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Posts for Everest BC Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker & Team Return to Lukla

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 07, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 9,350'

Hello Everyone.

We were foot soldiers today,  we marched our way into Lukla in great style. The last hour is all up hill,a nice pump to finish the day. Doctor Scholl’s was our best friend. A bit of overcast kept the temperature just right for this lowland trek, 10,000 ft. After about three weeks in this land of giant mountains, for some, it’s time to hit the beach. I could call this one heck of a fishing trip. We all received a license, no poachers, played by the rules. We casted our lines, used every trick in the book. Caught some big ones and a trophy for a few. We all leave with more experience and respect for this type of event in our lives. The Dudh river, a constant companion on the hike out,loads of blooming rhododendron a nice farewell. Always a pleasure to work with High Altitude Dreams our local outfitter. The team from the states way to go! Hope to have another chance to play with you all in my office soon.

Thank you all out in cyber land for following this trip, get out while you can. I will start working my way back to the Big E and blog ya later.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Return to Kathmandu

Posted by: Casey Grom | April 06, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 4,383'

Kathmandu!
It’s been quite the adventure the last few weeks. Today the team left the beautiful and peaceful Khumbu and caught our morning flight back to the busy city of Kathmandu. The team spent the day lounging by the pool, resting in our rooms and catching up with emails and news.

Everyone is doing well and excited about returning home to family and friends. We finished the day off with pizzas and long fresh salads.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

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Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker & Team Return to Namche

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 06, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 11,300'

A nice 10 mile plus or minus hike from Chu Kung today. Not quite sure how there can be so much uphill on a descent, who built these trails anyway? Happy to be back here in Namche at the Campo de Base tea house. If you ever are in the area, this is the place to stay. Very friendly staff, comfortable rooms and Hot Hot showers!
We saw a couple of Everest teams on the way today. We had a nice chat with some old friends and made plans for future meetings at Basecamp. We will check out of the park in the morning and finalize our permits regarding the Island Peak climb. The infrastructure is a bit crude but it is so important to keep trying to have an eye on this truly amazing part of the world.

The sky was a bit hazy today but a nice temperature for the trek out. A few of the hillsides had a large number of rhododendron trees flowering, it is so nice to be back in the living zone of the Earth’s dirt.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Celebrate in Lukla

Posted by: Casey Grom | April 05, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 9,350'

Lukla!  Back to where we started after another long day hiking. We left Namche about an hour later than planned to get in some last minute shopping, I’m sure everyone can guess who prompted that decision…..

Lucky enough to have another beautiful day for hiking, we were happy to spend all day on the trail again (but actually)! Making our way down what we lovingly dubbed the ‘Namche Hill’ on the way up, we encountered way more yaks and porters than last week…due to the Saturday market tomorrow, that some of us are sad to be missing!

What goes down must come up….after a quick stop in Phakding for some lunch, we started back up our final hill to Lukla. Although the lower altitude certainly helped, after so much downhill the past few days I’ve got to say it was tough switching gears again! About two-thirds of the way up to Lukla, Lakpa’s two adorable kids came and met us on the trail - what a wonderful surprise! Lakpa and his family then hosted us at their house for some tea once everyone caught their breath, which was another great surprise.

After showers and some dinner, we said many many thanks and gave many hugs to our wonderful porters and Sherpas (see picture!). Our trip certainly wouldn’t have been the same without their hard work, and I know that their smiling faces put me in a good mood each and every day. We were so lucky to have them!

Everyone will be happy to know that a dance party just got started in Lukla! Hello and I love you to all my friends and family (Daddy, Dana, Haley, Scott & Bandit - Mommy is up on the dance floor. Uh oh!).—Allie

RMI Guide Casey Grom

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Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker & Team Headed for Namche

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 05, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 15,514'

Mark Tucker here, calling from Chukung.  My third attempt coming outside here. The satellites have not been too nice to me tonight. Ch-ch-chilly.  So we had an unbelievable day.  Just everything was going at us.  We gave a great shot going for the summit.  We were a little bit shy.  But we had an awesome time!  That mountain is incredible.  And we’re all down safe and sound.  A lot of our staff is going to go to the right and we are going left, headed to Namche tomorrow.  It is cold out tonight.  Everybody’s happy and we’re doing well.  We’ll check in again.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker & Team Fired Up for Summit Bid

