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
RMI Guide Mark Tucker calls in from Island Peak High Camp.
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
Ditto the comments above! Especially Sasha’s “enjoy the descent!” Really, enjoy it all- we were amazed at how different the landscape was on our way back to Lukla.
Congratulations on fighting the fight and making it to EBC! We look forward to hearing the stories…
Be safe!
xo
Dana Marie
Posted by: Dana Marie Buchanan on 4/5/2013 at 8:55 am
Elsie,
Hope you are well…can’t wait to hear the stories when you are home…sounds like an amazing trip.
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
RMI Guide Mark Tucker calls in from Island Peak Basecamp.
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
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
We deserved a leisurely start to our rest/acclimatization day in Pheriche. So we dragged feet and drank coffee until 9 AM before heading outside. The morning weather could best be described as "splitter". As in, it was perfectly blue sky and ultra clear air. We were looking for light activity at altitude to enhance our acclimatization. Right out the back door of the lodge there happens to be a hill that is perfect for such activity. Up we went with a plan to be back by lunch. Immediately we had a view of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. That compensated us for the loss of Everest, which we can no longer see. Before long we were seeing the craggy summit of Makalu, fifth highest, and we'd regained a view of Lhotse (#4). We bumped into a number of other teams that we've come to know on our little trek circuit, each out for the views and the exercise. Those views only got more incredible as we worked our way up the giant stairmaster to about 16,500 ft above sea level... 2,500 feet above our lodge. We were being circled by eagles and cooled by breezes so we couldn't stay too long to enjoy the view... Lunch and an easy afternoon were calling. The team trooped to the nearby Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) clinic to receive a great lecture by one of the docs on altitude and common trekker illnesses but spent the rest of the day napping, gaming and chatting.
Tomorrow we hope to push on to Lobuche.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
The team safely arrived at Basecamp after a climb up Kala Patar. New altitude records for some! The Easter bunny must have come through camp because there were little chocolate eggs left around camp when we arrived (thanks Tucker). Most everyone is feeling better and enjoying the wonderful cooking of our BC cook Kumar. The team spent the day enjoying the views and a little exploring of the camp. Hot showers were had by all!
Tomorrow we'll make the trek back down to Pheriche and hopefully cross paths with RMI's Everest climbers.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew
Congrats to everyone on the team and esp. those
Team Waki members. Know you are glad to finally be there. Allie and MIssy- safe travels “down” - remember it is really not down! Elsie- may the force be with you as you power up Island Peak!
Posted by: Kathryn LeBey on 4/2/2013 at 5:14 pm
Congratulations on reaching Base Camp! I hope all of you are healthy and well. Weather still looks good. Enjoy the views, and be careful on the way down. Keith, everyone here is proud and in awe of you.
Two inches of sparkling white snow fell on Deboche last night. By morning whatever clouds had deposited the snow were long gone and blue skies prevailed. We ate breakfast while staring out the windows at massive plumes ripping off the summits of Everest and Lhotse. The team hit the trail by a few minutes after 8 AM and made easy progress through the snow coated rhododendron forest. In a short time, we crossed the river to the sunny side of the valley and made our way up to Pangboche and the home of Lama Geishi. He'd graciously consented to bestowing a blessing on the team. Revered by all in the Khumbu region, 80 year old Lama Geishi greets one and all with a smile and a special head butt while tying a sacred knotted string around each visitor's neck. He let us know that he was asking Chomolungma -the mother goddess of the earth- also known as Mt. Everest, to allow our climb to her summit.
We thanked Lama Geishi and resumed our hike, stopping in Shomare for a lunch while gazing up at Ama Dablam's impossibly steep flanks. Then it was just a short and quiet thousand vertical feet of climbing and we were walking into Pheriche and our tea house for the next two nights. The lodge is packed to capacity tonight with about six or seven teams of trekkers and climbers. In the evening we were happy to meet up with Mark Tucker bringing his team down valley. After he goes for Island Peak we will eagerly await his arrival in Basecamp as our teammate on the Everest Climb. Tuck will once again be basecamp manager and Khumbu Glacier mayor.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Great hearing about the venture. Good luck. Looking forward to photos and hearing about your ventures. Be safe. ABQ Uptown #985
Posted by: Rachael C. Lujan on 4/2/2013 at 9:43 am
I look forward to reading and looking at photos of your amazing adventure. Good luck team. “Mayor” Tucker is a great title. I can just see Mark holding a “town” meeting and getting the good citizens of basecamp rolling.
Lulled to sleep by rock and icefall, what a night at Everest Base Camp. A few comments that it was the best dinner since arriving in country. Short lived this time, we are already back in Pheriche gearing up for Island Peak. Should be deep sleep tonight here in the thick air of 14,000 ft. We'll bid farewell to the Trek team in the morning. As usual a whirlwind tour for the group. Lots of firsts for all. Once again the mountains provided fantastic views with perfect weather. Times like these are what bring you back to challenge the physical and mental. In time the photos will overshadow the tough conditions you are subjected to on trips like these. Maybe Hawaii next time, but I bet down the road another adventure of this type just can't be avoided.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
L & P- A Dream realized!....and you are changed forever!! Kudos. YEA!!
You epitomize YMNTBP!! Our Congrats to the entire team!! Thanks again, Mark…yes we think more Adventures will be in the offing!
Much love M & G
Posted by: Gretchen & Mike on 4/2/2013 at 9:06 am
just love following “team tucker”!!! what an adventure!!! safe trek to pheriche!!! tons of hugs buzz…Nancy
Mark Tucker from Everest Base Camp. We hiked most of the day under fabulous conditions and arrived for lunch by our favorite cook, Kumar. Lots to see here at Base Camp, we did some exploring. Dinner went well, Kumar cooked us a cake. He can bake us a cake because he actually has a small oven up here. Very comfortable, I'm so spoiled. Pretty white on the ground at this point. Hopefully it's just an evening flurry and we'll wake up to some blue skies. We have a good hike tomorrow. We're going to head back down to Pheriche. That is our target for our hike. All is well up here at Base Camp.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Nice going big brother! Of course you made it.
Love you much. Enjoy some well earned down time with Sue and everyone in the Maldives.
Linny
Posted by: Linda Hill-Lindsay on 4/2/2013 at 10:46 am
Congratulations to all of you! What an amazing accomplishment. I can only image how blessed and beautiful you must have felt to see all those amazing sights.
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L & P & All- FANTASTIC!! GO for It!! We are with you!! GOOOOO!!
GOOD ENERGY and LOVE TO YOU ALL!!
M & G
Posted by: Gretchen & Mike on 4/4/2013 at 9:33 pm
Awesome! Stay warm Bill.
Mike
Posted by: Mike M on 4/4/2013 at 4:23 pm
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