Pangboche Archives

Ama Dablam 2024

Acclimatizing for Ama Dablam!

Evening light on Ama Dablam above our base camp.

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team spent the day acclimatizing as they continue to prepare for their climb! More beautiful views fueled the team as they climbed up towards Camp 1. The team couldn’t ask for better weather on the expedition so far and with more good weather tomorrow, the team will conduct their Puja ceremony along with technical skills training near their base camp. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the fall, 2024 Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is October 28.

Today, we woke up to another beautiful day here – no wind, nice sunshine. So, we went for a hike up to Yak Camp, which is about a little over halfway, two-thirds of the way up to Camp 1 (5791m/19,000ft). It was a really nice hike, great views all around the valley, Thamserku (6608m/21,680ft), Kangtega (6782m/22,251ft), up toward Cho Oyu (8188m/26,864ft), Cholatse (6440m/21,130 ft), Taboche (6495m/21,309ft) – all the beautiful peaks around here! Then, we came down for a nice lunch and we’ve been relaxing this evening.

Tomorrow, we are looking forward to our Puja, our pre-climb ceremony to ask the mountains for safe passage! Then, we’ll be doing some technical training later in the day.

So, all is well here and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Fresh apple pie for dessert in base camp this evening!

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:

October 28, 2024/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ama Dablam 2024

Settling into base camp!

Approaching Ama Dablam Base Camp. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team has reached their base camp and begun to get settled into their temporary home! The team enjoyed excellent views on their hike up from Pangboche and are filled with excitement as they are many steps closer to the mountain, with their first rotation set to start in just a few days. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is October 27th.

Today we hiked from Pangboche village (3985m/13,074ft) up here to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft). It was a great hike, another sunny day with fantastic views of the mountain along the way! Now, we’ve gotten settled into our box tents here in base camp and some of our members have had nice, hot showers and we’re just settling down to dinner in our Mountain Hardwear Space Station Dome. It’s a beautiful evening, a starry sky with just a faint blush of peak off to the west and we can see a few headlamps high on the southwest ridge heading toward the summit of Ama Dablam.

So, all is well here in Nepal and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

The team with their objective! (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:

October 27, 2024/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ama Dablam 2024

Blessings at the Pangboche Monastery

Nima Sange Sherpa hiking to the Pangboche Monastery with Lobuche East and Island Peak climbers Erik and Mike. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Himalayan expedition teams continued their journeys today toward their respective destinations. Our Ama Dablam team parted ways from our Everest Base Camp, Lobuche East, and Island Peak climbers and looks forward to settling into their base camp tomorrow! Together, the team visited the Pangboche Monastery for a blessing from the Lama before saying their goodbyes as we all go our separate directions up the Khumbu Valley. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Nepal:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) climb here in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal – today is October 26th. Today we woke up in Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) and walked up to Pangboche village (3985m/13,074ft). We had a cup of tea in the morning sunlight at the Namaste Lodge, and then we walked up to the monastery here in town where we received a blessing from one of the Lamas. The monastery here in Pangboche is the oldest one here in the Khumbu Valley and it’s really a nice place to spend a couple of hours. Then we descended back into town and moved into the lodge where we’ll spend tonight. Tomorrow morning we plan to hike up to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft).

Also today, we split off from our Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) trekkers. After the blessing they headed up to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) where they’ll spend two nights before moving higher up the valley toward Everest Base Camp, Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft), and then back over to Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft).

So, all is well here and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Arriving in the Pangboche monastery. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Everest Base Camp trekker Miga visiting the monastery in Pangboche. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our guest, Erik, spinning prayer wheels at the monastery. (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:

October 26, 2024/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2024

Blessings in Pangboche

After spending a day in Namche Bazaar acclimatizing, the Madison Mountaineering Himalayan expedition teams hit the trail again today towards Pheriche. The team made a stop at the Pangboche Monastery where they received blessings before continuing toward their next destination. Situated below Ama Dablam, the views here are magnificent and the team looks forward to hopefully having more Himalayan views tomorrow during an acclimatization hike. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the Himalayas:

Hey! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) climbing and trekking team. Today we made it to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft). We had an easy walk up the valley after a wonderful blessing this morning in Pangboche Monastery (3985m/13,074ft)!

