Youth Climbers take on Mount Baker
Our final team climb on Mount Baker for 2024 hit the mountain this weekend. Under the guidance of CTSS Guides Kat S. and Dani R., this all-women's youth team honed in on glacier skills, community, and a summit bid under the Northern Lights. CTSS guide Dani and climber Reana spun at 8,400 feet while the rest of the team, including CTSS guide Kat, Carly, Alice, and Cheri, spun at about 8,900 feet due to a local wildfire pushing its smoke toward the mountain.
Here are a few shots of the team from Kat S.
Can you spot the team on Mount Baker?
Ready to Roll! Major kudos to this all-women's youth team!
Greetings from the Summit of Kilimanjaro!
After a first few successful days on Kilimanjaro, our team climbers made their way past the Baranco Wall to reach Africa's tallest peak on Sunday, August 4th!
Congratulations to:
- Christopher M.
- Kenneth J.
- CTSS Guide Gerry M.
We offer climbs on Kilimanjaro that are a little different than other operators because, as you probably know, we are a true mountaineering guide service rather than simply a trek operator. Because of this, we have a different approach to and philosophy about high-altitude treks, acclimatization schedules, and safety and we believe all of our climbers benefit from our expertise and the high caliber of guide staff. You can see more of this in action for our December team departure, where Pega Sherpa will be taking the reigns to help climbers not only successfully reach the Roof of Africa but also offer expert guidance to prepare these climbers for expeditions in Nepal and beyond.
Pega is one of the world's best Himalayan guides. He brings a remarkable climbing resume, including seven summits of Mount Everest, summits of both Cho Oyu and Lhotse, and many more high-altitude peaks throughout the Himalayas. As one of our clients (and a Seven Summits finisher) recently shared, "Pega is a legend," and we couldn't agree more!
Here are a few photos from the team, thanks to climber Chris M. for sharing these photos.
The Roof of Africa! Congrats to Ken and Chris.
We deploy the best guides and top-notch logistics so you can focus on climbing and enjoying the journey.
Summits on Australia's Kosciuszko
We kicked off our team climbs in the Australian Alpine last week, and over the weekend, our first climbers stood on the summit of Mount Kosciuszko!
Congratulations to:
- Henry H.
- Vignes S.
- Paul S.
- Sandra D.
- Nicole C.
- Shaji P.
- CTSS Guide Robert J.
- CTSS Guide Jacob M.
Our team is positioned on the backside of Kosciuszko National Park, where steeper terrain has been calling mountaineers for decades as they prepare for some of the world's most extreme environments, including Vinson and Everest. On Kozi, we run two Australian Alpine Academy programs, one focusing on mountaineering skills plus a summit climb of Kozi and the other focusing solely on mountaineering skills. If you want to learn more about Australia's unexpected mountaineering training ground, check out our recent blog post.
Here are a few photos from the summit under whiteout and windy conditions, giving you a taste, once again, of Kozi's extreme environment! Photos taken by CTSS Guide Robert J.
On the summit of Mount Kosciuszko
Headed to Kozi at daybreak.
Congratulations to the entire team!
We're off to the Roof of Africa
Our Kilimanjaro team has officially hit the trail! On August 29th, the team transferred to the Machame Gate on the border of Kilimanjaro National Park. Over the next seven days, they will make their way to the 19,341-foot summit of Africa's tallest peak.
We have chosen the Machame Route on Kilimanjaro because it offers the best summit chances and the opportunity to experience a vast array of landscapes. As the team leaves Machame Camp behind, they also leave behind the rainforest. They will continue ascending into the heather moorlands, where the vegetation becomes less dense, and views of Mount Meru come into sight on a clear day.
Here are a few photos from our team in Tazania.
Mount Meru in the background along the Machame Route
Lava Tower at 4,600 meters! The team is feeling good!
Sunny days and blue skies welcome our team to Lava Tower!
100% on Komo Kulshan
Our 5-Day Alpine Academy led by Kat and Dani as well as our private expedition led by Willie and Victoria are safely off the mountain and enjoying the comforts of home. But, our two teams passed the reigns to our next private trip, guided by CTSS guide Robert and Ty.
The team arrived at base camp on July 8th and settled in for the evening before a full day of training on the glacier. With an early bedtime, the team started their ascent early this morning and 10 hours later, the entire team was standing proudly on top of Komo Kulshan, which is the indigenous name for Mount Baker meaning Great White Watcher.
Congratulations to:
- Zouzar B.
- Rais B.
- Raj-Alexandre B.
- Rex P.
- Dominic G.
- Guide Robert J.
- Guide Ty V.
Meet Phunjo Lama: Everest Speed Record Holder
Meet Phunjo Lama: Everest Speed Record Holder
Our Everest 2024 season was a massive success. Over the course of six weeks, 59 climbers and guides stood on the summit of the world’s tallest peak. Each summit was a testament to determination, grit, and strength, and we commend each and every climber and guide for their hard work and tenacity on the mountain.
One summitter may have caught your attention this year—she certainly caught ours—and we were lucky enough to have her join our climbing team. Phunjo Lama is a mountaineer, guide, and mother of two who was born and raised in Nepal, but just like many of us, she didn’t grow up climbing. Her younger years were spent in her village with her grandfather, herding yaks until 2015, when she stepped into the mountaineering world. In 2018, Phunjo reached an all-time high when she broke the women’s speed record from Everest Base Camp to the summit (time: 39 hours and six minutes), but like many great things, that record was surpassed in 2021 by an equally talented climber, Ada Tsang Yin-hung from Hong Kong, China (time: 25 hours and 50 minutes).
