Tag Archive for: South Col

Safely back in Base Camp

The team together earlier in the expedition.

With happy hearts, we’re excited to report that the entire Madison Mountaineering team is now safely off of the mountain and heading home! Some of the team is back in Kathmandu, reintroducing themselves to the comforts of life in the city. A few team members, guides, the Sherpa team, and base camp staff are wrapping up the season in Everest Base Camp! While climbers are quick to pack their bags one last time before boarding their flights back home, there are sure to be many hugs and ‘see you laters’ as this special season comes to a close. We are so proud of the entire team for another incredible season in the Himalaya! With over 30 summits on Mount Everest, memories, and new friends that will last a lifetime, the past month and a half is one we won’t soon forget. With that, we are proud to present the 2026 Mount Everest summiteers list:

# Name Nationality
1 Francisco Arenas United States of America
2 Richard Draves United States of America
3 Ashley Keightley United States of America
4 Brandon Scott Canada
5 Andrew Green United States of America
6 Frank McCarthy Ireland
7 Pratyay Poddar United Kingdom
8 Tomas Walsh United States of America
9 Jeffery Arnold Canada
10 Reid Tileston United States of America
11 Garrett Madison United States of America
12 Terray Sylvester United States of America
13 Juan Pablo Escobar Argentina
14 Javier Beiza Argentina
15 Aang Phurba Sherpa Nepal
16 Dawa Sange Sherpa Nepal
17 Dorchi Sherpa Nepal
18 Chhong Ngima Sherp Nepal
19 Ngima Tashi Sherpa Nepal
20 Sumba Sherpa Nepal
21 Shere Thapa Magar Nepal
22 Ngima Sona Sherpa Nepal
23 Lale Tamang Nepal
24 Dawa Sungder Sherpa Nepal
25 Nima Sange Sherpa Nepal
26 Pemba Sherp Nepal
27 Pemba Serwa Nepal
28 Chheten Dorgee Sherpa Nepal
29 Dorchi one Sherpa Nepal
30 Siddhi Tamang Nepal
31 Hira Bhote Nepal
32 R D Tamang Nepal
33 Mane Tamang Nepal
34 Santosh Bhote Nepal

Bookings for the 2027 Mount Everest expedition are OPEN! Reach out to our team to learn more. We are already looking forward to coming back again next year!

Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this closing dispatch from Mount Everest:

Hey! This is Garrett checking in for the Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are all down off the mountain now. The last of us, myself, Terray, Reid, and Jeff, along with our incredible Sherpa team came down to base camp (5364m/17,598ft) today from Camp IV (7900m/25,919ft). Everyone’s down from Camp II (6500m/21,325ft). And we’re happy that the whole crew is safely down off the mountain.

Most of our main team is already down in Kathmandu (1400m/4,600ft), enjoying the city life, and hot showers, warm beds, and looking forward to getting home soon.

It’s been a great expedition! Just incredible success all around. Everybody who went for the summit made it. That’s 10 clients, four guides, and, over 20 Nepal Sherpa. So just an amazing expedition! Very thankful, very grateful we were so fortunate and had so much success and safety all around.

So it’s been a great season here in Nepal. So fortunate, so thankful, and we’ll check in soon.

(From left to right) Aang Phurba Sherpa, Garrett Madison, and Jeff Arnold nearing base camp after descending from Camp IV.

(From left to right) Aang Phurba Sherpa, Garrett Madison, and Jeff Arnold nearing base camp after descending from Camp IV.

Looking up at the summit from the South Col.

Looking up at the summit from the South Col.

The team moving together beneath the Lhotse Face.

The team moving together beneath the Lhotse Face.

 

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:

/0 Comments/by

More Everest Summits on May 27!

Summit! Some of the team at the top of the world...

