Tag Archive for: Pumori

Perfect day on Kala Patthar!

The team topping out on Kala Patthar with excellent views of Mount Everest (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Everest base camp trekking team reached their high point today, ascending Kala Patthar which is considered a trekkers peak that overlooks Everest base camp and with 360 degree views of the mountains, valleys and glaciers all around. The team could not have asked for better weather and took their time while they soaked up the sun and views at over 18,000 feet. Expedition guide, 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 Island Peak (6189m/20,305ft) and Lobuche East (6119m/20,075ft) climbs – today is October 29th.

Today we trekked from Lobuche village (4940m/16,210ft) to Gorak Shep (5164m/16,942ft). We had a nice lunch and then we hiked up to the top of Kala Patthar (5644m/18,519ft), which is higher than 18,000 feet – about 5,500 meters which would make it just about as high as the third highest peak in North America, but here of course, it’s just a foothill among giants. However, we had excellent views of Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft), Pumori (7161m/23,494ft), and even just a peak of Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft)! It can be pretty cold on Kala Patthar at times, but we got really lucky with the weather. We were able to bask in the sun for a little while, take some pictures, and then we hiked down to Gorak Shep where we’ll spend the night!

Tomorrow we’ve got another exciting day! We’ll go to Everest base camp and then we’ll start trekking back down the Khumbu Valley. So, we’re all doing well here in the Khumbu and I’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Everest and Nuptse, with Lhotse just barely visible (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

Everest and Nuptse, with Lhotse just barely visible (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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Returning to Base Camp!

Base Camp and the summit of Mount Everest. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

After a well deserved couple of days spent at lower altitude, our team is pouring back into base camp where they await their summit push! With the anticipation building, the team kept themselves occupied today with hiking around base camp, a nourishing dinner this evening, and a movie to relax at the end of another good day. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with today’s dispatch from the Himalayas:

Hello! This is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition – today is May 14th.

Today more of our climbers arrived back here in base camp (5364m/17,598ft) from their drop back in Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft) where they were resting and recuperating at lower altitude. They had a beautiful flight via helicopter up to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft), and then on to base camp.

Tomorrow the rest of our climbers, the last four members, will arrive here in base camp, and then we’ll have just a few more days, hopefully, before we start our summit push!

For today, we kept ourselves busy, spent some nice time exercising at altitude by hiking up on the slopes of Pumori (7161m/23,494ft), above base camp. Some of us also went to a point we call “prayer flag point” a little farther down valley, and then walked down past a beautiful alpine lake that’s up there. We came down, had a little bit of snow in the evening and then we’re just wrapping up dinner. It was a great dinner – macaroni and cheese, and steak, and sautéed vegetables, and some fruit cocktail for dessert! We’re just now settling in to watch Mission Impossible for our after dinner movie.

The stars are out, it’s peaceful here in base camp, and all is well! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Climbers, Serge Larouche and Rick Irvine hiking with guide, Scott Webster above base camp today. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers, Serge Larouche and Rick Irvine hiking with guide, Scott Webster above base camp today. (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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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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First Views of EBC!

Passing Cholatse en route to Lobuche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team has arrived in Lobuche! After this morning’s walk from Pheriche where they’d spent the last few days, the team settled into their rooms at their next stop before continuing on towards Everest Base Camp (EBC). Fueled by treats from “the highest bakery in the world” the team hiked up a moraine bordering the Khumbu Glacier, which revealed the team’s first views of EBC. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with this dispatch from Lobuche:

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 11th.

This morning we walked from Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft)! Along the way we stopped and had a nice brunch in Dukla, and then in the afternoon we visited the bakery here in Lobuche, which advertises itself as the highest bakery in the world at over 5,000 meters! We hiked up on the lateral moraine next to the Khumbu Glacier and got our first view of Everest Base Camp (5364m/17,598ft), plus great views of Pumori (7161m/23,494ft), Lingtren (6749m/22,142ft), Nuptse and Changtse (7543m/24,747ft) out on the Chinese border.

So, tomorrow we’ll continue to Gorakshep (5164m/16,942ft) and up to Kala Patthar (5644m/18,519ft) where we’ll get more great views of Everest and base camp!

All is well here in Nepal! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Climber, Erwin Visser, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, leaving Pheriche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Erwin Visser, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, leaving Pheriche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, sightseeing on a lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Pieter Swart, sightseeing on a lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Peter Horsman, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, taking in the view near Lobuche! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Peter Horsman, and expedition leader, Garrett Madison, taking in the view near Lobuche! (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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First Rotation – Camp 1

Camp 1 from above

To start the first acclimatization rotation, the Everest team climbed up through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp 1.  We received a partial audio message via sat phone from expedition leader Garrett Madison and that was augmented with a text message via Garmin inReach from guide Terray Sylvester.

From Garrett:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse team expedition!  Today’s April 20th and today we climbed from base camp (5310m/17,421ft) up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft).  We left base camp about 02:00am after… [transmission cuts out]

From Terray:

Hello from Camp 1! We left base camp at 2 a.m. and had good climbing conditions through the Khumbu Icefall with few people on the route. The team is strong, healthy overall. We’re looking forward to an acclimatization day here tomorrow before moving up to Camp 2.

