RMI Expeditions BlogRSS

Posts for Everest BC Trek from 03/2013

Everest Base Camp Trek: Tucker & Team Summit Kala Patar

Posted by: Mark Tucker | March 30, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 16,950'

What a day!  Easy climb up to Gorak Shep where lunch and rooms were waiting for us. Took a nice break then it was Kala Patar. Perfect conditions up the 1,400 ft climb to the summit. We timed it to be on top at sunset and just a bit of descent in the dark with headlamps, what an adventure. A good physical challenge for the team but perfect technique and perseverance paid off. Can’t tell you how many times I have done this climb, it never gets old, and is always a thrill. The view of Mount Everest does not get any better than from that vantage point, no wind and clear cannot be beat. For me to look up at the summit and think of all the time and effort I have spent over the years on that beast,  brings me so much emotion it is hard to convey. The connection you make after you summit Mount Everest is a bond forever. I take pride in sharing what I have learned through my 15 expeditions over here with every team. I felt the mountain helping me, while also keeping tabs.  Base Camp tomorrow.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

8

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Casey Grom & Team Trek into Lobuche

Posted by: Casey Grom | March 30, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 16,175'

Hello everybody, this is Casey Grom checking in from the second RMI Everest Base Camp Trek and Island Peak climb.  Just wanna let you know that everyone’s doing well today, getting better and feeling better seems like every step, with whatever little tummy issues we were having.  Today we left Pheriche in perfect weather and hiked beneath Taboche and Cholatse, two famous and iconic climbs here in the Khumbu.  We hiked about four hours today at get up to Lobuche, so we made a big turn and we are paralleling the Khumbu Glacier, which is only about 300 yards from where we are camped.  We are currently relaxing at the Eco Lodge, which is probably the nicest tea house, it seems like, up valley here. Everyone’s doing well and we are just now sitting down for dinner and looking forward to moving up closer to Base Camp tomorrow.  Alright. That’s it for today.  We’ll look forward to checking in tomorrow with everybody. Take care, bye bye.

RMI Guide Casey Grom

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

7

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Tucker & Team Arrive in Lobuche

Posted by: Mark Tucker | March 29, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 16,175'

Mark Tucker calling from Lobuche.  I’m leaning up against the window to try and get some reception. Can you believe it? We have no wifi, I so apologize.  The team is doing well, we’re bunking down.  We’re going to push up to Gorak Shep tomorrow.  Had a great hike from Pheriche today.  Boy we have really starting to feel like we are up, up, up.  So, thin, thin air and getting thinner.  Tomorrow marks the 65K endurance race coming from Gorak Shep.  And so we are going to root some of these folks on that we’ve been parallel over the course of our trip.  We’ll be glad to see them, but I am not too jealous of them running from Gorak Shep to Lukla in a matter of hours. I kinda like what we are doing, so we’ll check in again later.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

10

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Enjoy Some R&R in Pheriche

Posted by: Casey Grom | March 29, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 13,950'

Day of R&R, with a short hike to 14,600’ - higher than Mount Whitney, but nothing by Nepalese standards. Most are feeling much better, with the hope that a new day will bring much-needed strength to those still recovering from the Khumbu stomach bug. Of particular interest, see attached photo: Nepalese use of biofuels. Cribbage is the bomb, hope to master it soon! Hi to Yuki, Karis, and Rianna, don’t wish you were here :) yet, missing all of you. The yak cheese was really good!

RMI Climber Keith L.

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

3

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Tucker & Team Train in Pheriche

Posted by: Mark Tucker | March 28, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 13,950'

Rest days are done. We are now in the position to go for our summit. Base Camp being our goal. I feel good with the team’s condition at this time. Big push up to Lobuche tomorrow, a couple thousand feet at this altitude will surely be felt by all. We are ready, bring it on. Made some head way with climbing equipment adjustments and technical training for the Island Peak crew. Any old bench around the tea house can provide a great anchor and the door to the dining room being less than a pitch away isn’t all bad. Had a wonderful reunion with one of the finest Mountain Guides in the world, Casey Grom who overlaps his trip with ours for the night. Casey is such a talent in all aspects of climbing but what a challenge for him at a game of cribbage. So fun to hangout and nice to hash over logistics, since he will be climbing Island Peak a few days after us. A light dusting of snow this afternoon but clear tonight.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

4

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Visit Lama Geshe for Their Blessing

Posted by: Casey Grom | March 28, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 13,950'

Day five in the Khumbu brings us more wonderful experiences and new heights. We left camp in Deboche and headed further uphill. Our first stop was in Pangboche to visit Lama Geshe, who is the highest ranking Buddhist in the valley. He is a high ranking Lama who is close friends with the Dalai Lama himself. All the Sherpas and smart climbers visit Lama Geshe before attempting any climbing here in the Khumbu. And because some of us will be climbing Island Peak and the rest of us would never turn down a blessing, we stopped by. Lama Geshe is from Tibet and speaks only Tibetan, he chanted and asked the mountains to give us safe passage and then gave us a Kata and tied a small string around our necks called a Sunde.

