Training and Awaiting

While our first wave of climbers awaits to greet their fellow teammates in base camp, they continue their technical training in the neighboring ice formations to their base camp! Good weather has made for good times in the Khumbu thus far, not to mention delicious food and movies to watch as the sun sets over Everest Base Camp (EBC). Expedition guide, Terray Sylvester, checks in with this dispatch from EBC:

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 17th.

Today we had a third day of technical training on ice formations next to base camp (5364m/17,598ft) – practiced ascending and rappelling steep ice, as well as went over technique for ladder crossings. And then, (we) relaxed in the afternoon! In the evening, we had a great dinner of fried chicken, pasta and potatoes! Then, we watched The Hangover, was our movie selection tonight.

Our second wave of climbers are in Deboche (3820m/12,532ft) tonight. They stopped at the famous Tengboche Monastery on the way from Namche (3440m/11,290ft), and then are staying at the comfortable Rivendell Lodge tonight.

So all is well here in Nepal, and we’ll be in touch tomorrow!

Climber, Larry Zitnick, receiving a blessing along the trek towards EBC!

Climber, Larry Zitnick, spinning a few of the many prayer wheels encountered on the trail en route to EBC!

Climbing and trekking duo, Rich and Sarah Draves, smiling for a photo on the trek towards EBC!

Climbers, Krisli Melesk and Stevie Hornick, stopping for a photo!

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:

• @MadisonMtng
• @GarrettMadison1
• @terray_s