Climbing Teams Arriving at Everest Base Camp

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By John Waechter | Last updated Apr 15, 2024 4:41 PM ET

The Trek to Everest Base Camp

Mt. Everest climbing teams from around the world have begun their respective journey’s to challenge the world’s highest peak. For those attempting to climb the mountain from the south side, they began their quest by trekking from the small Nepalese town of Lukla to Everest Base Camp (“EBC”). The ‘walk’ covers approximately 40 miles, and is taken slowly to allow the climbers to begin the acclimatization process required to ‘go high’. This trek is beautiful. Spectacular, huge rhododendrons, blue pines, juniper, and wild roses adorn the trail. The trek serves as a calming respite for the climbers, as they mentally prepare for the difficulties and challenges awaiting above EBC.

It is proving to be another crowded year at Base Camp, and the upper mountain. Approximately 500 permits have been issued to climb on the Nepalese side of Everest this season. Consequently, teams will need to work together in ‘setting up’ the climbing route, as well as coordinating the timing of when teams move up and down the mountain. ‘Setting the route’ refers to fixing a contiguous rope into the mountain from EBC to the summit. No team arrives at Base Camp with enough rope to do the job entirely, therefore alliances are quickly established to share both supplies, and labor from the strong Sherpas.

As the climbing teams occupy their EBC camps, I will provide updates on their movements and accomplishments.

Madison Mountaineering Advancing

MADISON MOUNTAINEERING, led by Garrett Madison, is world-renown mountain guiding company. Their Himalayan expedition teams are well into their trek to EBC, having just reached Namche Bazaar. This small Himalayan village serves as a wonderful resting point for climbers at this phase of the journey. Namche Bazaar provides western-world comforts and services not typically found in most villages along the way. There are lodges with actual showers, cafes, restaurants, and stores that provide any type of climbing gear one would need to climb Everest! Leaving Namche Bazaar is always difficult, but the Madison Mountaineering teams will make this a short visit, and keep moving toward Base Camp.

'CLIMBINGTHESEVENSUMMITS' at Base Camp

CLIMBINGTHESEVENSUMMITS ("CTSS"), led by Mike Hamill, is also a world-class mountain guiding company with three teams working their way to Everest Base Camp. The ‘Western Guided’ and ‘3 Peaks’ teams just arrived at EBC. Their ‘Sherpa Guided’ team recently summited 20,075 ft. Lobuche, and will now continue to EBC to join the other CTSS teams. Stay tuned for updates on these teams, and others, as the spring climbing season on Mt. Everest heats up and takes shape.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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