Tag Archive for: Paiju

Unbeatable views in the Karakoram!

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

Today was another spectacular day in the Karakoram, and we’re one day closer to reaching K2 Base Camp. The Madison Mountaineering K2, Broad Peak, and unclimbed peak expedition teams got an early start to the day, stepping onto the Baltoro Glacier under some of the world’s most famous and iconic peaks towering overhead! There was no shortage of views on this day, leaving the team psyched and ready to continue on in the days ahead. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Urdukas Camp:

Hello from Urdukas Camp (4034m/13,235ft) at 4,000m. Today was one of the most spectacular days of a trek that’s famous for its scenery. We left Paiju Camp (3400m/11,155ft) at 6 a.m. and then hiked up past the headwaters of the Braldu River onto the Baltoro Glacier, the planet’s largest non-polar glacier. For the next six hours, we enjoyed views of some of the most famous peaks on earth: Paiju Peak (6610m/21,686ft), Shipton Spire (5852m, 19,199ft), the Trango Towers (6286m/20,623ft), Uli Biaho (6417m/21,053ft), Lobsang Spire (5707m/18,724 ft), and eventually Gasherbrum IV (7925m/26,001ft), just as we arrived at Urdukas. The weather today was excellent. A high overcast and occasional showers kept the heat at bay without spoiling the views. Now we’re resting before dinner. The team is in good shape. 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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Beating the heat!

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

The Madison Mountaineering Karakoram expeditions team took to the trail again today, trekking to their next stop at Paiju Camp. With striking views of Masherbrum, the Trango Towers, and other peaks that line the valley, the team walked along the Braldu River until they reached their temporary home at the foot of the mighty Baltoro Glacier. The trek continues tomorrow! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Pakistan:

Today we had a great trek from Jhola Camp (3151m/10,338ft) to Paiju Camp (3400m/11,155ft). We left Jhola early to beat the heat, and arrived in Paiju around 11:30. We’ve spent rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the views of the Baltoro Glacier, plus the lower flanks of Masherbrum (7821m/25,659ft) and the Trango Towers (6286m/20,623ft) in the distance. We’ll head to bed early for our long walk to Urdukas Camp (4034m/13,235ft) tomorrow. We’ll be in touch then.

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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The first day of trekking!

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

The Madison Mountaineering Karakoram expeditions team set out today on the trek to K2 Base Camp, in great spirits and with excellent weather. Cooler temperatures and a few light rain showers were a welcome change, since the early days of this trek are often quite hot. With the first day behind us, we’ve settled in for dinner at camp, enjoying the beautiful views and each other’s company as we get ready for another day on the trail tomorrow. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Jhola Camp:

Hello from Jhola Camp (3151m/10,338ft)! Today we trekked here from Askole (3040m/9,974ft) in ideal weather. The first couple of days on the trek to K2 (8611m/28,251ft) can be hot, but today cooler temps and occasional light rain showers made for pleasant walking. Now we’re relaxing before dinner. The skies have cleared and we have great views of some of the lower glaciated peaks above the Braldu River. The team is healthy and in good spirits. We’re looking forward to the trek to Paiju (3400m/11,155ft) 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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Trekking from Paiju to Urdukas Camp

Trekking towards Urdukas Camp

The team had a beautiful day trekking up the Baltoro Glacier to Urdukas Camp. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison provides todays dispatch via sat-phone:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 Expedition Team. Today is June 23rd.

We’ve reached Urdukas Camp (4034m/13,235ft) on the way to K2 Basecamp. It was a long day trekking from Paiju up the Baltoro Glacier. We had a beautiful day that started off cool, but then warmed up. It got very warm for a while during mid-day on the glacier, then cooled off in the afternoon. We’re just about to settle down and have dinner. Everyone’s doing well, but we’re a little tired.

We’re looking forward to a shorter day tomorrow, trekking up the glacier towards Goro 2 Camp. It’s great to be here, we’re having a good time. We saw a lot of beautiful peaks today; Great Trango Towers, Broad Peak, and a lot of other mountains.

We’re really enjoying the trek so far, we’ll check in soon.

Team trekking along the Braldo River

Team trekking along the Braldo River

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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And the Trek to Base Camp Begins

The first day of trekking is done and the team is now at Paiju camp along the Braldu River on their way to K2 base camp. Expedition leader Garrett Madison checks in via satellite phone from camp:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 2022 expedtion team.  Today is Wednesday, June 22nd.

Today we started our trek!  First day trekking up towards base camp.  We started off at Jhola camp (3151m/10,338ft), where we arrived last night by jeep from Skardu (2220m/7,283ft).  We trekked all the way up to Paiju camp (3400m/11,155ft) today.  Everyone’s doing great, we had some cool cloudy weather which made it nice for the trek, not too hot.