We stopped off to have lunch and then finished up our hike just as the clouds decided to sprinkle us with a little snow. We are currently resting in Pheriche which sits around 14,000’. Everyone is doing mostly well (a few folks are on the Khumbu weight loss diet, aka stomach issues!) but not to fear everyone is feeling better by the hour.

Looking forward to resting.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

3

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Tucker & Team in Pheriche

Posted by: Mark Tucker | March 27, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 13,950'

Hello from Pheriche! 14,042 feet but who’s counting.  After a nice dinner, the team is tucked away for the night.  Lot’s of hiking in all directions today.  Nice to have such great Sherpa support to be able to offer many options.  A few new altitude records for the team.  Another day of perfect weather, and trail conditions in great shape.  We are now above tree line, but lots of bushes still keep us thinking we are where life forms can survive.  It is a rather tough environment to be in, we welcome these islands of paradise called tea houses.  Plan is to take a rest day here tomorrow.  Some day hikes and a bit of training for my crew that will go with me to Island Peak in the not so distant future.  The surrounding peaks of Taboche (21,309’) and Cholatse (20,784’) always impress.  Crazy to think that the real big ones are up this valley and around the corner.  Looking so forward to reuniting with those views.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

6

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Casey Grom & Team Visit the Tengboche Monastery

Posted by: Casey Grom | March 27, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 12,325'

Today we got a slightly earlier start to try and beat the heat on the steep climb up to Tengboche. Yes it gets hot here at times, especially if you are hiking up steep southern-facing slopes. Tengboche sits atop a small hill (by Himalayan standards) and is well known because of the Tengboche Monastery. Believed to have been built in the 13th century, it is home to about 45 Monks and Lamas. It doesn’t take much imagination to know why they believe this place to be special, as the view from here is breathtaking. From this one spot you are not only surrounded by giant mountains you have a wonderful view of Everest and many other gigantic peaks. After getting settled in our tea house we quickly hiked back to the monastery and sat in during a prayer session. Sadly only one monk was there as the others were off visiting other monasteries and helping people throughout the valley. It was beautiful experience nonetheless!

Everyone is still in good spirits and having a great time.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

2

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Tucker Checks in from the Tea House under a Bright Moon

Posted by: Mark Tucker | March 26, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek

Hello Mark Tucker checking in from high in the Himalaya. I am outside of our tea house and it is quite the bright moon. Had some clouds roll in later in the day…  It’s pretty windy.  Had great views of Everest and Nuptse.  We are all tucked in with the hot water bottles and looking forward to a good night’s rest. Part of the team made a little side venture over to get blessed by one of the holy Lamas of the valley.  And they had an awesome time.  So we are feeling very fortunate that he was available for that.  And, we’re looking good.  We’ll check in tomorrow.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

3

---

Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Visit a Women’s Monastery and Sir Edmund Hillary’s School

Posted by: Casey Grom | March 26, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 11,300'

Hello again everyone.

Today the team took an “active rest day”, instead of just sitting around and relaxing we hit the trail for another adventure. First up was a visit to a seldom visited all women’s monastery in the village of Thamo. It’s about an hour and half from Namche and is a little of the beaten path. This monastery is home to 28 women mostly who have escaped prosecution from Tibet. Their ages range from 16 to 88 and they exist solely off of donations. A few of them came out to greet us and gave us a brief tour of the new monastery they are currently building. We stayed for about an hour, had some tea and either bought a few items or made donations to help with their cause.

Next we made our way uphill to visit the first school established here by Sir Edmund Hillary in Khumjung. It sits between several small villages and has the most amazing views thus far. We could see Everest, Lhoste, Ama Dablam and countless others. We then headed back to our tea house in Namche where the team is resting and enjoying the hot showers.

Everyone is doing great and looking forward to tomorrow.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

On The Map

Sign Up For Everest BC Trek 2013 Email Alerts

2

---

More Entries