Tag Archive for: Pangboche

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:

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

The Khumbu Climbing Center. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The Khumbu Climbing Center. Photo: Terray Sylvester

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

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

Hiking to Phortse. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Hiking to Phortse. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers, Tracy and Rock, trekking 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:

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Alpenglow on the Himalaya!

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. Photo: Terray Sylvester

The team continued onward from Namche Bazaar today, making stops at the Tengboche Monastery and the local bakery before arriving in Deboche. This evenings sunset cast beautiful alpenglow lighting upon the surrounding Himalaya while the team ate dinner and prepared to continue on their journey tomorrow. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with todays dispatch from Deboche:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) expedition – it’s October 24th.

Today we walked from Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) to the village of Deboche (3820m/12,532ft). Along the way we stopped at the famous Tengboche Monastery (3867m/12,687ft) and had a coffee and some pastries in the bakery there, and then toured the monastery. There was a big puja underway, so that was interesting to see! Then in the evening, we caught a beautiful sunset that lit up Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) with really nice alpenglow light.

So, we just finished dinner and are looking forward to another great day in the Khumbu Valley tomorrow! Tomorrow, we plan to hike up to Phortse (3840m, 12,598ft), then head over to Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft), which is where we’ll spend the night. We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Climber, Jocelyn crossing the Dudh Koshi River on the way to Deboche! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climber, Jocelyn crossing the Dudh Koshi River on the way to Deboche! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers at Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Our climbers at Tengboche Monastery. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Approaching Tengboche with Kangtenga in the distance. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Approaching Tengboche with Kangtenga in the distance. 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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Ama Dablam Base Camp!

Madison Mountaineering’s Ama Dablam base camp

Our Ama Dablam expedition team is settling into their home away from home at base camp. After a scenic trek into base camp and dinner, Garrett Madison, expedition leader, recaps the day:

Hello this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Ama Dablam expedition team. Today is Tuesday, October 26th and today we hiked from the village of Pangboche in the Khumbu Valley up to Ama Dablam base camp. We rolled into our base camp midday and had a nice lunch and then settled into our personal tents and explored the camp a little bit getting things dialed in. We just had a nice dinner here, first dinner in base camp tonight.

Nice to be up here at about 15,000 feet in the mountains and we’re looking forward to a good day tomorrow. We’re going to do some training and be here at least a couple of days before heading up to do our first rotation on the route.

Everyone is doing great here. It has been such a wonderful trek in so far, over the last five days coming in from Lukla up through Namche, Deboche and Pangboche, staying with the Sherpa families that we see year after year and reconnecting with all of the Nepalese people that are so important to us and help us make this all possible.

Everyone is having a great time.  We’re feeling healthy and we’re just soaking up all this fresh air and clear mountain views and snow-capped peaks. So, all is well here at Ama Dablam base camp and we’ll check in soon. Thanks

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 daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

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Ama Dablam Base Camp (4581m)!

Morning light on Ama Dablam

Today the Ama Dablam team made the hike of the final hill to base camp.  Garrett reports “all good here!”  Tomorrow they will start dialing in the camp including getting communications set up.  Hopefully, there will be some Wi-Fi so more photos can be shared.

The day’s hike from Pangboche to base camp was just about 3 hours and gained 700m of elevation.  Now it’s time to climb!  After a couple of acclimatization rotations up the mountain, they are targeting November 10 as a possible summit day.  Stay tuned!

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

– Instagram:

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The Trek to Base Camp – Pangboche (4000m)

Trekking from Deboche to Pangboche

Another beautiful day for trekking in the Khumbu where our Ama Dablam team has moved to just one day away from reaching base camp.  From the village of Pangboche, expedition leader, Garrett Madison, provides today’s audio dispatch recapping the day:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Ama Dablam expedition.  We’re in Pangboche now at the base of Ama Dablam and we’re staying in the Namaste Lodge.

We arrived this afternoon after a wonderful trek from Deboche, up along the river to Pangboche.  We had lunch here and then went for a walk this afternoon and visited the chief Lama in Pangboche up on the hillside above the village here and had a blessing with him.  Tomorrow our plan is another blessing at the Pangboche Monastery and then we’ll head up to base camp!  Great weather here and we’re enjoying our time here in the Khumbu.

It’s great to be reacquanted with some of our local friends and families who live here.