At 18:57 NPT, we received word from the South Col that the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team had successfully reached the summit and made it back down to Camp IV! It comes with great pleasure to share this exciting news that nine climbers, guides, and Sherpas topped out at the world’s highest point today, adding to the total from a few days prior. The team enjoyed excellent views and no crowds while climbing on the way to the summit. With the summit to themselves, the celebration commenced, summit photos were taken, and the moment cherished before turning back. What an incredible way to finish the 2026 climbing season on Mount Everest! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in from Camp IV:

Hey! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.

We have great news to report… Today, the last members of our expedition, Everest team all reached the summit! That’s myself, Jeff Arnold, Terray Sylvester, Reid Tileston, along with the incredible Sherpa team: Siddhi Ghising, and Mani, and Ardi, and Hira, and Santosh. And we are all back in Camp IV (7900m/25,919ft) now, safe and sound, resting, recovering, and planning to head down to Camp II (6500m/21,325ft) and base camp (5364m/17,598ft) the following day.

(We) had a great day! The weather cooperated, winds dropped down, and we had some great views on the way up. It was a little cloudy up top, but not crowded at all, and we just had a wonderful time up there. A great way to conclude our expedition with all the members that were up here at the South Col, and going for the summit, topping out on Everest!

So, been a fantastic expedition, and we will check in soon.

Summit photo atop Mount Everest!

Summit photo atop Mount Everest!

Clear skies and excellent views while climbing high on Everest.

Clear skies and excellent views while climbing high on Everest.

Garrett Madison on the summit for his 16th time.

Garrett Madison on the summit for his 16th time.

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:

/0 Comments/by

Summits on Everest!

The route as seen from Camp 4.

It comes with great excitement to share that the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team successfully reached the summit and are back in Camp 4! All climbers who left on the summit push from the South Col reached the world’s highest point. Upon reaching the top, the team took in the moment with a brief celebration, hugs, high-fives, and a few photos before turning back and descending down the route. Awesome job, team! We are so proud of you.

But we’re not done yet! A few climbers and guides are staged in Camp 4. They plan to take a rest day tomorrow and leave for the summit on May 27th! More to come from Mount Everest… Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the South Col:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.

We are all up at the South Col at Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on Mount Everest. And today, we’re so proud of our main team that summited, led by Cacho, J.P, Aang Phurba Sherpa, along with eight climbers. That’s Rich, Brandon, Andy, Ashley, Pratyay, Frank, Francisco, and Tom. All the climbers who were up here at the South Col went for the summit and made it, along with the guide team and 16 Nepal Sherpas, 16 of our stellar Sherpas. We’re so proud of them! So that’s, I think 24 members from the Madison Mountaineering team, Sherpas and climbers, 26 maybe who summited.

Myself, along with Jeff Arnold, Terray Sylvester, and Reid Tileston are up here at the South Col now, along with Siddhi, Ardi, and Hada Sherpa. We’re getting ready to go for our summit attempt. We’re probably going to aim for the morning of the 27th at this point.

So everyone’s doing well, everyone’s safe, everyone’s happy. And we’re just so excited our main team all made it to the top, 100% success for everyone that was up here at the South Col and left to go for the summit attempt. Great job, team!

Fingers crossed we’ll some good weather and conditions for the last four of us and our Sherpa team here on the 27th! All’s well here at high camp 4 on Everest, 26,000 feet, 8,000 meters. 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:

/0 Comments/by

Summit Push Happening Soon!

Mountain Hardwear Trango tents in Camp 3

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team is primed and ready for their summit push. Situated in Camp 4 at the South Col, our main team has plans to get an alpine start and hopefully be standing on the summit by mid-morning! Meanwhile, the rest of our team is down in Camp 3 and will make the move to Camp 4 tomorrow. The weather has improved and the team is ready to go. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Mount Everest:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team.

We are split into two teams at the moment. Our main team, with Cacho, J.P, and Aang Phurba is up at the South Col (7900m/25,919ft). They got up there yesterday to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft). They battled some high winds, but they did great getting into high camp. And they are going for the summit tonight! They’re gonna set out around 1:00 p.m. Hopefully, summit at about 9 or 10 a.m. on May 25th.

