Today the team went uphill in a few big ways. The Sherpa team carried loads all the way to Camp II (ABC) at 21,300 ft before returning to base while the climbing guides and climbers geared up and traveled to the first ladders in the icefall route. It takes about 90 minutes or so to reach those lowest ladders, but we figure it was pretty good practice. The "trail" involves a lot of crampon work up and down endless ice ridges before the actual fixed ropes begin. The fixed lines take a little getting used to when it comes to passing intermediate anchors in steep and awkward spots. Then we started encountering the much anticipated ladders, the first few this season being short and simple. But we continued on until we hit a slightly longer set of ladder sections tied together and bridging a pretty deep and dark crevasse. The team took turns tip-toeing across the rungs and from time to time just standing back to watch Sherpa climbers dance effortlessly across in their descent from a hard day of work. Descent from that big and worthy crevasse a little over 18,000 ft was pretty good training all in itself. The team moved better and better as climbers got accustomed to the routines of "arm-rappels" and clipping past snow and ice anchors. We reached the crampons-off point just as the daily afternoon snowstorm began, but that meant we were only ten minutes from camp. Once back in our home away from home it was an easy afternoon of lunch, games, naps and good conversation.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
RMI Guide and Base Camp Manager Mark Tucker checks in with an update on the Mt. Everest Expedition.
Hello! Mark Tucker checking in from Everest Base Camp. We had a wonderful ceremony today. The puja altar was just as beautiful as it gets. A wonderful day. Just a real, pretty ceremony. Everybody in attendance and we all had a good time. So we packed up a lot a loads. We have our whole Sherpa staff heading up the hill to carry all the necessary provisions to get a great Camp 1 established. And our three super guides, Dave, Billy and JJ, are going to go get their feet wet and check on the route and check on the camp and get things looking up-to-snuff for the rest of the western team. We will do some maintenance down here- a little bit of hiking, maybe a shower day. We have plenty to do to prep ourselves for the near future. We are going to be up real early and get these boys off to work on their commute to Camp 1 tomorrow. So all is well and like I said, we had a really nice day. We'll check in tomorrow.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker calls in after the puja ceremony.
BIG is done! Here in Lukla and enjoying the thick air and relatively warm temperatures. Long day from Namche to here, all is well. Good day weather wise and lots to view. Beautiful blooming fruit trees that were not at that stage on the way in. Amazing what new sites you see from the opposite direction. We took our time, tried to take in as much of the region as we could and still get us to our home for the night before dark. It was nice to stop and see the children, out and about having fun and a joy to observe the everyday live of the Sherpa people. They have always been such a friendly folk and it held true on this trip as well. Two of our favorite people of the Khumbu, Karma and Mingma part of our local staff that helped make this such a successful trip, left us after dinner. Safe journey to them and thanks so much. Pemba will stay with us till the early flight tomorrow morning. It's been a blast. Till next time. Get out while you can.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Hi Kara,
It looks like you have better weather then we have here in Cleveland.
Be safe and have fun.
I am sending you good thoughts.
Donna
Posted by: Donna on 4/7/2014 at 6:33 pm
So glad to see your smiling faces! The fact that you all are shopping is a great sign!!
All kidding aside,it sounds like this trip has had some very real challenges that you have conquered. Congratulations and a big warm hug to all of you. Can’t wait to hear about this trip. Thank YOU Mark, for supporting the team and keeping all the fans back in the US informed. Your pictures and your blog have been wonderful.
Jill Shepard
BIG, BIG days in a row. What a whirl wind tour this has been. Since leaving Pheriche at 14,000 ft and going up to 17,000-foot Everest Base Camp it has been all business.
The team has linked together so many tough days and been rewarded with so many memories, I sure hope the lack of oxygen to the brain doesn't effect the retention of them. We were up early to a blue-sky day. Quick breakfast and off we go. The word descend is a bit misleading when traveling in the Khumbu region. The dramatic relief in topography combined with all the weathering and rivers makes for a lot of ups and downs from start to finish of the day. Midway on our trek today, it started to snow pretty heavy. The team has been fine tuning what basic equipment to have in our packs at all times. Needless to say most of our clothing went on as we traveled through a winter wonderland. The downhill becomes a big challenge with wet and slippery condition. An impressive demonstration by my group of climbers today with no misstep under trying conditions. All tired but happy with one more BIG day tomorrow, which will get us back to the Lukla airstrip.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Nicole and team,
BREATH TAKING VIEWS, NICE TO SEE THEM. KEEP CLIMBING, I’ll keep praying!
“For a Climber, saying that you are stopping by Everest is like saying that you are stopping by to see God.”
Roland Smith, Peak
Looking at the pictures…I can only imagine!!::))
Peace,
MG
Posted by: MARY GRACE on 4/4/2014 at 1:56 pm
Hi, Nicole LoBiondo and team!
