...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

Ministry of Tourism issuing permits


Base Camp build

Dudh Kosi river just north of Phakding | Photo by Steve Upton (Flickr)

 


...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


Aconcagua summit

...Back at Aconcagua Base Camp...

The teams have descended today and are safely back at Aconcagua Base Camp having come down the other side of the mountain, making a full 360-degree circumnavigation of the peak.

They'll rest up (and have a well-deserved shower) before starting their trek to Penitentes and then making the drive back to Mendoza. By this time tomorrow, they'll be all checked into the Park Hyatt and enjoying that red wine after an epic, successful adventure. (Check back soon and I'll post some fresh photos for you as soon as they come through to me) 

Congratulations to everyone on the team, and to those at home cheering them on (you guys can get ready for your incoming adventurers who are on their way home!)

Until the next expedition, happy adventures.

Caroline


Aconcagua summit

...Aconcagua Summit...

The news we've all been waiting for has just arrived from the mountain, both of the CTSS teams have summited Aconcagua in absolutely perfect conditions and amazing weather. (With an impressive 16/20 climbers on top)

A momentous achievement and special congratulations to Bart Baars and Guide Martin who successfully ascended the steep Polish Glacier (a rare feat indeed) and timed it perfectly meeting the rest of the team on the summit!

Everyone is now safely back at High Camp where they'll rest up, before descending tomorrow to Plaza de Mulas and off the mountain the following day. They'll be thrilled to get back to Mendoza for those well deserved red wines!

Thanks for following along - I'll let you know when they get back to Base.

Cheers
Caroline


...Aconcagua High Camp + Ready for a Summit Bid...

Hello everyone,

Great news from the mountain today. Both teams are one big happy family up at High Camp (nearly 6,000m) today. They are getting ready for bed so they can be up early in the morning to go for the summit.

They'll leave about 5am, hoping to summit by lunchtime and then dropping back down to High Camp in time for dinner. It'll be a big 12 hour day that's for sure but everyone is doing great and moving strongly.

They have the weather on their side, it's perfect right now and forecast to be similar tomorrow for their summit bid.

Wish them luck, and as soon as I get the news of how they went, I'll update you.

Cheers
Caroline

 


...Aconcagua Teams at Camp 2...

Hello Everyone,

Our teams on Aconcagua are still in sync and they've both moved up to Camp 2 today. A windy move and while it's a bit fresh and breezy up there they are snuggled in and very comfortable. Mike said everyone is strong and moving very well which is great. The acclimatization schedule is working well for them.

With a good chance of clear weather, they'll do another carry to High Camp tomorrow, before returning to Camp 2 to sleep, before moving up again the following day.

They are on schedule and doing well.

Cheers
Caroline


...Aconcagua Teams Carry to Camp Two...

Good news from the mountain today, those higher winds have dropped right off, and our two Aconcagua teams had a near perfect day of climbing today. They've carried a full load up to Camp 2 and are now back at Camp 1 for the night, on their 'climb high, sleep low' acclimatization schedule.

They had about 4 inches of snow overnight which will help keep any dust down and make things very scenic. Tomorrow they'll push up to Camp 2.

Progress is good and everyone is happy & strong.

Cheers
Caroline


...Camp One & Windy...

Hi everyone,

Quick update for today to let you know both our teams on Aconcagua are hunkered down at Camp One having taken a rest day today as the weather is 'a wee bit breezy' up there.

The forecast is showing that the high winds the teams are experiencing now are easing up tomorrow and should be even better the following day. For now, they are keeping warm and sheltered in the tents.

Everyone safe and happy (and enjoying the bonus rest vs a carry day which is great for their acclimatization in any case)

Cheers
Caroline


 


climb aconcagua, climbing the seven summits,

...Above Base Camp Aconcagua...

Hi All,

The team are on the move on Aconcagua, having successfully carried a load to Camp 1 today, and they are back to Base Camp, on a 'Climb High, Sleep Low' schedule.

Tomorrow they'll move up to Camp One, before repeating the process and carrying to Camp 2 and returning to Camp One to sleep before moving up again.

Team is doing great with their acclimatization so far, but don't take my word for it - their smiles speak for themselves...

I'll keep you in the loop as they progress.

Cheers
Caroline

climb aconcagua, climbing the seven summits,

climb aconcagua, climbing the seven summits,

climb aconcagua, climbing the seven summits,
Base Camp

climb aconcagua, climbing the seven summits,


...Arrival at Aconcagua Base Camp...

The team have arrived into Aconcagua Base Camp, they are a little dusty and weary but happy. They had a great day today, gaining approximately 3,000 vertical feet.

They'll enjoy a complete rest day tomorrow to help acclimatize and regroup before heading up the next day to Camp 1 to cache a load of gear. They'll drop their load but return to base camp to sleep for their acclimatization. They're all feeling strong which is great news.

Cheers
Caroline
CTSS Team