Now we’re all settled in here at Paiju camp and looking forward to a nice dinner tonight.  Tomorrow we’ll either take a rest day or we’ll make our way up the valley onto the Baltoro Glacier – up to Urdukas camp (4034m/13,235ft).  We’ll make that decision tomorrow morning – see how the weather is, see how we’re feeling.

All’s well here.  Everyone’s doing great and we’re excited to be on our way!  We’ll check in soon, thanks.

(photo: Madison Mountaineering archives)

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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K2 2022 Kicks Off with team arriving in Skardu!

Big boulder blocking the Karakoram Highway!

Our 2022 K2 expedition has started!!  The team arrived in Islamabad on June 18th and drove by motor coach to the staging city of Skardu enjoying a small adventure along the way.  Here’s expedition leader, Garrett Madison, with the expedition’s initial dispatch:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 2022 expedition team.  Today is June 19th and we arrived in Skardu today after a drive from Islamabad.  The weather’s been bad the last few days, so all the flights from Islamabad to Skardu have been canceled.  So, we took buses and drove yesterday on the Karakoram Highway and reached Skardu around midnight.

There was a big boulder that came down over the road at one point and we actually had to walk across by foot and have new vehicles met us on the other side to transport us to Skardu.  It was an adventure to say the least!  A fun way to start the trip.

We’re just waiting on clearance here in Skardu, then we’ll head off tomorrow, hopefully by jeep, drive all the way to Jhola Camp (3151m/10,338ft), spend the night, and then start trekking the next day towards K2 base camp.

Everyone’s doing well, we’re excited to be here and looking forward to the journey ahead.

K2 team traveled by bus from Islamabad to Skardu

K2 team traveled by bus from Islamabad to Skardu

Climber Nelly and Ang Purba enjoy reaching Diamer, Pakastan

Climber Nelly and Ang Purba enjoy reaching Diamer, Pakistan

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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Urdukas Camp (4034m/13,235ft)

Nameless Tower (Trango group) as seen from the trail to K2 base camp

Day two of trekking to K2 base camp is completed and expedition leader Garrett Madison provides the day’s expedition dispatch:

Hello, this is Garrett callling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 and Broad Peak expedition team.

Today is June 30th and today we trekked from Paiju camp up to Urdukas camp on the Baltoro Glacier.  We had a wonderful day!  It was hot and we did find one glacier pond to jump in and cool off late morning.  Had lunch in Khoburtse and then made our way up to Urdukas camp here by the afternoon.

Great views today of the Trango Towers, Nameless Tower, … so many beautiful peaks here, just very spectacular!  Very special to be here.  We had a wonderful dinner of fresh chicken with rice and curry and fresh tomato cabbage onion salad.

Tomorrow our plan is to leave at 7:00 AM and head up to Goro 2 camp (4285m/14,058ft) out in the middle of the Baltoro Glacier.

Everyone’s doing well here, we’ve been having great weather so far – its a little bit hot until the clouds form in the afternoon.  But we’ve all doing well.  Looking forward to another great day trekking tomorrow on our way up to K2 base camp.

(photo:  The Nameless Tower from the Madison Mountaineering archives)

If climbing K2 or Broad Peak 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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First day of trekking to Paiju camp (3400m/11,155ft)

The first day of trekking is done and the team is now at Paiju camp along the Braldu River on their way to K2 base camp.  Expedition leader Garrett Madison checks in via satellite phone from their shady camp:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering K2 and Broad Peak expedition.

Today is Tuesday, June 29th and we had a great day trekking from Jhola camp to Paiju camp today along the Braldu River.  We had lunch, made it to camp, relaxed in the shade, and then had a nice dinner, watched the sun go down with the light changing on all the surrounding peaks.  Now we are just getting settled in for bed.

Everyone’s doing well and we’re excited to be on our way to K2 base camp.  We’ll probably arrive there in four or five days.  We are enjoying the trek, the scenery, and the good company with all of our Pakistani and sherpa friends.

We’ll check in soon.  Thanks!

(photo:  Madison Mountaineering archives)

If climbing K2 or Broad Peak 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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Rest day at Paiju

Today the team will be enjoying a rest day at the camp of Paiju along the banks of the Braldu river just below the snout of the Baltoro Glacier.  Garrett provides this update:

Hello this is Garrett calling in for the K2 climbing expedition team.  Today is June 24th and last night we arrived in Paiju (3400m/11,155ft) on the trek to base camp.  Today we’re taking a rest day in Paiju to give our porters a chance to rest up and then we’ll continue on the following day up to Urdukas (4034m/13,235ft).  Weather’s good, sometimes a little bit of rain, sun, bit of wind; mountain weather…  But, it’s all good here.  Everyone’s doing well and we’re looking forward to enjoying a rest day.

(photo:  Madison Mountaineering K2 archive)

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