Entries By jess wedel

We made it back to Kathmandu!

After descending to Lukla yesterday, we had a final team dinner with our Sherpa guide team and all the porters that helped make our trip possible.

We ended the night with a boom box and dancing — each song switching between USA pop songs and Nepali music. There was so much laughter and it was such a lovely evening celebrating a wonderful trip.

This morning we woke up early and made it on helicopters back to a hazy Kathmandu. People spent the afternoon resting and shopping on the bustling streets of Thamel.

One final team dinner tonight where we reminisced on an amazing experience - full of challenges, growth and pushing ourselves. One thing we all agree on is the smiles and open hearts of the Nepali people is something we’ll keep with us for a long time.

Until next time,

Jess and the Lobuche team

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - 5:59 pm PT

We woke up in Pangboche and headed back on the trail. Descending hills, crossing bridges, ascending hills and descending more until we made it to Namche Bazaar.

We passed our final yak trains (only mules and zopke below Namche) and many teams looking fresh as they headed in the valley.

We got an early start so we had the afternoon in Namche to shop for final gifts - yak bells, yak wool scarves, customized hoodies and more.

Tomorrow we have one final big day of trekking until we reach Lukla.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the team

We had a leisurely morning in Pheriche - taking our time to pack and sit in the sunroom playing games. Much needed after our big Lobuche push. 

We said goodbye to Dawa, our head Sherpa guide, as he heads back to Everest Base Camp to climb this season and took off out of Pheriche.

Right before we left town, we were sent off by two more of the floofiest baby yaks. Always a day maker. 

We took in the views and walked just under three hours to our teahouse in Pangboche. A lovely short day so we had the afternoon to rest before two big days of walking ahead.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel

We made it to the summit of Lobuche!

With an alpine start, we headed up the mountain. The first half of the climb we ascended slabby rock, up and up we went. Climbing below a moonless sky with stars forever. Although the forecast had called for high winds, it was still and quiet.

Soon we crossed the ridge to what is normally crampon point near 18,400 feet but it’s been a very dry winter in the Himalayas so we continued on a rocky ridge to nearly 18,800ft where we finally dawned our crampons and got on the steep snow and ice. First light of day was just beginning to show the outline of the mountains around us and it was beautiful. The colors of the sky changed and soon the sun came up! After a lot more steep climbing up the face of Lobuche we reached the summit.

We’ve now descended to Pheriche where we reunited with our other two team members and plan to all walk out together over the next few days.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Lobuche team

Hi there!

We left base camp early this morning and made our way to Lobuche high camp. We said goodbye to everyone that made our stay so wonderful.

The trail was crowded with yaks and trekkers but we ducked and dodged and eventually made it back to Gorek shep and then on to Lobuche.

After a quick lunch, we headed uphill to Lobuche high camp! It was a windy day and the forecast looks like the wind will continue for the next few days. We plan to climb tonight and see if we can safely make it to the top and back down.

We’re headed to bed early to try to get some rest before an early wake up.

Two of our teammates that planned to just trek made it safely back to Pheriche where they will wait for us to get down from the climb.

Cross your fingers the wind dies down!

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the team
 

Out here, we remember to marvel. It’s so easy to forget how incredible this planet is but when you wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night at 17,500 ft and you are surrounded by a world of stars you can’t help but be in awe. That’s what these last two days have been like. We are amazed at the power of the ice and the glaciers around us, we can’t get enough of the stars at night, and base camp — to see a whole city built of tents in such a harsh and unforgiving place is pretty incredible.

Today we got to walk to the lower Khumbu ice fall and do some ice climbing and training for Lobuche. We learned how to use our ascenders (safety first!), how to rappel and how to climb training for Lobuche. We learned how to use our ascenders (safety first!), how to rappel and how to climb steep ice and snow.

