Tag Archive for: Seven Summits

The team at Prayer Flag Point on today's acclimatization hike! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team continued their acclimatization efforts today, touching over 16,000 feet at Prayer Flag Point above Pheriche! After taking in more spectacular views, everyone was excited to descend, knowing the treat that lied ahead – pastries and coffee at the famous Dingboche Bakery! The treats fueled the teams bodies to get them back to Pheriche, where they enjoyed dinner and alpenglow on the surrounding peaks, towering above the village. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from Nepal:

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 April 10th.

Today we hiked above Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) up to prayer flag point, at a little over 16,000 feet, above 5,000 meters. It was a beautiful day! The clear weather has continued, so we had great views of Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) and Makalu (8463m/27,766ft) in the distance, and just a little corner of Cho Oyu (8188m/26,864ft). Then we came back down and relaxed in the bakery at Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft) before walking back to Pheriche.

It’s a beautiful evening right now! We’re watching alpenglow on the peaks around Pheriche. Tomorrow, we’re looking forward to moving up to Lobuche (4940m/16,210ft).

We’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Alpenglow on Ama Dablam. (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:

Amazing views while approaching Pheriche! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

After a short ceremony where the team received blessings for safe passage while venturing in the mountains on their expedition, we continued onward to the village of Pheriche! Everyone is in high spirits and enjoying the blue-bird skies they’ve had thus far while trekking further up the Khumbu Valley. Tomorrow holds more time for acclimatization, as the journey continues onward towards Everest base camp. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from Nepal:

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! It’s April 9th.

Today we started the day with blessings at the monastery in Pangboche (3985m/13,074ft). The blessing is intended to secure us safe passage as we climb in the mountains here in Nepal. It’s really a nice event during the trek to Everest base camp (5364m/17,598ft). Then we continued on up to Pheriche (4371m/14,340ft) with a stop for lunch in Shomare (4010m/13,156 feet). The weather was great today again – a few clouds are coming into Pheriche now, but otherwise we’ve had great views of Thamserku (6608m/21,680 ft), Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft), Taboche (6495m/21,309ft), Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.

So now we’re just resting in Pheriche! Tomorrow we’ll probably go for an acclimatization hike high above Pheriche and Dingboche (4410m/14,470ft), and then enjoy some coffee and great baked goods in the bakery over at Dingboche.

So, all is well here in Nepal! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Blessing with Lama Ngawang Paljur in Pangboche. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Blessing with Lama Ngawang Paljur in Pangboche. (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:

The team on their acclimatization hike, with views of the Himalayas behind! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

With clear skies and unobstructed views of Everest, Lhotse, and the surrounding Himalaya, the team is full of high spirits after their acclimatization hike today! Tomorrow, their journey will continue on from Namche Bazaar with a stop at the Tengboche Monastery, before arriving at their next stop in Deboche. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from the Khumbu:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition! It’s April 6th today.

Today we hiked up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft). It was an acclimatization hike during our active rest day here in Namche, and the weather was fantastic! Clear skies, not much smoke or dust, so we had excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam (6812m/22,349ft) and other peaks nearby. Then we came back down to Namche and we’ve been relaxing for the afternoon.

We’re just abut to start dinner, and then tomorrow we’ll wake up and walk to Deboche (3820m/12,532ft), past the famous Tengboche Monastery.

So, all is well here in Nepal! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Ama Dablam (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Ama Dablam (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, and climbers, Peter Horsman and Erwin Visser on today's acclimatization hike. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, and climbers, Peter Horsman and Erwin Visser on today’s acclimatization hike. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Rick Irvine, on today's acclimatization hike! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Rick Irvine, on today’s acclimatization hike! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Everest and Lhotse from afar. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Everest and Lhotse from afar. (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:

Expedition Sirdar and Guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa, delivering tea at a stop on the trek to Namche Bazaar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team arrived in Namche Bazaar today, which is the main hub of the Khumbu region. Upon their arrival, the team was able to get cleaned up, and enjoy massages and a burger – well deserved after crossing multiple suspension bridges and climbing the famous Namche hill! The team will take a rest day tomorrow, with hopes of laying eyes on Mount Everest and Lhotse for the first time on this expedition! Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s dispatch from Namche Bazaar:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the 2023 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft), Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), and Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) expedition! Today is Wednesday, April 5th.

Today we walked from Phakding (2610m/8,562ft) to the famous town of Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft). We had fantastic weather, yet again – a really peaceful stroll! We stopped for tea in the village of Manjo (2835m/9,301ft), then continued to Jorsale (2740m/8989ft) where we had lunch, and then we climbed the Namche hill for the final 2,500 vertical feet up to Namche with a stop at the final bridge – the famous suspension bridge below Namche along the way. We spent the afternoon enjoying some hot showers and massages in Namche, as well as a coffee and burger at Sherpa Barista.

