Tag Archive for: Summit Success

Down to Camp 2!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team descended from Camp 4 today on Mount Everest, down the Lhotse Face and over 4,000 vertical feet back to Camp 2. Now back in the Western Cwm and the comforts of a heated dining tent, the team recounts the memories from yesterday’s summit day. Again, we are so proud of the entire team and their accomplishments this season! Climber, Courtenay Roche checks in with this celebratory dispatch from Camp 2:

Hello, friends of Madison Mountaineering! Courtenay here with a very exciting post-summit dispatch. As you probably heard from Garrett yesterday, all of our climbers and our amazing Sherpa team summited Everest (8848m/29,032ft) at 8:00 AM on Thursday, May 23rd – a day none of us will soon forget!

After basking in the warmth of our accomplishments and our -40 degree sleeping bags in Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft) on Thursday night, it was time to head down the mountain. As my childhood idol and friend of Madison Mountaineering Ed Viesturs famously says, “Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.” Well, we have used his directive and have made it safely down to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) losing over 4,000 feet of elevation in just a few hours.

I’m currently dispatching from the comfort of our heated Camp 2 dining tent – a luxury after four days of freeze-dried meals up high on the mountain! We are all certainly eager to be reunited with our base camp (5364m/17,598ft) friends and the amenities tomorrow. Thank you for following along with our many expeditions this season. We’ve got just one more dispatch to go!

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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100% Summit Success!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive. (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

It comes with great pleasure to share that 100% of the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition team has successfully reached the highest point on Earth at 8,848 meters/29,032 feet – the summit of Mount Everest! The team all gathered on the top to share photos, hugs, and high-fives before safely making the descent back to Camp 4. After some well-deserved rest tonight, they’ll continue their descent tomorrow down to Camp 2. Congratulations to the entire team on this incredible achievement! We are so proud and look forward to welcoming everyone back into base camp soon. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Camp 4:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest (8848m/29,032ft) expedition climb. Today is May 23rd and I’m happy to report that we all summited Mount Everest, 100 percent success and all safely back in Camp 4 (7900m/25,919ft)! That’s four climber/clients, myself as the guide/expedition leader, plus our stellar Sherpa team! We’ll put out that name list shortly, but all in all there was about 15 of us on the summit of Everest this morning.

We had a great day, a beautiful sunrise up on the Southeast Ridge! Not too many climbers on the route. It was very uncrowded, so we enjoyed the climb and the summit! We were all up there together to celebrate and savor the moment on top, and then of course made our way safely back down to Camp 4 by about midday here on May 23rd. Everyone’s just resting, rehydrating, eating some noodles and other food, and looking forward to a good night’s rest here on oxygen, then we’ll head down to Camp 2 (6500m/21,325ft) tomorrow!

All is well here! (I’m) really proud of our team. Great job to everyone! (We’re) looking forward to getting down to Camp 2 tomorrow and we’ll check in then. Thank you!

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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Nuptse Summits!

Members of our team on the summit of Nuptse in 2023! Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.
It comes with great pleasure to share the recent success of our Nuptse team who reached the true summit at 7861m / 25,791 today! Our climber, guides, and Sherpa team put all boots on the summit, marking the second year in a row that our team has reached the top and opened the route for other teams to follow for the season. Congratulations to everyone involved! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from Everest Base Camp:

Cacho, Casey, along with four of our Sherpa team (Dawa Tenji, Kam Dorji, Chhetan, Mingmar) just reached the summit of Nuptse (7861m/25,791ft) with perfect conditions! They are on the way down now.

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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Another Mount Vinson Summit!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.

It’s with great excitement to share that the Madison Mountaineering team has safely and successfully reached the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, and one of the famed ‘seven summits!’ After some stormy weather the past few days, the team took advantage of a weather window when it presented itself to go for the summit. The team climbed under beautiful weather with great views all around and shared lots of hugs and high-fives upon reaching the summit. Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the roof of Antarctica:

Hey, this is Garrett with the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) team! We are on the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica! It is a beautiful day!

Hey, it’s Hunter Argenbright. Happy to be here!

Hey, it’s (garbled) on the summit. Loving Madison – have a good day!

Hi, it’s Laura from (garbled). Thank you to Garrett for getting us up this mountain! To all of those (garbled) kids out there, keep on taking it one step at a time and follow your dreams, don’t ever give up! (Garbled) boys, I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Oh, beautiful day up here on the summit with the team! We’re looking forward to getting back down to high camp (3536m/11,600ft) this afternoon. All is well here on Vinson! 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:

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Success on Aconcagua!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.