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:

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Ready for First Rotation!

Everest team getting a taste of the Khumbu Icefall before the 1st rotation

Climb on!  The time has finally come to get going up the mountain.  Our Everest team is ready to start its first acclimatization rotation.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with the day’s recap and the plan for the days ahead on the mountain:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 19th.

Today we enjoyed beautiful weather as we dipped our toes into the lower portion of the Khumbu Icefall.  We climbed up to about 17,600ft (5364m) or so in the icefall, just enough to go up a few steep sections and do a rappel on the way down.  A chance to get a little feel for it before we wake up at 01:00am this evening and head up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft)!

We’re looking forward to starting our first rotation on the mountain.  We’ll go up to Camp 1 where we plan to spend two nights, then we’ll move up to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) for two nights and then come down on the fifth day.

Everyone’s in good spirits and the weather continues to be absolutely beautiful.

So, we’re looking forward to getting on the mountain!  We’ll be in touch.

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:

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Rest Day and Birthday Cake at Base Camp

Celebrating climber Roi Negri's birthday at Everest base camp

Our Everest team enjoyed a rest day at Everest base camp today – it also came with cake!  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 18th.

Today was a rest day and people were free to catch up on laundry, take showers, go for walks around base camp and a bit farther afield. It was beautiful weather, yet again.

In the evening we had a dinner of cheesy potatoes, teriakyi BBQ chicken, fresh veggies and for dessert a birthday cake for our climber, Roi Negri. Then we watched the “The Big Lebowski.”

So, all is well here and we will be in touch.

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:

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Puja Ceremony at EBC

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Today, the Everest team wrapped up their technical skills training and enjoyed their traditional Puja Ceremony at base camp.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 17th.

Today we wrapped up our technical training on the ice pinnacles right below base camp here on the Khumbu Glacier.  And then, in the afternoon, we had our pre-climb Puja.  Today is an auspicious day for that in the Tibetan calendar.  And so it was a great ceremony with blessings for everybody and lots of dancing afterward.  That ceremony is just intended to ask permission to climb the mountain and ensure safe passage up and down for all of us.

The team is in good spirits – everyone is doing really well with their training.

Tomorrow we’ll likely have a rest day as we prepare for our move up to Camp 1 (6050m/19,849ft) for our first acclimatization rotation, which will probably happen sometime in the next few days.

So, we’ll be in touch!

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

Sirdar Aang Phurba putting barley flour on climber Cameron Kenny’s face to ensure a long life

Sirdar Aang Phurba putting barley flour on climber Cameron Kenny’s face to ensure a long life

Puja dance celebration

Puja celebration

Puja Ceremony at Everest Base Camp

The whole 2022 climbing team after the puja

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:

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Great Weather Continues

Climber Todd Ammerman traversing on fixed lines

The Everest team continues to fill their initial time at base camp with technical skills training.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch from Everest base camp:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 16th.

Today we spent another morning praticing our technical skills on the ice spires right beside base camp – more rappelling and ascending, traversing on fixed lines, plus ladder practice.  The whole course was a little bit steeper.  Yet again we had really beautiful weather.

So, tonight we’ll probably watch “The Spy Who Loved Me“, the 1977 Roger Moore/James Bond film and get to bed.

Tomorrow we’re looking forward to our puja ceremony!

Okay, we’ll be in touch.

Ladder practice near Everest base camp

Ladder practice near Everest base camp

The team about to start training

The team about to start training

Climber Carter Beck rappelling

Climber Carter Beck rappelling

Climber Josh Garrison traversing on fixed lines

Climber Josh Garrison traversing on fixed lines

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:

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Practice Makes Perfect

Climber Cameron Kenny practices ascending fixed lines on the Khumbu Glacier

Our Everest team members are sharpening their technical skills on the ice.  Here’s guide Terray Sylvester with today’s audio expedition dispatch from Everest base camp:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s Friday, April 15th.

Today our team of climbers ventured out on to the pinnacles of ice right next to base camp here on the Khumbu Glacier and we practiced fixed-line technique, traversing on fixed lines, ascending/descending.  That’s one of the most fun things we do here in base camp.  It’s just like a playground out there on the glacier.

So, everyone did great, it was beautiful weather, and most likely we will do more practice tomorrow.  Tonight we are going to finish “Interstellar” (movie) and we’re looking forward to another great dinner here in the dining tent.

So, we will be in touch.

Climber David Courtney enjoying beautiful weather in the Himalayas

Climber David Courtney enjoying beautiful weather in the Himalayas

Climber Sara Safari ascending a fixed line

Climber Sara Safari ascending a fixed line

Climber Dwight Crow practices traversing on fixed lines on the Khumbu Glacier

Climber Dwight Crow practices traversing on fixed lines on the Khumbu Glacier

Good times practicing technical skills

Good times practicing technical skills

Climber Cameron Kenny practices ascending fixed lines on the Khumbu Glacier

Climber Cameron Kenny practices ascending fixed lines on the Khumbu Glacier

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:

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