We’re looking forward to another rest day here in Namche tomorrow! We’ll wake up at, not too early in the morning and go for a scenic hike up to the Everest View Hotel, where we hope to get our first clear view of Everest and Lhotse.

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

On the trail towards Namche Bazaar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

On the trail towards Namche Bazaar! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers crossing the famous suspension bridge before climbing Namche Hill. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers crossing the famous suspension bridge before climbing Namche Hill. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Posing for a photo high above the valley below on the famous suspension bridge! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Posing for a photo high above the valley below on the famous suspension bridge! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Members of the team crossing a suspension bridge en route to Namche Bazaar. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Members of the team crossing a suspension bridge en route to Namche Bazaar. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Bruce Smith, smiling while taking in the views of the Khumbu Valley! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climber, Bruce Smith, smiling while taking in the views of the Khumbu Valley! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Members of the team breaking for water and a short rest on todays trek. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Members of the team breaking for water and a short rest on todays trek. (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team exploring one of the villages while on the trek towards Everest Base Camp! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The team exploring one of the villages while on the trek towards Everest Base Camp! (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:

The team ready to set off on the trek to Everest Base Camp! Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers and trekkers alike have left the comforts of the Yak and Yeti hotel in pursuit of their journey towards Everest Base Camp, Lobuche, Lhotse and Mount Everest! The team awoke early this morning in excitement for what lies ahead, boarded helicopters, and lifted off from Kathmandu en route to the famous Lukla airport. Their trek got underway following a stop for breakfast to fuel up, taking in first sights of the beautiful Khumbu Valley. Now in Phakding, the team is resting up and prepared to continue on towards Namche Bazaar tomorrow. Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with today’s update from the Himalayas:

Hello, this is Terray calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition! Today is April fourth.

Today we woke up early and took helicopters from Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft) to Lukla (2860m/9,383ft). We had great weather, beautiful sunny skies, and excellent views of Everest and the surrounding peaks. We had breakfast in Lukla, and then walked to Phakding (2610m/8,562ft). We arrived in time for lunch and just in time to (inaudible) rain shower…

Tomorrow, we plan to walk to the famous town of Namche Bazaar (3440m/11,290ft)! We’re looking forward to that. All is well here in the Khumbu! We’ll be in touch tomorrow.

Among the clouds on the helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Among the clouds on the helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climbers trekking across one of the many suspension bridges in the Khumbu Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climbers trekking across one of the many suspension bridges in the Khumbu Valley. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climber spinning one of the many prayer wheels that you encounter when in Nepal. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Climber spinning one of the many prayer wheels that you encounter when in Nepal. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, talking with the team during a break on their first day of trekking! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, talking with the team during a break on their first day of trekking! Photo: Terray Sylvester

Walls of mani stones line the trail with prayer and meditation along the trek. Photo: Terray Sylvester

Walls of mani stones line the trail with prayer and meditation along the trek. 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:

The first wave of Madison Mountaineering climbers! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

The 2023 Madison Mountaineering spring Himalayan season is officially underway! After settling into the Yak and Yeti hotel and resting up after their long flights, members of the team greeted each other over a welcome dinner and retreated back to their rooms for more rest and relaxation for the days ahead. With gear checks complete and bags repacked for the expedition, the anticipation is really starting to set in for the team, who with good weather tomorrow, will fly to Lukla and start making their trek towards Everest Base Camp! Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Kathmandu:

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.

All of our climbers who will be part of our first wave going into the Khumbu have arrived here in Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft)! We had a great welcome dinner last night, and then today our climbers headed out for a city tour! We visited Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa. Pashupati is a Unesco World Heritage site and the most important Hindu temple in the city. And, the Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist stupa’s in the world – it dates back to the fourth century.

So, today our team is relaxing in Kathmandu and we’re looking forward to our flights to Lukla via helicopter early tomorrow morning. The weathers great, really sunny and beautiful here in Kathmandu and we’re looking forward to those mountain views tomorrow. We’ll be in touch!

Boudhanath Stupa (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Boudhanath Stupa (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers taking the sights, sounds, and smells during the city tour on April 3, 2023 (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Climbers taking in the sights, sounds, and smells during the city tour on April 3, 2023 (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Sightseeing around Kathmandu (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

Sightseeing around Kathmandu (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

One of the many forms of transportation in Kathmandu! (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

One of the many forms of transportation in Kathmandu! (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:

On the summit of Mount Everest - May 20, 2022

All of the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse team is safely back to base camp.  Expedition leader Garrett Madison calls in with today’s expedition dispatch:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition.  Today is Sunday, the 22nd of May.

We got down from Camp 2 today.   Our whole team made it down to base camp and we’re all back safe in Everest Base Camp.