What an amazing journey! The photos are beautiful. Can’t wait to see you standing on the summit! Sending my love and LOTS of positive energy!!! xoxo Patti T
Hey Mark Tucker checking in from Pheriche down here in the lowlands of 14,000'. Well the team got up and had a nice breakfast in beautiful, beautiful weather. We said good-bye to the crew at Base Camp. It was really fun sharing the expedition experience with these guys. We had a really good time and were well taken care of. We were sad to leave Jeff Martin, our Operations Manager, all alone up there, but he's going to be fine. We had a big day today though. Went through Gorak Shep and Lobuche so it was quite a trek for the team. They all did well and the mountain at the last bit threw at us a pretty good snow squall. And for this group of Floridians, the preparation and our great training over the last couple of weeks here, we survived. It was not that bad but it was a fun experience and boy we're going to share these stories. Whatever they say, I'll agree with them. Those numbers change when they get back home but I will verify it. So we're all doing well. The other RMI team, the climbing team, is here as well. It's been great to rub shoulders with them and these guys are getting to know them as well. So we are all hanging tough. More downhill and up tomorrow, where we'll end up in Namche Bazaar. Thank you for following.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Hey Mark Tucker at Everest Base Camp, checking in. Woke up to clear blue, not a cloud in the sky. Here in the early evening, we've got a little light snow- not unusual. The team is doing well. We had a very productive day: some showers, lots of writing, reading... I don't know about arithmetic, lots of photos, and a venture into the Icefall. We are sharing our camp with Jeff Martin, the RMI Operations Manager. It's a pleasure he is setting everything up for the team that's coming in. Actually the bags that went straight from Kathmandu to Base Camp just arrived for the climbing team. I'm sure they are posting on the website. But their gear is all here and that is always a nice thing. A little bit chilly, as you can imagine. My hands are freezing on this phone but we are going to duck into the dining tent where we will have another three to five course meal and have a little heater in there. Play a little bit of cards and relax and we are already gearing up for tomorrow. Our descent will begin back back towards Lukla. So we are keeping that fresh in our mind. Everybody is doing well and thanks for following. We'll talk later.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Everest Base Camp.
Hi,
It’s Mark Tucker here checking in with Rainier Mountaineering’s Everest Base Camp Trek, 17,500’ feet beautiful Mt. Everest. The Team did a bang’em up job and pulled in here in great shape. We are being treated well. We’ve got fine tents, and lots of luxuries. We are going to spend two nights here. Tomorrow will be a great day for investigating and poking around this historic site. We are just so psyched, this team took on a big challenge to get here and we are very thrilled.
YEE HA! We will be checking in later.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker & Team
Way to go Elizabeth!!! Guess the Lucky Charms watch did it’s magic!!! Enjoy the sights and safe travels on the Long & Winding Road home
PS Did You Know You’re My Hero? :)
Posted by: melissa mccarthy on 4/1/2014 at 4:38 pm
What an amazing trip - our hats off to you all! Love to Elizabeth, Nancy & Liz…Can’t wait to hear all about it in person!(PS: you missed a spectacular Tastevin!!!)
Hugs and kisses,
Janet and Larry
Posted by: Janet & Larry Mendez on 4/1/2014 at 3:25 pm
Mark Tucker checking in today from Gorak Shep, at about 17,000’ feet. We had a nice hike today with the wonderful weather holding on for us - feeling lucky! We pushed on after we had lunch and got the summit of Kala Patar just over 18,000’ feet, right around sunset. The big “E” popped it’s top out a couple of times, beautiful colors with an alpine glow, windy, and cold. I am standing outside right now and it is chilly up here! I am looking at about 500 million stars, just a beautiful night aside from cold.
Everybody is tucked in and we are going to get up and rock-n-roll for Base Camp tomorrow. That’s the plan, hope it all holds true.
All the best to everybody and we will be keeping you posted!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker & Team
Wonderful progress you’ve made. I hope you are treasuring every moment and can’t wait to hear all about it first hand from Nancy Harris. Have safe travels and thank you for sharing your experience with us through your posts.
Posted by: Maria Eichelberger on 3/31/2014 at 5:53 am
Hello Elizabeth Harris, Hope you are having an amazing time!
We are thinking of you!
stay warm & happy journey.
The Tamboli Family, Tampa
Oh my goodness! We must be so far out there. No cell service, no internet, no wifi. How are we gonna get by? Just fine. That's what I can tell you. The team's doing well. We are up here at Lobuche. Had a nice walk up. Fine weather, a little overcast now. Chilly, chilly up here at 16,000'. We are happy to be here in good shape. We are checking in by satellite phone, so we can still be connected. We appreciate everyone following along. Hopefully tomorrow we will move up to Gorak Shep where I think we may have some connectivity, and I may be able to send some fabulous pictures from the jaunt up the hill today. We will check in again.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
We had a nice dinner, cool temps in the rooms for sleeping, a pleasant night for all. A leisurely breakfast led into a nice hike with grand views as you can imagine. The team pushed up well over 14,000 feet to get the heart and lungs moving. We then returned to our tea house for lunch, and then off to the altitude lecture at the near by clinic. Great insight from doctors offering good info. The team pooled a nice donation for the cause and even came away with a few more souvenirs. It all ended with a little down time relaxing. As they say a pictures says a thousand words!
We are all doing well and plan to move up to Loboche tomorrow, if all seems right.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker & Team
Sending nothing but good vibes your way Spenny boy!
Posted by: Danny on 4/15/2014 at 12:37 pm
Nicole Lobiondo: Tracking you every day and thrilled to hear the team and you are going great. Stay warm and enjoy every minute. Love, Nicole H
Posted by: Nicole Howard on 4/14/2014 at 6:36 am
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