Tag Archive for: trekking

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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Summit Success on Lobuche East!

Topping out on Lobuche East

Meanwhile down valley in the Khumbu, our Lobuche East climbers reached the summit and safely descended to the village of Lobuche!  Congratulations team!!  Madison Mountaineering guide Scott Webster reports in from Lobuche village with this recap of summit day:

Successful ascent of Lobuche East this morning (April 15, 2022). The team set out from high camp at 0200 and reached the summit (6119m/20,075ft) at 0730. The weather couldn’t have been any better with clear blue skies and hardly a breath of wind! After descending back to high camp we packed up and returned to Lobuche village. The clients then helicoptered back to Kathmandu! From the summit of a 6000m Himalayan peak to Kathmandu in less than 10 hours!

On the summit of Lobuche East!

On the summit of Lobuche East!

Heading up from high camp on Lobuche East

Heading up from high camp on Lobuche East

Nearing the summit of Lobuche East

Nearing the summit of Lobuche East

Climber Katherine Crociata and Tenji Sherpa on the summit of Lobuche East

Climber Katherine Crociata and Tenji Sherpa on the summit of Lobuche East

Topping out on Lobuche East

Topping out on Lobuche East

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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Settling into Base Camp Life

The view from base camp as the moon rose over the west shoulder of Mount Everest

Our Everest team is settling into base camp life and today hiked up the slopes of Pumori to its camp 1 at 5486m.  Guide Terray Sylvester has 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 14th.

We continue to have to have great weather here in base camp. Today we had a little bit of snow overnight, a little cloudiness in the morning, but the rest of the day was really brilliant blue skies with very crisp clear views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The team hiked up to camp 1 on Pumori today higher than 18,000ft to acclimatize. It’s part of our continuing preparation for our first rotation up to Camp 1 and Camp 2, which will hopefully start in a few days.

So, everyone is doing well here! We had a great dinner of momos, chicken, and then watched the first half of “Interstellar” after dinner. We’ll finish that off tomorrow.

So, we will be in touch.

The team at Pumori Camp 1 on an acclimatization hike today

The team at Pumori Camp 1 on an acclimatization hike today

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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Training and Organizing in Everest Base Camp

Training in the Khumbu Icefall

With our EBC trekkers and Lobuche/Island Peak climbers headed out from Everest base camp to continue their adventures, the Everest climbing team has started to turn their attention to getting things ready for their first acclimatization rotation in a few days by organizing their gear and starting some initial skills refresh.  Expedition leader Garrett Madison provides a recap of the day:

Hello!  This is Garrett calling in for the Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest and Lhotse expedition team!  Today is April 13th.  We are in Everest Base Camp.  We arrived yesterday and we are doing great! A beautiful sunny morning today, we saw off our trekkers who headed down valley back to Kathmandu by helicopter. The climbing team put on their crampons, grabbed our ice axes and went out for a walk in the lower Icefall to scope out the terrain.

It was a beautiful morning, lots of great views and we came back to camp and did a little gear organizing.  We just had a relaxing afternoon. We’re going to have a good dinner now, watch a movie tonight, and we look forward to a good rest.

So, all is well here at Everest Base Camp. It is snowing here at the moment and we are really happy to be here.

Just thrilled to get up into the Khumbu icefall here in about a week’s time after we do our training.

Training in the Khumbu Icefall

Training in the Khumbu Icefall

A view from todays training

A view from today’s training

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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Everest Base Camp!

The climbing team at the entrance to base camp

Today our trekking and climbing teams completed the final segment of trekking to reach Everest Base Camp!  Madison Mountaineering guide Terray Sylvester provides a recap of the day:

Hello!  This is Terray calling in for the 2022 Madison Mountaineering Mount Everest expedition!  It’s April 12th.

Today our climbing and trekking teams walked from Gorak Shep (5170m/16,962ft) to Everest Base Camp (5310m/17,421ft).  It was a beautiful day for the walk – really nice sunny weather.  Everyone stopped for some group photos at “Trekker’s Rock” right at the bottom of base camp and then came on up to camp and we started moving into our tents.

Tomorrow our trekkers will fly out in helicopters back to Kathmandu and our Island Peak and Lobuche Peak climbers will head off down the valley.  Then our Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse climbers will start getting into the routine of preparing for the ascent.  So, tomorrow we’ll go over some climbing skills, make sure our gear is dialed in, and potentially take a little foray into the Icefall.

So, all is well here.  Everyone is heathly.  And yeah, it was a beautiful day here at just over 5000m.

So, we’ll be in touch!

Nearly to Everest Base Camp

Nearly to Everest Base Camp

The trekking team at the entrance to base camp

The trekking team at the entrance to base camp

Garrett and Rob welcoming Everest climber Roi Negri base camp

Garrett and Rob welcome Everest climber Roi Negri to base camp

The climbing team at the entrance to base camp

The climbing team at the entrance to base camp

Night shot looking up into the Khumbu icefall from our base camp

Night shot looking up into the Khumbu icefall from our base camp

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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