Entries By casey grom

Namaste everyone!

Well we did it! The team has successfully made it to Everest Base Camp on a beautiful day. We had a relaxing start to allow the day temperatures to rise enough so that the hike would be pleasant. The team hiked for almost three hours to reach Base Camp or EBC as we call it, stopping along the way many times to take pictures and just enjoy the stunning views. 

Once here, we were greeted with some of the best food thus far for lunch and then all team members enjoyed a well deserved hot shower while it was still warm and sunny. Although the temperature wasn’t high, the intensity of the sun at this altitude made it feel quite warm to us. 

Everyone is doing great and looking forward to a good nights rest after all the days trekking to get here. We are sleeping on the Khumbu glacier in a campsite chopped out of the ice. Our camp is surrounded by mountains and glaciers in nearly all directions. It’s incredibly breathtaking to say the least.

That’s all for now! 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Hello Everyone 

It's incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and the mountains are grandiose. We've been very comfortable hiking each day in the sunny weather, then bundling up in our warm sleeping bags each night as the temperature drops. 

Dinner is often around 7 and the menu is pretty much the same at every tea house with plenty of soups, simple pasta, rice, potatoes, and typical Nepalese Dal Bat.  

After dinner we relax and have a brief review of the day ahead and then it's off to bed. 

The team hiked up Kala Patar this afternoon to get a better view of Everest which didn’t disappoint!

Spirits are high as we push closer to basecamp and if the weather cooperates, we should arrive tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll be able to get updates out, but in the off chance we can’t, the team will be at Everest Base camp for two nights. 

There’s no cell service or WiFi most likely. 

That's all for now

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

All is well here on the trek!

Today we left Pheriche and hiked further up valley to Lobuche, we slowly made our way along the winding path that we share with other trekkers, porters heavily laden with loads bound for Base camp, and yaks who aren't as keen to share the trail. We made good time and enjoyed the astounding views before reaching camp for the night.

Everyone is currently relaxing in our tea house enjoying the warmth of yak dung fire. There's been plenty of good conversation with our team and other trekkers on the same journey as us.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Hello again everyone.

Team is hanging tough here in Pheriche as the weather and clouds continue to obscure the amazing views. But spirits are high nonetheless!

Thankfully today was a scheduled rest day and the team enjoyed relaxing here at our lodge most of the day. We did manage to squeeze in a very short hike in the snow to stretch our legs a bit. Reading, naps and some storytelling filled most of the day.

Weather forecast are calling for sunshine tomorrow. So keep your fingers crossed for us!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Namaste Everyone

The team woke to beautifully clear skies and views of Everest right out our dining room window. Apparently the Puja we had yesterday helped!

We’ve settled into our daily routine of getting up and packing our duffel bags before meeting in the dining room for breakfast and plenty of Starbucks, thanks to RMI sending it with us. After breakfast we step outside to get a better sense of the temperature before adjusting our layers for the hike. Once on the trail we do our best to maintain a steady pace, with stops every hour or so to stay hydrated and take in the views. There’s plenty of other hikers and yak trains headed in both directions to negotiate as well.

Today we hiked for a little over six hours including breaks and a light lunch to get to our next tea house in Pheriche, which sits at about 14,000'.

Everyone did great and enjoyed the stunning views of Ama Dablam, one of the most iconic peaks along the route to Base Camp.

RMI Guide Casey Grom  and the Base Camp crew

Namaste everyone,

The team is hanging tough here in Khumbu. Today we departed Namche and hiked for about 6 hours today up and down, dropping all the way down to a river, which is a stunning turquoise, then climbed slowing up the hill before the famous Tengboche Monastery. Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favor, normally we get to see might Everest off in the distance as well as many other Himalayan giants, but not today. 

I’m grateful the team didn’t seem to mind, and everyone chatted happily, except on those uphill sections. 

Traditionally we have gotten a blessing from a famous lama in Pangboche, but sadly that lama has moved on to a higher calling. So today we were able to request a private Puja with another lama at Tengboche and each receive a blessing. The Puja is a Buddhist ceremony where the lama chants a Buddhist prayer and gives us a blessing to protect us from harm and grant us health and a long life. 

We've settled in to a nice and warm tea house called Rivendale that's incredibly clean and nice. I shouldn’t mention the heated blankets everyone is enjoying, since we want you all to think we’re roughing it! 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and The Warm and Newly Blessed Crew. 

Hello again from Nepal.

All is well here in Namche and the team is doing great. Today is scheduled as a rest/acclimatization day to help our bodies adjust to the change in altitude. Normally I like to get the team out for a little exploring and sightseeing, but the weather had other plans for us. So instead, we had a leisurely morning here around the tea house and once the clouds broke, we ventured out to wonder this beautiful and friendly village. Some headed for coffee shops while other went off in search for unknown treasures.

We reconvened around noon to enjoy some amazing food at the local fresh food spot called “Eat Smart “and did just that!

We did manage a short hike to see the town from one of the adjacent hillsides and then did a little “puffy pants” shopping to help keep us nice and toasty higher up the valley.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Puffy Pants Crew

Namaste everyone.

This morning we left our tea house in Phakding and headed up the valley toward Namche Bazaar, which is the largest village in this famous valley. We hit the trail just before 8 along with quite a few other trekkers.  Everyone did really well on the hike, and no one seemed to mind pausing often for the endless mules and Zopkyos (cross between a Yak and a cow) carrying loads headed up valley and basecamp as we made our up the trail. It was moderately busy on the route with trekkers and porters alike, but thankfully the traffic seem to flow pretty smoothly.

The team crossed a number of high suspension bridges without a problem, even with a light rain falling. Overall it was a really enjoyable day as we climbed up to just over 11'200 where Namche sits.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and Base Camp Crew

Hello from the Khumbu Valley!

We started our day here pretty early, meeting in the hotel lobby at 5:30am. After checking out of the hotel we had a short ride to the domestic airport were we weighed all of our duffels and backpacks before getting tickets and slipping through a very laid back security check. Normally there’s a little bit of waiting before heading out, but today things moved along pretty quickly. 

We opted for helicopter flights to the Lukla airport and avoided the small planes that require land on an uphill runway.  After we touched down, we connected with our local Sherpa guides hired a few porters that will be carrying our duffles throughout the trek. We made a brief stop at a local tea house to have breakfast and get situated before hitting the trail. 

We hiked for about four hours today with few stops to rest and to take in the beautiful scenery. We arrived at our camp for the night in a village called Phakding just in time for a well earned lunch. The team got settled, had naps, or explored a little before walking a short way to one of the many Monastery’s here in the Valley. Luckily for us the Monks were having a prayer session and allowed us to sit in while they chanted and blew their horns. It was very surreal and a wonderful way to start this adventure. 

All is well!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Namaste! 

Greetings from Nepal

The team has finally arrived in Kathmandu after some incredibly long flights and we are slowly adjusting to the 12 hour time change. Not an easy task by any means. 

We started our first day with a round of introductions, getting acquainted and discussing the necessities to our upcoming adventure to Everest Base Camp. Then headed out to visit a few famous temples here in Kathmandu. First up was the massive Boudhanath Stupa, which is one of the largest in the world. Then Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple that over looks most of Kathmandu. They are two of the sevn World Heritage sites here in Nepal. 

We wrapped up the evening by getting all of our gear packed and an amazing meal at a restaurant call “Le Sherpa”, sort of a modern fusion on new and old Nepali food. 

Everyone is doing well and very much looking forward to heading into the mountains tomorrow! 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Everest Base Camp crew