It’s with great excitement to share that the Madison Mountaineering Aconcagua expedition team has safely and successfully reached the summit of South America’s highest peak! Leaving from Camp 2 rather than the usual Camp 3, our team made an ambitious push taking advantage of a small window, ultimately getting all boots on the summit, sharing some high-fives and hugs before returning down to lower camps. Expedition leader, Terray Sylvester checks in with this dispatch from Aconcagua:

Success on Aconcagua (6961m/22,837ft)! With very high winds predicted to start tomorrow, our team took advantage of a brief weather window today and summited via an ambitious push straight from Camp 2 (5522m/18,117ft) instead of the usual start from Camp 3 (5989m/19,650ft). They enjoyed perfect weather on the summit! Now they’re safely back in Camp 2 and looking forward to beginning the journey back to the comforts of Mendoza (746m/2,449ft) 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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100% Summit Success on Mount Vinson!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive (Photo by Ted Hesser)

It’s with great excitement to share that 100% of the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team has safely and successfully reached the summit of Antarctica’s highest peak and returned to their High Camp! The team experienced a steady wind throughout the day while climbing the ridge toward the summit, but having practiced cold weather self-care, the team put those skills to use so they could enjoy the climb. Congratulations to the entire team on an incredible feat in Antarctica! The entire team checks in with this celebratory dispatch from their High Camp after a successful ascent of Mount Vinson:

Hello! This is Garrett at High Camp (3536m/11,600ft) on Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) with the team. We are just back from the summit! We are extremely happy, just finished some macaroni & cheese, burgers, and veggies, and we’re going to say a few words to talk about our climb today.

(Garbled) from Mexico, coming down from the highest point in Antarctica! It’s another planet here. (Speaks Spanish).

Thais Herrera, (speaks Spanish).

Malu from Mexico! So happy to be here with this team and so grateful for the summit with it.

Hi everyone! This is Juan Francisco from Ecuador. I am so excited that we were able to summit! It was 100% success, we were all able to summit! It’s such a privilege to be in this beautiful group and to have this experience. By the way, (garbled).

Hi, this is Kat Gilson from Minnesota. Super stoked that we all got up there safely and no injuries. We had a beautiful summit, (garbled). It’s awesome to climb with all of these people!

Ahoy! (Speaks foreign language).

Hey! Josh Garrison here. This is my third of the seven summits with Garrett here, pretty cool! We’re just trying to keep the mission up in front of us of raising awareness for the (garbled). Wonderful summit but keep those guys in your hearts and in your prayers. See you on top next time!

Hello, everyone! This is Benny. We made the top today, it was awesome! We’re all here in the kitchen tent. We’re all super psyched, everyone’s happy, smiling, and healthy and thinking of our friends and family back home. Over and out!

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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A white Christmas on Mount Vinson!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive (Photo by Terray Sylvester)

The Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team celebrated Christmas today with a good meal, friends, and in one spectacular place! While friends and family are missed, we are grateful for this time spent together as a team sharing memories we won’t soon forget. The team is settled into their base camp and will return to Union Glacier Camp soon, followed shortly after by making the return trips home, marking the conclusion of our first Mount Vinson expedition of the season. The Mount Vinson expedition team checks in with this celebratory dispatch from Antarctica:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in from Mount Vinson Base Camp (2140m/7,020ft). Merry Christmas! We’re all here just having a great meal and celebrating our climb of Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft)!

“Yeah, it was a good outing on the mountain – oh, I’m Benny (Lieber)!  We’re here with Sanjeev, Art, Kevin, and Garrett, and we had great weather. We’re having a big Christmas dinner and wanted to say “hello” to all of our families and friends, love you, and we are enjoying the holiday!” ~ Madison Mountaineering guide, Benny Lieber

“Hey, everybody – Kevin here! Thrilled to be on the adventure, the double header with Art. (Ski) the last degree went well, and now here we are doing post Vinson summit celebration! Benny and Garrett could not have looked after us better. Miss everybody, wish we could have been home for Christmas as well, but we’ll see you soon enough. Lots of love, all the best.” ~ Madison Mountaineering climber, Kevin Walsh

“Hi! It’s Art Muir and it’s a wonderful way to spend Christmas. I miss my family, but I couldn’t think of a better way to (garbled) great adventure, great success, a 5-star operation run by Garrett Madison of course. We’ve had a wonderful time here, so hopefully everybody comes to visit Antarctica, which Garrett says is “a magical place.” ~ Madison Mountaineering climber, Art Muir

“Hi, Sanjeev here! We’ve just had this out of this world experience. It felt like we were on a different planet! Thank you so much Garrett, Benny, and two great friends I’ve made, Art and Kevin. (garbled)” ~ Madison Mountaineering climber, Sanjeev Banga

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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Summit success on Mount Vinson!