We’re looking forward to heading home after a very successful expedition.  We had thirty (30) climbers reach the summit of Everest, that’s nine (9) clients, four (4) guides, seventeen (17) Nepal sherpa.  Another four (4) of us reached the summit of Lhotse, along with three (3) sherpa, seven (7) total.  And, of course, our private team summited Everest on May 15th with nine (9) members.  So it’s been a very successful here.

We’re just so fortunate and thankful that we had great weather and great route conditions and everyone had a good expirence and made it home safely.  So, we’re looking forward to packing up here tomorrow and making our way down the Khumbu Valley and back towards home.

We’ll check in soon!


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:

The climb up Mount Lhotse in Asia

With the entire team safely down to Camp 2, expedition leader Garrett Madison recaps the day and shares some exciting news about Lhotse in this dispatch sat phone call from Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) on Mount Everest:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is May 21th.

We are all back safely in Camp 2.

We’ve got some exciting news:  today, myself, Chase Merriam, Cameron Kenny, Josh Garrison, along with three (3) of our Nepal staff, sherpas Siddhi, Sange, and Lakpa climbed Mount Lhotse this morning.  We woke up about 2:00am and got up to the summit of Lhotse between 6:00am and 8:00am and just had a beautiful summit day – great conditions.  Now we’re all back safely to Camp 2.  Our entire team’s back safely in Camp 2.

Big congrats to our Everest climbers.  Everyone on our team summited Everest; clients, guides, and sherpas who began the summit push here departing from Camp 2.  100% success!  A total of thirty (30) members, not counting our small private team which summitted Everest on May 15th with nine (9) members.  So, another very successful season!  We’ve just got to get down to base camp safely tomorrow and then celebrations are in order.

All’s well here at Camp 2 on Everest and everyone’s in good spirits and doing well.

We’ll check in soon!

(photo from the 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:

We are pleased to announce that the main team of the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Everest expedition successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest (8848m/29,029ft) on May 20, 2022, between approximately 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM NPT (local time).

Congratulations to the entire team and a heartfelt thank you to our climbing sherpa and all of the expedition support staff.  You are the ones who make it happen and it can’t be done without you.

# Name Country
1 Mr. Todd Ammerman 🇺🇸 United States
2 Mr. Carter Beck 🇺🇸 United States
3 Mr. Dwight Crow 🇺🇸 United States
4 Mr. Robert “Josh” Garrison 🇺🇸 United States
5 Ms. Saskia Jacobson 🇺🇸 United States
6 Mr. Cameron Kenny 🇺🇸 United States
7 Mr. Chase Merriam 🇺🇸 United States
8 Mr. Roi Negri 🇮🇱 Israel
9 Ms. Sara Safari 🇺🇸 United States
10 Mr. Garrett Madison 🇺🇸 United States
11 Mr. Robert Smith 🇮🇪 Ireland
12 Mr. Terray Sylvester 🇺🇸 United States
13 Mr. Javier “Cacho” Beiza 🇦🇷 Argentina
14 Mr. Aang Phurba Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
15 Mr. Siddi Bhadur Tamang 🇳🇵 Nepal
16 Mr. Kam Dorchi Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
17 Mr. Ming Dorchi Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
18 Mr. Rinji Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
19 Mr. Shere Thapa Magar 🇳🇵 Nepal
20 Mr. Pasang Bhote 🇳🇵 Nepal
21 Mr. Temba Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
22 Mr. Chiring Bhote 🇳🇵 Nepal
23 Mr. Sange Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
24 Mr. Lakpa Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
25 Mr. Pemba Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
26 Mr. Kami Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
27 Mr. Mingma Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
28 Mr. Dhana Tamang 🇳🇵 Nepal
29 Mr. Dawa Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal
30 Mr. Chheder Sherpa 🇳🇵 Nepal

Woohoo!  Our Everest and Lhotse expedition team all summited Mount Everest today!  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, calls in from Mount Everest’s South Col high camp with the happy details:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest and Lhotse expedition team.  Today is May 20th.

Today we summitted Mount Everest!  The whole team:  all nine (9) clients, four (4) guides, and our whole team of Sherpas summitted Mount Everest today around 7:00 to 8:00am.

We had some great views from up there, good route conditions, we had the whole route to ourselves, hardly another climber up there, and we made our way back down to high camp.  The whole team made it safely back to high camp by mid-afternoon.

We’ve been resting up and we’re getting ready to go for our Lhotse attempt.  A few of us are going to set off tonight around midnight and head off towards Mount Lhotse.  The rest of the team will sleep here at the South Col Camp 4 and pack up tomorrow morning, and head down to Camp 2.  So, we’ll all be heading down to Camp 2 eventually tomorrow afternoon.

Great job today to our whole team!  100% success!  We all made it up to the summit of Everest and down safe.  I’m very proud of this team.  I couldn’t be happier.  They earned it.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed for Lhotse tonight.  Hopefuly it works out for those of us going for the double header – Everest/Lhotse combination.

So, checking in for Madison Mountaineering.  We’ll check in tomorrow.

(photo from the 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: