...More Lobuche Summits...
Hello everyone - hope you are all well back home.
News from the Khumbu.
Our IFMGA Team including our Lobuche climbers enjoyed a rest day today at Lobuche Basecamp and they'll head up to Everest Base Camp tomorrow
Our Western Guided & International crew did an amazing job summitting Lobuche today (in an amazing time of 5hrs!) with everyone who left camp topping out and arriving back today. Congratulations all.
Speaking of summits, we also had our Cholatse Team summit Lobuche today, they'll head into Cholatse Base Camp tomorrow.
Private client Mark W and Big Tendi headed up high today and will go for the summit tomorrow. Meanwhile, Fahad and Ossie are acclimatizing, they may have another rest day or head to high camp and Kent & Fred are continuing their acclimatization schedule at Lobuche Basecamp.
Our Trekking Team moved up from Gorak Shep and have just arrived into Everest Basecamp now. They'll be thrilled to hit their goal and as the first CTSS arrivals into EBC, check out the new digs.
As you may have heard, there is tragic news from Lukla today with a Summit Air plane (with flight crew aboard returning to Ramechhap) crashing into a parked Manang helicopter during its takeoff roll this morning around 9am. Witnesses described the "moment as sudden, with the rudder looking like it locked leading to the collision" We are sending our deepest condolences and our deepest wishes to the families and loved ones of those 2 who were killed (Summit Air’s co-pilot Sujit Dhungana and Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Ram Bahadur Khadka who was stationed in Lukla for airport security) and the 5 injured (including Manang Air Pilot CB Gurung) who are currently being treated in Kathmandu Grande Hospital. None of our team were directly affected by the accident as we are much higher in the valley but obviously deeply saddened by the news and sending their wishes and prayers.
I'll keep you up to date with their progress.
Best wishes,
Caroline
Photo by Wayne Morris on the Lobuche climb
...First Lobuche Summits...
Hello everyone,
Great news from the various teams in the Himalaya.
The IFMGA Sherpa Guided Team & Our Lobuche Team summited Lobuche in great weather this morning with everyone who set off for the summit achieving their goal and returning to base camp safely.
They had nice, stable weather for climbing and by all reports a really enjoyable climb. They will take a rest day tomorrow at Lobuche Base Camp before heading up to Everest Base Camp the following day.
Meanwhile, our Western & International Guide Team led by Casey Grom, our Cholatse Team (Guided by Jeremiah Phelps) and a number of our private clients including Fahad (Guided by Ossie) and Mark W have moved up to High Camp and will head out for the summit in the early hours of tomorrow. They will return to Base Camp tomorrow afternoon, enjoy a rest day on the 15th and move to Everest Base Camp the following day.
Our Trekking Team led by Josh McDowell are ahead of them all having moved up to Gorak Shep. They'll reach their goal tomorrow, being the first of the CTSS team to arrive at Everest Base Camp where they'll spend 2 full nights.
A big Happy Birthday to Wayne Morris for tomorrow, with special well-wishes sent by his family and relayed over the satellite phone.
I'll continue to keep you updated,
Cheers
Caroline
...Lobuche High Camp...
Up they go...
The teams have done some skill refreshing down at Lobuche Basecamp and enjoyed a solid night's sleep.
Today our IFMGA Sherpa Guided Team have had an early hot lunch and they are now heading back up the hill to Lobuche High Camp this afternoon and will position themselves for their Lobuche summit climb. They'll leave in the early hours of tomorrow morning, summit on the 13th and then drop back down to Lobuche Base Camp.
Our Western & International Guide Team led by Casey Grom, is carrying to Lobuche High Camp today and will come back down to Base Camp tonight before moving up to summit on the 14th and drop back to Lobuche Base Camp.
Meanwhile our Trekking Team led by Josh McDowell are spending an extra night at Lobuche Base Camp tonight to hang with the whole crew for a bit longer (social bunch that they are) and are heading out to Gorak Shep tomorrow and onward to Basecamp from there.
Our climbers climb Lobuche in lieu of a rotation on Everest, not only to reduce a trip through the icefall, but also because it's a beautiful Himalayan peak that gives everyone the opportunity to shake out their mountain routine and skill set and continue to acclimatize.
The views aren't bad either!
Cheers,
Caroline
...Lobuche Acclimatization...
A quick bit of news from the Himalaya; All of our CTSS climbing teams are moved in and enjoying their new digs at Lobuche Base Camp.
Guide Tendi let us know that our teams arrived at Lobuche peak base camp yesterday and settled into their tents. This morning they hiked up in their teams to Lobuche Peak high camp as part of their acclimatization and now they are all safely back down in time for a well earned hot lunch and some continued skills training this afternoon.
Tomorrow they'll move up to High Camp and prepare for their climb of the peak.
Everyone is feeling strong and excited to continue to get higher.
Cheers
Caroline
...Leaving for Lobuche...
Good morning,
Thought I would sneak in a quick blog update for you all before our teams wake up in Pheriche, have breakfast and hit the trail up to Lobuche Base Camp today (which is looking amazing just quietly - photo of the CTSS set up below)
The weather was a bit cloudy and overcast for their acclimatization hike yesterday (they gained about 1,000ft vertical) but has cleared a little and hopefully stays nice for their hike today.
Today, they'll pass by the memorial chortens at the top of Thukla Pass, commemorating those that have fallen in these mountains. It is a sobering moment and one that many of the climbers and trekkers alike are deeply touched by. It reminds us that we are small in Mother Nature's mighty playground and we must move with humility, awareness and gratitude.
Many find they wish to stay in a quiet reflection, taking in the mighty mountains around them over the next few hours. It's only a short, easy trek from there to Lobuche where they'll stay for at least 2 nights before moving up again. The climbers clipping into their crampons to ascend Lobuche Peak, our trekking team onward to the Big E.
Speaking of Everest, the ultimate goal, it's been busy up there too with our incredible Sherpa team already up at Camp 2 securing camp and laying down our mountain infrastructure.
On a final note, a big Happy Birthday to Andrew Gregory (who knew they could make such elaborate cakes up there?!) Does anyone else get the sense that they're eating pretty well? Roughing it... pfffft.
Cheers
Caroline
*Featured Image: Wayne Morris
...Pheriche...
Hello everyone,
Happy reports from the Himalaya, our team were blessed with stunning weather today as they moved up to Pheriche giving them sensational views of Ama Dablam for much of the day.
Big shout out to Guide Ossie who celebrated a birthday on the trail complete with an epic cake. Happy Birthday, Ossie! (Check out the quick clip of his high altitude bday party below)
The teams will enjoy two nights here at Pheriche, with a day of acclimatization tomorrow (another beautiful hike high onto the ridgeline behind the village that boasts even more stunning views of Ama Dablam. Fingers crossed for another bluebird bird day like they enjoyed today) They will also have the opportunity to meet the volunteer doctors and check out the HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) Pheriche clinic where they can check out the clinic and ask questions and get some good tips about mountain medicine and all things altitude related.
Following that, our teams will diverge as our climbing teams head over to Lobuche base camp to begin their first real climbing of the season, while our trekkers will go straight on up, first to Gorak Shep and then onto Everest base camp.
Is it just me or is the trek seemingly flying by as the team make awesome progress up the valley?
Cheers
Caroline
CTSS Everest Guides' Team
...Debouche...
The CTSS team has woken up in Debouche (10minutes further along than Tengboche) where they'll have breakfast about now (pancakes or an omelette anyone?) before they head back up the trail to Tengboche Monastery for a blessing by the High Lama.
The blessing will take about 30minutes to an hour with the monks chanting prayers for our team’s safety and seeking permission to climb the mountain. Following this, each member of the team will be presented with a Kata scarf and a Sungdi – a piece of red cord that has been prayed over by the monks for a period of time and is then tied around the climber's neck as protection with a special knot. It is not advised to remove the cord until it falls off on its own, at which point you are meant to keep it in a high place.
No photos are allowed inside the Monastery so while we won’t be able to share the special moment with you at home, I always feel like that means no one is distracted from the moment and can be fully present at the time without trying to document it.
After the blessing, the team might take an acclimatization hike up the ridge above Tengboche and inspire the production of some new red blood cells!
Meanwhile, our Cholatse climber - Luca is heading off to Periche today, acclimatizing very well and in high spirits.
Cheers
Caroline
...Namche Bazaar...
Well it seems everyone survived the Namche Hill and the team have had their first night in what can be thought of as the 'Capital City of the Khumbu' and are enjoying a full day of acclimatization today.
Namche is a thriving hub where you can get pretty much anything. Any final forgotten items can be grabbed from the convenience stores, gear stores pharmacies etc or if you're organized you can relax at a huge array of internet cafes, bakeries, juice bars, restaurants and teahouses.
To acclimatize, our Western & International Guided Team headed out to visit the nunnery at Thame while the other teams headed up to the Everest view hotel to see if they could get a glimpse of Everest before the cloud cover came in. Looks like they got lucky!
Absolutely beautiful weather and happy adventurers, what a mix.
I think I'll let the pictures of the journey thus far speak for themselves today.
Tomorrow they are off to Tengboche, with a typical mountain day of first up, then down, then up again ahead of them. (Just quietly that hill into Tengboche is almost as testing as the Namche one, especially if they decide to take the shorter but steeper old route) If they are lucky they'll enjoy fabulous views of Ama Dablam and glimpses of Everest all day.
Cheers,
Caroline
...CTSS in the Khumbu...
Hello everyone,
2 pieces of great news to kick off our Khumbu adventure;
1) All the climbing/trekking permits were approved by the Ministry of Tourism and picked up by the CTSS guide crew in Kathmandu and...
2) Each of the CTSS Everest 2019 teams has arrived safe and sound into the valley with smooth flights landing in Lukla. Believe it or not, one of the hardest parts of any Everest expedition is actually just getting everyone, (and all their gear) into the valley on schedule, given the lack of infrastructure, the fickle mountain weather etc so this is a nice, early win that bodes well for the expedition ahead.
Following lunch, they had a nice, easy 3hour trek into their first stop; Phakding. (That one is perhaps more polite when written vs when pronounced out loud... you're giving it a whirl now aren't you?) where they'll be looking forward to a nice meal (momos anyone?) and hunting in their trekking duffel for a warmer layer or two with the distinct temperature change from Kathmandu. It's not too cold but certainly chillier, especially in the evening and early mornings. They are now at 2,610m (8,563 ft) and the mountain air is fresh and clean.
Tomorrow they'll set off to Namche, and tackle the infamous Namche hill where they might start to feel that altitude gain a little and get the blood flowing through those muscles they've all been training so hard for. Good to shake out any lingering jetlag. (It can be a bit intimidating though when you are working hard at the hill, huffing and puffing and you get passed by one of the incredible porters who saunter by carrying 3x duffel bags strapped to their foreheads like it's light as a feather, with a spring in their step and never a deep breathe. Not to worry though, even the fittest in the world awe at the porter's remarkable strength and adaptation to the high mountain air)
Meanwhile, Basecamp is almost finished with its final infrastructure laid in place. I have added some photos to show you some of the build.
The team will be excited to finally be on the trail. They can now relax into the rhythm of the trek, enjoying the sights and sounds of one of the most stunning walks in the world and begin to focus on the task ahead whilst feeling a world away from the usual hustle and bustle of our busy lives and the endless duffle shuffle/gear check that has consumed their last week (or month).
To be honest, I'm quite jealous - although not of Namche hill - they can keep that!
Cheers,
Caroline
Base Camp build
...Everest 2019 Begins...
Welcome to the Everest 2019 Season! Our expedition officially starts today!
It’s a time full of anticipation and nervous excitement. (As well as a smidge of anxiety on behalf of family and friends eagerly awaiting news at home)
The CTSS team are arriving into Kathmandu and checking into the Yak + Yeti as I type. A few early arrivals have already had their gear checks completed and tomorrow they’ll have team meetings with Mike and their guides before flying into the Khumbu Valley. In their downtime, they’ll be checking out the city (a sensory overload experience) and grabbing any last minute gear, or anything forgotten in the shopping hub of Thamel which is walking distance from the hotel. I definitely suggest picking up a local SIM card for the trek in, although you won’t get cell service at Base Camp itself.
While the adventure is just beginning for our climbers and trekkers, it’s been well underway for the CTSS team for quite some time, not just in the office but on the mountain.
Our Sherpa team have been preparing base camp for nearly a month, carving out the glacier to make a perfect camp, with close to 20 tonnes of equipment transported in.
Everything from individual tents with 6inch mattresses, to the enormous double walled dining tents, an 800kg geo-dome hang out tent, a communications centre, a full catering kitchen, storage tents, shower tents, toilet facilities etc, not to mention our Everest Exec standing tents with heating and humidifiers! It’s an amazing feat when you think that every little thing from the tables, chairs, cutlery and toilet seats will be removed in just a few short months and packed away until the following season. It takes an army to put on an Everest expedition together and we feel lucky to be surrounded by the best troops in the business. Their dedication, attention to detail and level of care is extraordinary.
We shipped a total of 19 duffle bags in from the US filled with all sorts of goodies and necessities to supplement our local supplies and keep everyone in merry (and sugar-filled) contentment. (We certainly terrified the check-in staff at the airport in Seattle when we rocked up! I’m amazed they let us into the line!) In addition, we are expecting further postal shipments over the coming week or so.
One of the key differences at CTSS is our ability to customize our Everest offering, and as such we have a number of teams on the mountain this year so I’ll introduce them to you so you’ll know who we are referring to as the season goes on:
IFMGA Sherpa Guided Team: First up is the IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides qualified) Sherpa Guided Team, led by our incredibly strong, experienced and highly certified Sherpa. Having an IFMGA or UIAGM certification is a massive feat and the highest qualification in the world for leading people in the mountains.
Western & International Guide Team: Next up, we have our Western & International Guide Team headed up by consummate mountain professional, Casey Grom: This team climb suits climbers who are looking for a Western guidance style but are competent and confident and team orientated.
Private Climbs: Then we have our Private Climbers; These duos are made up of a mixture of clients who are working 1:1 with their choice of either an IFMGA Private Sherpa Guide or a Western or International guide. This gives them the flexibility of schedule and an ability to move very nimbly with an unparalleled level of personal attention.
Trekking Team: Finally we have our trekking team who will be led by Josh McDowell and will be moving alongside our climbers for an incredible trek into EBC culminating with a 2 day stay at Base Camp and an introductory climbing clinic in the lower part of the Khumbu glacier.
Together they make up the larger CTSS Everest 2019 team, with plenty of opportunities to socialize amongst each other and support each other in their bids to achieve their goals. We often find that people who experience Everest in all it’s forms together, bond and become friends for life. It’s one of the coolest outcomes that we witness year in year out.
A few notes about this blog; I’m really looking forward to sharing the news with you all as it all unfolds over the coming months so it’s worth mentioning a few golden things to keep in the back of your mind as we progress;
1) No news is good news - This is probably the most important words of comfort I can offer to those of us at home. Don’t worry if you don’t see an update for a day or two (or even three) that’s perfectly normal. The team often need downtime between rotations and are keeping themselves busy in preparation for the next stage of their climb. Sometimes the greater wifi network goes down or gets overloaded and then we use satellite communication to keep in touch. We’ll keep you as updated as possible, but if you don’t hear anything, don’t assume anything is wrong. It’s more than likely the opposite, the team are probably just sun baking in the early alpine sun with coffee in hand and rest on their minds, or climbing peacefully and taking in the mighty views of the Western Cwm.
2) Ugh Gossip - We’d like to think of ourselves as a bigger family and as such, we respect the wishes of our individual members, their families and our greater community by not becoming unofficial reporters of gossip on the mountain. 2months in a high-pressure environment can lead to a well-oiled rumour mill and we’re not interested in proliferating, sharing or encouraging it. We hope you won’t be either. If there’s information you need to know it’ll either be here and if it’s personal, you can trust us to get in touch with you first hand to share it.
Furthermore, there are numerous teams and companies on the mountain and they’ll all have a slightly different strategy, interpretation on the weather, schedule etc, just because one team is on the move and our team are chilling and still acclimatizing, or our team is pushing up, when other companies aren’t, doesn’t mean anything. It’s not worth stressing over it, that’s why Mike is there. That’s his job and if I may say so, he’s damn good at figuring out when to move and take advantage of weather windows etc. We also invest in the very best weather forecasting and have eagle eyes on it and our ear to the ground all the time. Patience on Everest is important and it can make all the difference. Trust in his, and the guide's expertise.
3) Feel free to get in touch - If you haven’t already met me, either in person or over email, I’m Caroline, the GM of CTSS and together with Mike, we’ll be doing these updates for you.
Mike and I are your primary contacts at CTSS and we want you to feel super comfortable and welcome to reach out to us as your first point of contact on the mountain at any time. If you need to get in touch with a loved one or have any queries or concerns don’t hesitate.
This is Mike’s 11th season on the mountain and he’s seen it all having spent a total of two full years of his life on Everest! As a wife, little sister and friend of multiple climbers over the years, and having spent 2 seasons at Base Camp myself, I empathise with how it feels to be both on the hill amongst the excitement and the one at home waiting for news (yes I pressed refresh 10x a day on the blog page too) so please feel free to talk to me. I get it. I can be reached on: info[at]climbingthesevensummits.com
That’s all from me today, enjoy the excitement of the opening act. Here we go!
Cheers,
Caroline