Our plan here, myself, Terray, Reid, and Jeff, is to climb up to Camp 4 tomorrow, and hopefully, greet our team and congratulate them on the way back down! And then, we’ll go for the summit in the next day or two, 26th or 27th of May.

So, all is well here on Mount Everest! Seems like the winds are starting to subside, and the weather is improving. Fingers crossed and Godspeed.

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:

/0 Comments/by

Teams in Camp 3 and Camp 4 on Everest!

The view from Camp 3.

Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition teams are tucked into Camps 3 and 4. The summit push is near; climbers are psyched and ready to go! The main climbing team reached the South Col today, and the rest of our guides and climbers will join them there shortly. Stay tuned for the summit push! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Mount Everest:

Hey! This is Garrett here with Terray, Reid, and Jeff in Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) on Everest (8848m/29,032ft).

We climbed up from Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) to Camp 3 today. We had a nice day, great views, and we’re tucked in here, just getting ready to have some dinner,

Our main team: Cacho, JP, Aang Phurba, and all the other climbers powered up from Camp 3 to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) today, got to the South Col. It was a windy one for them, but they did great. They’re up there, resting and recovering; probably gonna rest tomorrow. Hopefully, the winds will start to subside, and we’ll have some good weather for the summit push.

But everyone’s doing well, and we’re psyched to be here, good views all around! 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:

 

/0 Comments/by

Up and back from Camp 3

Taking a break on the Lhotse Face.

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team logged some strong work today and climbed all the way to Camp 3, which sits on the Lhotse Face. The team had great views while climbing the fixed lines, moved strong and steady up the route. While most of our team is now back in Camp 2 with plans to continue their descent soon, one of our climbers, Reid Tileston, is spending the night in Camp 3 as he prepares for his summit attempt without supplemental oxygen. A huge shoutout to our Sherpa team who is aiding the rope fixing team so that the route can be fixed up to the summit! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 2 on Mount Everest:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in for the Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition team.

We are back in Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) after climbing up and touching Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) today. It was a great climb up to Camp 3; fun climb, great views, good technical practice, good acclimatization. We spent about an hour up there at Camp 3, 7,000 meters / 23,000 feet, admiring the views. We saw some other friends up there from other teams, and then came back down here to Camp 2 in the afternoon.

A couple of our members, Terray, Reid, and Siddhi are spending the night up at Camp 3, as Reid is building more acclimatization for his no oxygen attempt later this season. So, just talked to them on the radio. They’re doing great, having some dinner, getting ready for bed, and they’re gonna come down tomorrow.

So, it’s a little windy up high. We’ve got some Sherpas carrying loads up to the South Col (7900m/25,919ft) to help the rope fixing team! They’re carrying up some ropes to aid in their efforts.

We’re gonna head down for a rest! So all good here. Everyone’s having fun and enjoying the mountain. We’ll check in soon!

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa on the Lhotse Face.

Sirdar and guide, Aang Phurba Sherpa on the Lhotse Face.

Looking up at Mount Everest from the Lhotse Face.

Looking up at Mount Everest from the Lhotse Face.

The view from Camp 3 looking in the direction of Camp 2, Camp 1, the Khumbu Icefall, Everest Basecamp...

The view from Camp 3 looking in the direction of Camp 2, Camp 1, the Khumbu Icefall, Everest Basecamp…

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:

/0 Comments/by

Descending from the South Col

Summit photo atop Mount Everest!

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team will begin their descent from the South Col shortly! After successfully reaching the highest point on Earth the day prior, they plan to head down to Camp 2 for one night, and then to their base camp where we’ll be reunited with our wonderful base camp staff! Full of excitement from just a day ago, we say ‘goodbye’ to Camp 4 with good memories from time well spent in this place that’s unlike any other. Madison Mountaineering guide, Cacho Beiza checks in with this dispatch from the South Col:

Hello everybody! This is Cacho and Garrett over here at Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on Everest (8848m/29,032ft) at 8,000 meters.

