acclimatization hike up to Birendra Lake above town, and then we visited the local monasteries. Then we finished off that hike by heading farther up the Nubri Valley toward the next village, Samdo. It’s really nice here right now, everything’s very green and lush with lots of wildflowers because of the monsoon rains. With the beautiful, sunny day we had great views around the area including up to almost the summit of Manaslu itself.

We just finished dinner and we’re heading to bed soon. Tomorrow, we’ll wake up early and hopefully go for another acclimatization hike down the valley toward the Pungen Monastery. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Our climber, Chie, lighting butter lamps in Pema Decho Ling Monastery in Samagaun.

Our climber, Chie, lighting butter lamps in Pema Decho Ling Monastery in Samagaun.

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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First Views of Manaslu!

Photo from Madison Mountaineering archive. Photo: Terray Sylvester

While continuing their acclimatization in preparation to continue up to base camp in just a few days, the team had their first views of Manaslu today! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Manaslu (8156m/26,759ft) expedition – it’s September 4th.

Today we hiked part way up to base camp (4859m/15,944ft) as we continue to acclimatize before we actually move up there. It rained all night, but as we were eating breakfast, the clouds began to clear. As we walked out of Samagaun (3530m/11,581ft), we got our first views of the upper mountain of Manaslu – beautiful views of the summit and the Manaslu Glacier below it. That was a real treat! The hike was fantastic. We had partly sunny skies throughout, went up, relaxed in the sun for a little while, and then returned to Sama village.

We’ve just spent the rest of the day resting and we’ll continue to acclimatize tomorrow!

Beautiful views in the Nupri Valley above Samagaon. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Beautiful views in the Nupri Valley above Samagaon. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climbing towards base camp with Manaslu towering above. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climbing towards base camp with Manaslu towering above. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climber, Nancy, hiking toward base camp with Aang Phurba Sherpa. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climber, Nancy, hiking toward base camp with Aang Phurba Sherpa. 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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