The team’s looking good! Everyone’s very strong and healthy, and we’re very excited for our acclimatization hike tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll get some great views of some of the 8,000-meter peaks surrounding us!

All is well here in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal and we’ll check in soon!

All smiles while trekking up the Khumbu Valley.

Trekking up the Khumbu Valley in the fog.

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:

April 18, 2024/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest Base Camp, Lobuche and Island Peak 2023.10

Down the Khumbu Valley

With the climbing behind them, the Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp, Lobuche East and Island Peak team is relishing in their trek back down the valley with cold and clear skies overhead! The team treated themselves with hot showers and a warm meal before crawling into bed this evening – just what you want after a long day on the trail! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft) trek, and Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft) and Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft) climbs – today is November 6th.

Today we trekked down from Chukhung (4730m/15,520ft) to Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft). It was another beautiful day in the Khumbu Valley! It feels like fall – the creeks are starting to freeze and there’s a little tang of winter in the air! We moved into our lodge here in Pangboche, and enjoyed some hot showers, and we’re getting ready to have dinner.

Tomorrow we will continue descending down to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft)! All is well here in Nepal and we will 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:

November 6, 2023/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest Base Camp, Lobuche and Island Peak 2023.10

Island Peak

It’s with great excitement that we get to share that the Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp, Lobuche, and Island Peak team have safely returned following their final climb on Island Peak and are off the mountain. Everyone is doing great, and looking forward to enjoying their final few days in the Himalaya as they descend down the beautiful Khumbu Valley that has been home the last few weeks. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this celebratory dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest Base Camp trek, (5364m/17,598ft) plus Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft) and Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft) climbs – today is November 5th.

Today we had an excellent climb on Island Peak! We left base camp at about midnight and enjoyed a fantastic sunrise just as we were coming up onto the summit ice fields on Island Peak. We had excellent views of Makalu (8463m/27766ft) in the distance, Baruntse (7162m/23,497ft) across the valley, plus the upper ridge line of Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and the south face of Lhotse, and the rarely seen northern aspects of Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) which are very spectacular.

After the climb we descended down to base camp and walked down to Chukhung (4730m/15,520ft). We just wrapped up dinner here and are looking forward to a good night of sleep. Tomorrow we will descend to Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft), with a stop at the bakery in Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft). So, we’ll be in touch tomorrow! All is going well here in Nepal.

Climbers on the summit of Island Peak (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Descending toward base camp with Ama Dablam and other peaks in the distance (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

On the summit icefields of Island Peak / Imja Tse (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:

November 5, 2023/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ama Dablam 2023, Everest Base Camp, Lobuche and Island Peak 2023.10

Blessings in Pangboche

The team departing from Deboche with views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Under beautiful, clear-blue Himalayan skies, our Madison Mountaineering teams continued their trek further up the Khumbu Valley with a stop in Pangboche for a blessing at the monastery. This is a special experience for many – these cultural experiences along with trekking and climbing in the Himalaya make for a truly engaging combination. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Pheriche:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest base camp (5364m/17,598ft) trek, Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft) and Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft) climbs – today is October 26.

Today we trekked from Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft). Along the way we stopped for a blessing at the monastery in Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft). That’s always a nice ceremony – a nice way to mark a milestone in our trip as we get closer to Everest base camp. In Pangboche, we also parted ways with the Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) team. They’re going to spend the night in Pangboche tonight, and then move up to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft) tomorrow.