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 04, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 18,372'

Mark Tucker here at high camp of Island Peak. Hands are freezing but the rest of me is pretty good.  We are situated a couple hundred feet below 18,000 feet.  We got a bit to go but we’re in good shape.  Have the tents up.  Actually have a small kitchen tent where our Nepali staff is making us some fresh momos.  He has a rolling pin out, had the flour going, cooking up the vegetables.  We’re roughing it but its still reasonably comfortable.  Having aghast. We’ve got peaks above, ice, rock every where.  Ocean below, giant peaks peaking out of the clouds, and yes, a bit chilly.  I’m sure we’re going to be in for it tonight when it comes to the cold but lots of layers and keep moving should do the trick.  So we’re planning to start looking at the weather at 1 am, hopefully moving by 2ish and route sounds like it’s in pretty good shape.  So if things go right, we’re going to get on top of this thing and make a call to y’all.  We’re going to error on the side of smart and conservative, not push too hard, but give it a gosh darn good effort..  So we’re looking forward to it, all fired up and can’t wait to report in again.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Descend to Namche

Posted by: Casey Grom | April 04, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 11,300'

Hello everyone back home.  All is well here in the Khumbu!

After so much time together bonding the team has decided to stick together and finish this trek the same way we started, together. Island Peak will have to wait till next time!

We left Pheriche and hiked downhill passing what seemed like a endless line of trekkers, climbers, porters, and yaks loaded with gear for Everest.  It was a beautiful but long day, and we have arrived in Namche after eight hours on our feet. Clear weather allowed us more amazing views and the chance for one more view of Everest before descending down to camp. The warm thicker air feels great and the team has just finished a nice dinner at our tea house “Camp De Base”.

Tonight we are having the world championship of cribbage!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

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Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker & Team at Island Peak Basecamp

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 03, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 16,685'

Mark Tucker here calling from Island Peak Basecamp. Had a wonderful stay at the resort in Chukung.  Great evening, kind fellowship with other climbers from around the world. The hike up here took about 3 hours, and did very well and greeted by a staff that we’ve had in place.  They’ve been here for few days, great dining and kitchen area, wonderful food, tents already set up. What a lap of luxury we walked right into.  We did a couple hikes today to keep the blood flowing.  The team is doing very well.  Planning tomorrow to finalize details, get some gear sorted, and then we’re gonna ship up to High Camp and get ourselves ready for the summit push tomorrow in the late evening.  So the deal is on, we’re doing great, and we’ll talk to you later.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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Everest Base Camp Trek: Grom & Team Back in Pheriche

Posted by: Casey Grom | April 03, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 13,950'

The team left Basecamp today and descended all they way back to Pheriche at 14,000ft. We were excited to meet the Everest climbing team on their way up and wish them luck.  Everyone is doing well and looking forward to the thicker air and warmer temps that lies below.

Well do our best to send some photos tomorrow.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

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Everest Base Camp Trek & Island Peak Climb: Tucker Calls in from Chukung

Posted by: Mark Tucker | April 02, 2013
Categories: *Expedition Dispatches *Everest BC Trek
Elevation: 15,514'

Mark Tucker here outside of our resort in Chukung.  Rallying for our next wave of the program, the Island Peak climb.  Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse.  Wow!  What a view.  Let’s call it Phase 1 is in the books and what a trip so far.  The Island Peak team, we bid farewell to the trek group this morning, under yep, once again, beautiful blue skies.  As a guide, you try your hardest to be the conduit between the mountain and the folks with a bit less experience usually.  And it thrills me every time to see groups like these accept this new kind of challenge. Rainier Mountaineering does such a great job preparing its guides. They provide us with the training and support for the staff.  The incredible institutional knowledge is passed down literally generations of professional guiding.  It’s just, it is the best there is out there and I’m so proud to be part of this great group of women and men.  With that said, your training has led you to never take anything for granted, or let my guard down, in what can be in quite a hostile environment.  There can be a surprise around any corner.  And I just wanna send my congratulations to my trek team for a fantastic job they all did. Thanks for spending time with me out here in my office.  And safe travels home to all you guys.  And now, here come the climb team, and we are ready.  Its [Island Peak] basecamp tomorrow, back into tent life. And I’m looking forward to it.

RMI Guide Mark Tucker

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