I’m so impressed with everyone on this team and so excited to see what Lobuche has to offer us these next few days.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the climbing team  

Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 6 pm PT

The whole team has made it to Everest Base Camp! A perfect day. There weren’t many people on the trail from Gorek shep and no huge yak trains so we made great time.  We stopped at the base camp rock (which is the entry point to camp) took some photos and then walked another 45 minutes to our camp. Everyone was surprised at the size of camp - it’s over a mile long! And it’s on the edge of the glacier so imagine lots of rock on top of ice. We settled in with an amazing meal and got a tour of our home for two nights - dining tent, sleeping tents, bathrooms and even a shower!
We spent the afternoon staring up at the Khumbu icefall, the glaciers surrounding us, taking warm showers and just enjoying this remarkable place.
Everyone is so strong and doing great even at 17,500ft!

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Lobuche team

Another great day in the Himalayas!

We had another shorter day of trekking so everyone was SHOCKED last night when I told them breakfast would be at 8:00am instead of our usual 7:30am. Really changing things up over here!

We hit the trail around 8:30am to another sunny and clear day. Nuptse was shining on our right and Pumori towering above on our left. We soon made it to the rocky trail on the edge of the Khumbu glacier and got our first views of Everest Base Camp far off in the distance.

We pulled over for what we thought would be a normal yak train (we always move out of the way - one never faces down a yak) but soon realized it was the largest yak train to ever exist. 50 yaks? 100? Sooo many. This was confirmed by all our Sherpa guides who agreed they had never seen anything like it. We took the extra break and enjoyed taking 1484 more yak photos and videos but this time with Everest in the background.

Before we knew it we had made it to Gorek shep, our final stop before base camp and sitting just over 17,000ft. It’s a barren place and oddly sandy. We all noted that it looks like it’s out of Dune.

After lunch, with clear skies still above, we opted to go on a little hike for better views of Everest.  We had so much fun just strolling a little more uphill, taking photos and talking about all the mountains around us.

We are all doing well and so looking forward to base camp tomorrow!

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Lobuche team

P.S. yesterday, Jangbu carried Diego but TODAY David carried Dawa so we’re all even. 

P.P.S. We likely won’t have service or wifi at basecamp so don’t be too worried if you don’t hear from your loved one for the next few days.

Namaste from Lobuche!

At the beginning of the trip I told the team that no trip would be complete unless we saw a baby yak and today we saw lots of BABY YAKS! Just as we were leaving Pheriche early this morning we got lucky and saw the cutest things in the whole world roaming the valley floor.

We then headed up across the toe of the Khumbu glacier where we stopped for honey ginger lemon tea and crackers in the village of Thukla. We took our time knowing today was a little shorter! After tea, we headed uphill (once again) to the climber’s memorial. It’s a beautiful area honoring climbers that we have lost in the mountains.

We continued to follow the moraine of the Khumbu glacier up to Lobuche village. On the way, we had amazing views of Lobuche the mountain and got to see the route we will take to high camp and the summit in just a few days.

We’ve had so many laughs along the way and today was no different. One of my favorite moments was when I looked up and Jangbu, one of our Sherpa guides, was carrying Diego on his back. They’ll do anything to help us out!

Jess and the Lobuche team

Monday, March 24, 2025 - 6:02 pm PT

Hello to all our friends and family!

Today we had a rest day in Pheriche but it wasn’t your typical rest day because we still went to over 16,500ft!

I challenged our team to help acclimate by taking a more active rest day. So we woke up early, had a quick breakfast and headed uphill to a peak behind Pheriche called Nangkartshang.

The weather has been a little unsettled with clouds, wind and snow so we said we’d just climb until it didn’t make sense but we got so lucky! Clear skies and insane views greeted us the whole way as we ascended from 14,000ft to over 16,000ft.

I prepped the team before the final rocky summit block, “it’s always windy and cold on top so we won’t stay long and make sure to add all your warm layers” but when we got up there it was so still with no wind at all and the sun beaming down on us. What a treat! We took our time, took lots of photos, and breathed in that thin air.

After stressing our bodies just enough, we headed back down. But let me say, this crew took the spirit of the Himalayan tahr with them and SAILED DOWNHILL. I could barely keep up and we were back in Pheriche in time for lunch.

After lunch, we all rested, read books and relaxed in the warm sun.

A near perfect rest day in Pheriche! Everyone is doing so well.

RMI Guide Jess Wedel and the Lobuche team