We’re just waking up over here, getting ready to head down with all of the members. The group is feeling great! Everybody is really happy about the summit yesterday after a great and hard day – a lot of wind up high, but we managed to go through and here we are! We’re happy to go down, get to base camp (5364m/17,598ft) in a couple of days.

We send this message to all of you guys!

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:

/0 Comments/by

Starting up soon!

Looking up the route from Camp 4 on the South Col.

The Madison Mountaineering Everest expedition team is excited and ready to set off for the summit! The team rested today and made their final preparations before beginning their summit push in just a few hours time. Meanwhile, our Lhotse expedition team stepped onto the summit around 8:00 AM local time, reaching the fourth-highest peak on Earth, and a huge accomplishment! We’re so proud of everyone on the team and send our best wishes for a safe and smooth summit tomorrow on the world’s highest peak. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this pre-summit push dispatch from Camp 4:

Hello! This is Garrett checking in, it’s May 22nd, 4:00 PM.

Our team got up to the South Col, Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) yesterday evening, settled in, had a good nights rest, and today we’re making final preparations to go for the summit tonight, probably leaving around midnight or 1:00 AM!

This morning, our Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft) team, led by Terray Sylvester made the summit of Lhotse! They reported good conditions. They topped out around 8:00 AM. Congratulations to Terray, Andras, Aga, Lakpang Chu [sp?], and Sumba Sherpa [sp?]. Great job! We’re very proud of them. They topped out on Makalu (8463m/27,766ft) earlier, and now Lhotse, and they’ll be heading down to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft).

We’re getting ready to go for the Everest (8848m/29,032ft) summit tonight! Fingers crossed for good weather. The team’s doing great up here! Wish us luck as we set off to climb the highest mountain in the world. Check in soon!

Looking out towards Makalu from the South Col.

Looking out towards Makalu from the South Col.

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:

/1 Comment/by

Settled in on the South Col

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archives (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team braved blustery conditions today on their move from Camp 3 to Camp 4, where they are now settled in on the South Col, nestled between Mount Everest and Lhotse. Camp 4 serves as the highest camp on the mountain and is where the team will launch their summit push from. The team plans to rest tomorrow before getting an alpine start the next day, targeting the top of the world on May 23rd! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch via satellite phone from Camp 4 on Mount Everest:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) climbing team.

Today is May 21st and today we climbed from Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) to Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on Mount Everest at the South Col. Everyone did great! We left Camp 3 at about 6:00 AM and went up the Lhotse Face. There were some blustery conditions, some wind, some snow, but the team did great. We made it in here to the South Col here at Camp 4 this afternoon, set up our tents, got moved into our camp, and are getting ready for dinner. The plan is to rest tomorrow, May 22nd, and then leave at about midnight or 1:00 AM and go for the summit, hopefully reaching the top early around sunrise on May 23rd.

So, everyone’s doing well up here! We’re in good spirits and fingers crossed for (garbled)…

Everyone’s doing great! 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:

/0 Comments/by

Lhotse summit attempt coming up!

Lhotse (photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Lhotse expedition team is in position to go for the summit! Now tucked into Lhotse Camp 4, the team had perfect climbing conditions today as they parted ways with our Everest team who were headed to the South Col. In just a few hours time, alarms are set to go off and the team will begin their push to the summit of the fourth-highest peak on the planet! Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Lhotse:

Hello from Lhotse Camp 4 at 7,700m. We climbed here this morning from Everest / Lhotse Camp 3 (7230m/23,720ft) with the main Madison Mountaineering Everest (8848m/29,032ft) team. Route conditions were ideal, with perfect styrofoam snow the whole way except on the obligatory glacier ice bulges. Now we’ve settled into our tents and we’re resting in preparation for our final push to the summit of Lhotse (8516m/27,940ft), the fourth highest peak. We’re planning to start climbing toward the summit a few hours before dawn tomorrow morning. All is well here. 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 our daily audio expedition updates on select expeditions.  Just say, “Alexa, play my flash briefing.“

– Instagram:

/0 Comments/by