Fast-forward to 2024, and Phunjo is back in the Khumbu Valley with one thing on her mind—a second opportunity to test and push her boundaries in a place she knows and loves. On May 22nd, 2024, Phunjo left CTSS’ Everest Base Camp at 3:52pm and by 6:23am the following day, Phunjo was standing proudly on the summit of Mount Everest in a record time of just 14 hours and 31 minutes.
We sat down with Phunjo to chat more about her record, her daughters, and what’s in store for the future. A little sneak peek—Phunjo will be guiding with CTSS in 2025, and we are honored to have her!
What prompted you to attempt this FKT in 2018, and how did it feel when you broke the record?
In 2018, I wasn’t aiming to set a record. I felt a burst of energy and wanted to challenge myself. I was guiding my Australian friend, Samantha McMahon, who encouraged me to go for it. She played a big role in my mountaineering journey. I didn’t think it was a world record at the time, but Guinness World Records recognized it two years later. I was happy but not fully satisfied with my time due to technical problems that prevented me from climbing in my desired time.
What prompted you to attempt this FKT in 2018, and how did it feel when you broke the record?
I was very happy when my record was broken because I knew I had done good work, and that’s why someone broke it. Why reclaim it? In 2018, I was planning to summit in 20 hours, but couldn’t due to team technical issues. But this time, I got a wonderful team from CTSS, who helped me so much, and I wanted to truly break my boundaries and finally do it in a time that would satisfy me.
“I didn’t do it to set records; I just simply did it to challenge and test my limits.” – Phunjo Llama
You were born and raised in Nepal, but when did you officially start “mountaineering”?
Yes, I was born and raised in Nepal in the mountain region with yaks, but I wasn’t from a mountaineering climbing community; I was a yak herder. But to do good things in life, it doesn’t matter what community you come from! I officially started mountaineering in 2015.
What advice would you give young climbers just starting their journey?
To the young people, my suggestion is that the generation we are living in right now is an artificial generation. Even the food we eat isn’t natural. Mountains are the gifts that nature has given us, and we must balance the use of artificial and natural things in our lives. We all should connect with nature.
You’re achieving incredible feats. How does your success in the mountains impact young women?
A journalist from Vogue magazine mentioned in her blog that her little sister was asking who I was, and when the journalist told her little sister that I was the fastest woman to climb Everest in 14 hours and 31 minutes, the little sister was surprised and questioned, “Really? Can women climb that fast?” And then she replied that women could do anything if they set their mind to. I’m so glad and happy that my achievements are being spread as a message to the world that it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman or a man. Anyone can do good things in life if you set your mind to do so.
You’re joining our guiding team in 2025 on Mount Everest and taking clients for the 2026 Himalayan Spring season (note: Phunjo is already booked for 2025). For those interested in climbing with you, what do you expect from your clients, and what advice would you like to give your future clients?
I would expect my clients to be not only physically strong but also mentally strong, with the ability to focus sharply on the task at hand. I hope those who climb with me respect the Mother Goddess and understand the power she holds to heal a person spiritually. I would advise all climbers to have a balance between mental and physical strength.
Once again Phunjo, congratulations from all of us at Climbing the Seven Summits. We are incredibly proud of your success on Everest and beyond. Thank you for continuing to show us that women, especially Nepali women, belong in the mountains and inspiring our daughters, sisters, nieces, and young women across the world.
For those of you eyeing a speed ascent or something similar, Phunjo is the perfect guide to ensure you get to and from the summit safely and in record time. If you’re interested in climbing the Phunjo in 2026, your first step will be to complete our Everest Screening Questionnaire. You can also learn more by visiting our website.
Success on Mount Baker
Our two teams on the Mount Baker were busy today!
First up, our private climb guided by CTSS guides Willie and Victoria summited Mount Baker early this morning. A massive congratulations goes out to:
- Becky N
- Jeff F
- Meghan T
- Sophia C
- Nico S
- Noah S.
- Guide Willie W.
- Gudie Victoria G.
Summit success for our private team. (Photo Credit: Willie W.)
Our 5-Day Mount Baker Alpine Academy led by CTSS Guides Kat and Dani has been in a skills frenzy and today they put those new skills into practice. Climbing just behind Willie and Victoria’s team, this team made it to 8,300 feet before turning back to base camp. The entire team is thrilled with the new skills they are learning and all of us are super proud of their budding skills! Photo Credit: Kat S.
2x Teams on Mount Baker
It's been busy in the Cascades for CTSS this season! We have two teams on Mount Baker with a third team heading up tomorrow. Here are the updates from the field.
The first team, led by CTSS guides Kat and Dani, are on a 5-day Alpine Academy. They arrived at base camp just below Squak Glacier (5,560 feet) on Friday evening. Guide Kat shared that views from camp are beautiful and the hike up with smooth but a bit more strenuous than normal due to icy snow on top of already slippery heather meadows. The team took this time to work in a little extra footwork practice with heavy packs to boot! Photos below from snow school on the glacier near camp courtesy of Kat S.
Our second team on Mount Baker, led by CTSS guides Willie and Victoria, are on a private expedition designed to prepare this group of climbers for an independent ascent up Mount Rainier later this week. With the help of CTSS, we've designed a custom program for this group of friends to review their gear, systems, and logistics planning for their upcoming climb. The team arrived at camp on Saturday evening and spend Sunday training on the glacier. Photo below of the team courtesy of Willie W.