But now, the Everest base camp trekking team is here in Pheriche – we’re just relaxing before dinner. For most of the day we had excellent weather yet again with crystal clear skies, and great views of Everest (8848m/29,032ft) and Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) ahead of us. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Garrett and our Everest Base Camp crew: Max, Alex, Kirk and Nick (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Everest Base Camp trekker, Max visiting the monastery in Pangboche (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

EBC trekker, Max and climber, Thomas trekking above Deboche with Garrett (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Visiting the Pangboche Monastery (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Our Everest Base Camp trekking team approaching Shomare with Lhotse in the background (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

A yak on the trek towards Pheriche (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

EBC trekkers, Max and Nick trekking toward Pheriche (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Trekking guide, Aaditya Nachhiring approaching Pheriche (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:

October 26, 2023/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ama Dablam 2023, Everest Base Camp, Lobuche and Island Peak 2023.10

Visiting the Tengboche Monastery

The team is back on the trail after an acclimatization day and some rest in Namche Bazaar! Under beautiful, clear-blue skies, the team set forth further up the Khumbu Valley, stopping at the famous Tengboche Monastery on the way to Deboche. After touring the monastery and fueling up on coffee and pastries, the team continued on before reaching their next stop in Deboche. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from the Himalaya:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering expeditions in Nepal – today is Wednesday, October 25.

Today we hiked from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to Deboche (3820m/12,532ft). We had another beautiful, sunny day! The weather on this trip has just been excellent. Along the way from Namche, we stopped at Tengboche Monastery, toured the monastery where the monks were practicing a dance for an upcoming ceremony. We enjoyed some great coffees and pastries at the bakery there at the monastery. Then we descended here to Deboche!

We’re just wrapping up dinner and looking forward to tomorrow when we will hike up to Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft) and participate in a blessing there, and then continue on to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) for the night. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Excellent views of Kangtega (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Nick and Kristen relaxing after lunch at Phungki Thenga (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Tom, spinning prayer wheels at Tengboche Monastery (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Dawa Tenji (left) and Aditya Rai (right), members of our excellent local staff, taking a break on the way to Tengboche (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Ama Dablam climber, Anna, chatting with friends on the way to Deboche (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:

October 25, 2023/0 Comments/by Garrett

Everest 2023

Clear skies over the Khumbu!

Our climbers acclimatizing at Pumori advanced base camp today, with great views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

With another day of clear-blue skies under their belts, the team’s acclimatization efforts are well underway as they hiked to a viewpoint at the foot of Pumori today. Upon reaching today’s highpoint, unobstructed views were unveiled of the Khumbu Icefall, Lhotse and the summit of Mount Everest! Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the 2023 Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition – today is April 18th.

Today our team here in base camp (5364m/17,598ft) went on an acclimatization hike up to advanced base camp at the foot of Pumori (7161m/23,494ft). We had excellent views of the Khumbu Icefall and the Lhotse Face, as well as the summit of Lhotse and the summit of Everest. That high point is about 18,500 feet or about 5,600 meters. Then we came down and had a nice lunch, and we’re just relaxing this afternoon.

Meanwhile, our second wave of climbers is progressing up the Khumbu Valley. Today, they had their Puja ceremony in Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft) with the Lama there, and they’re staying tonight in Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft).

So, all is well here in Nepal! 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:

April 18, 2023/0 Comments/by Garrett

Ama Dablam 2022

Khumbu Climbing Center Visit!

Visiting the Khumbu Climbing Center in Phortse. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team made a visit to the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC) today. The KCC’s mission is to “increase the safety margin of Nepali climbers and high altitude workers by encouraging responsible climbing practices in a supportive and community-based program.” Afterwards, the team trekked on to Pangboche, where they’ll spend the night and prepare to move on to Ama Dablam base camp tomorrow! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with todays dispatch:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – today is Tuesday, October 25th.

We are in Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft)! Started off in Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) this morning and we crossed the river and hiked up to Phortse (3840m, 12,598ft) where we visited the Khumbu Climbing Center – wonderful building! After that we trekked up the valley to Pangboche where we’re spending the night. Tomorrow our plan is to head up to Ama Dablam base camp (4600m/15,100ft).

We’re doing well here. The weather’s just been spectacular – perfect blue bird, sunny skies everyday! We’re feeling very lucky and excited to get to base camp.

The team trekking from Phortse to Pangboche with great views of Ama Dablam. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The Khumbu Climbing Center. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Rare, vintage climbing books in the KCC. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Hiking to Phortse. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers, Tracy and Rock, trekking to Phortse. 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:

October 25, 2022/1 Comment/by Garrett

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