The 2020 Ama Dablam Team

The 2020 Ama Dablam Team

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

– Instagram:

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Ama Dablam team nearing base camp

Ama Dablam

Our autumn Ama Dablam expedition kicked off earlier this week and the team has been trekking their way up to base camp from the mountain airport village of Lukla (2860m / 9,380ft.).  The first stop was the village of Monjo where they entered the Sagarmatha National Park. and from there up to Namche Bazaar where a couple of days were spent resting.  On their acclimatization hikes above Namche, the team caught the first glimpses of their objective:  Ama Dablam.  Great hiking weather with dramatic clouds unveiling the summit.  From Namche, the team pressed on to Deboche and were able to spend some time enjoying the Tengboche Monastery on their way.

Today they are now at the last village before Ama Dablam base camp, Pangboche and should be crossing the river and finishing up the trek to BC tomorrow.

Team arrives Lukla

Brook and Rick at the hanging bridges below Namche

Brook and Rick at the hanging bridges below Namche

Having a great trek and now are on the Namche cappuchino tour

Ama Dablam team - Brook, Conan, Rick

Ama Dablam team – Brook, Conan, Rick

Ama Dablam

First glimpse of the Ama Dablam

Ama Dablam team checking out the Tengboche Monastery en route to Pangboche

Also follow the team on Instagram:  @MadisonMtng

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Finally Some Sun

Our Nepal team in their Mountain Hardwear down suits

Finally today there was some sunny weather at Everest Base Camp.  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, reports on the weather, the route, and the team member status in today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest Expedtion – Autumn Season 2019.  Today was a sunny day!  Finally the sun came out – it was beautiful.

 

Kristin is doing well; she’s in Pheriche on her way to Pangboche tomorrow, heading towards Ama Dablam for an attempt on Ama Dablam with our team.  Zac is back in Kathmandu.  Our friend Kilian Jornet is up at Camp 1. He is spending a couple of nights up there.  We’ll see what his plans are, but he’s doing well.

 

We’re still waiting and watching the serac hoping it’s gonna come down and clear the way for a safe route up through the icefall.  Meanwhile, we are looking forward to more sunny weather, hopefully in the future.  All’s well here at Everest Base Camp!

Our Sherpa team in EBC today - we had some sunshine!

Our Sherpa team in EBC today – we had some sunshine! (and a little bit of thumb 😀).  Everybody decked out in their Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer/2 Down Hoody jackets.

Our Nepal team in their Mountain Hardwear down suits

Our Nepal team in their Mountain Hardwear down suits

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow the team as they trek to Everest Base Camp and then make their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain 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

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

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Deboche to Pheriche

Everest!

Edging closer to Everest Base Camp, the team trekked from Deboche to Pheriche today.  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, phoned-in this update of the day’s progress:

Helllo!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering / Mountain Hardwear Everest Expedition – Autumn Season in Nepal!  Today is September 12th and we had a great day trekking from the rhododendron forest in Deboche (the Rivendale Lodge), up to Pheriche.  We are staying at The Edelweiss Lodge.  We crossed some beautiful suspension bridges today, went through Pangboche, Shomare, and arrived at Pheriche this afternoon.

 

We had a wonderful dinner here in the Edelweiss Lodge and we are hoping for a clear day tomorrow for our acclimitization hike.  Hoping to get some nice views of the surrounding mountains.  Everyone’s doing great here in Pheriche at 14,000 feet (4255m) and we are looking forward to another beautiful day tomorrow!

Crossing a suspension bridge in the Khumbu valley

Crossing a suspension bridge in the Khumbu valley (📸: Jess Talley / Louder Than 11)

It’s lush and green in the Khumbu!

It’s lush and green in the Khumbu! (📸: Jess Talley / Louder Than 11)

Everest!

Everest! (📸: Jess Talley / Louder Than 11)

In addition to these expedition dispatches, you can also follow the team as they trek to Everest Base Camp and then make their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain on:

– Instagram:

– our Garmin inReach Mini powered real-time tracking map:

– 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
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Day 4 & 5 of the Trek to Everest

Depart From Namche!

We have had 2 great days on the trail trekking up towards Everest base camp. The weather has been cool and moist which is a pleasant suprise as normally its warm and dusty during the first half of the trek. Our friends at the Panorama lodge in Namche gave us a blessing before we said our good byes, then we made our way to the Tengboche monastry for a short visit and then to the Rivendell lodge for the night. Today, we had our first glimpse of Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse, then trekked to the village of Pangboche for a blessing with the high lama, and onwards to the village of Dingboche where we will stay for 2 nights. Everyone is doing well!

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