Photo pulled from the Madison Mountaineering archive.

It’s with great excitement to share that the Madison Mountaineering Mount Vinson expedition team has reached the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest point in all of Antarctica! The team could not have asked for a more perfect day, climbing in one of the most remote and pristine places on the planet under beautiful, clear-blue skies. Not a bad way to celebrate the holiday! Expedition leader, Garrett Madison checks in with this dispatch from the summit of Mount Vinson with climbers, Art and Kevin:

Hello! This is Garrett calling in for the Mount Vinson (4892m/16,050ft) expedition – today is Christmas Eve and I am up here at the summit of Mount Vinson with Art and Kevin! We have a beautiful day here, almost all to ourselves and couldn’t ask for better conditions. What a great team and great company to be up here with! Here’s Art:

“Hey everybody, Christmas Eve! I’m really grateful to my family for letting me be here. It’s a special experience, beautiful day, a “magical place” as Garrett calls it… Antarctica is a magical place, very much worth seeing. I just love it! We are very, very happy. Here’s Kevin!” ~ Madison Mountaineering climber, Art Muir

Merry Christmas everybody! We’re on the top of Antarctica. Garrett got us up here again in stellar form! It’s a beautiful day, we miss everybody lots… Loves and hugs and kisses to everybody! Thanks Stacey for yeah, holding the fort while I’m here. Happy birthday Maddy! We’ll see everybody real soon. All the best!” ~ Madison Mountaineering climber, Kevin Walsh

Right on! Well, such a beautiful moment to share up here with Art and Kevin. Highest point in Antarctica, bluebird day, no clouds as far as the eye can see, and just a really awesome experience. We’ll savor it, and of course looking forward to getting down safe. 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:

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100% Summit Success on Rainier!

Mount Rainier summit photo!

On the evening of July 25th, the 2023 Madison Mountaineering Mount Rainier (4392m/14,411ft) team successfully reached the summit of the tallest peak in Washington! Sunny skies to start the climb was followed by stormier conditions, forcing the team to hunker down at Ingraham Flats (3383m/11,100ft). While the team waited out the adverse weather conditions, they worked on the skills needed for the climbing ahead, made lasting friendships, and bonded as a team who was motivated and ready to make their push for the summit when the storm abated. Guides, Max Strotbeck and Benny Lieber positioned the team out of the way of high winds and in a position to make their summit bid when the time came.

At approximately, 3:00 PM PST on Tuesday, July 25, the storm dissipated giving them the window they needed to make their summit push. As the only team on the route at that time, the team set off for the summit, and five hours later found themselves reaching Mount Rainier’s summit crater and counting the final steps towards its true summit. The team’s hard work, determination, and well thought out strategy gifted them with a memorable sunset summit to themselves, with views all around from the roof of Washington.

Congratulations again to the team on one awesome climb!

The team celebrating their summit success on the evening of July 25 under a beautiful sunset painted sky!

The team celebrating their summit success on the evening of July 25 under a beautiful sunset painted sky!

The team settled into our bombproof Mountain Hardwear tents!

The team settled into our bombproof Mountain Hardwear tents!

The view of camp from Ingraham Flats.

The view of camp from Ingraham Flats.

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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Mount Everest 2023 Season Recap

The Madison Mountaineering team with the summit of Mount Everest all to themselves on May 24, 2023 (Photo: Terray Sylvester)

We had great climbs of Everest (May 24th) and Lhotse (May 25th). The conditions were the best I’ve ever had on summit day; warm, calm, and hardly any other climbers on the route. We had the summit all to ourselves for over an hour. In addition to eight clients, four guides, and 15 Nepal Sherpas reaching the summit of Everest, we had three clients, two guides, and three Sherpas reach the summit of Lhotse the following day. Peter Horsman became the first Dutchman, Debbie Bulten became the first Canadian woman, and Danah Ali became the first Emirati to complete the Everest & Lhotse peak to peak combination.

Unfortunately, on the way down from Camp 4 on May 25th at 7500m, one of our climbers, Pieter Swart passed away in the evening from a rapid onset lung infection / pulmonary edema. Guides, Terray Sylvester & Scott Webster spent the entire day with him assisting in his descent, joined by myself and Cacho Beiza from 1:00 pm onwards after our Lhotse climb, as we attempted to descend with him down to Camp 3 where a helicopter rescue might be possible. We will remember him fondly for his kindness and enthusiasm towards our team and for living life to the fullest.

At this time, our focus is working with the Nepalese agencies to support Pieter’s family and our team as we conclude our expedition here in Nepal.

To higher places,

Garrett Madison

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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