Hello everybody, this is Casey Grom checking in again from the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek and Island Peak Climb. We are all currently safely back at base camp here on Island Peak after a successful but long, hard day. It was a pretty tough night. We actually had quite a bit of snow overnight, which made the trail difficult but fine and pretty slick so it was hard going for most folks for the first few hours. Luckily the wind died down and we were able to get three of our climbers to the top of Island Peak. The other three- a couple of them climbed, one stayed in camp to be moral support. The other two, I think they realized it was a little too much for them. It was a big day. It took about eight hours for the team to reach the summit after almost going non-stop with just a few breaks. We are all back at camp, everyone's happy and doing well. We just packed up and we're going to drop down to Chukung... (transmission lost)
RMI Guide Casey Grom
RMI Guide Casey Grom checking in after Island Peak climb.
Thanks for posting useful information about the island peak climbing. I read your complete blog and got i lot of information for my future trek plans. I really got to know about some interesting facts which I was not aware of. I have also got some useful insights from ExpedReview as well.
Thanks for posting wonderful content. Keep posting such types of blogs.
BIG, BIG days in a row. What a whirl wind tour this has been. Since leaving Pheriche at 14,000 ft and going up to 17,000-foot Everest Base Camp it has been all business.
The team has linked together so many tough days and been rewarded with so many memories, I sure hope the lack of oxygen to the brain doesn't effect the retention of them. We were up early to a blue-sky day. Quick breakfast and off we go. The word descend is a bit misleading when traveling in the Khumbu region. The dramatic relief in topography combined with all the weathering and rivers makes for a lot of ups and downs from start to finish of the day. Midway on our trek today, it started to snow pretty heavy. The team has been fine tuning what basic equipment to have in our packs at all times. Needless to say most of our clothing went on as we traveled through a winter wonderland. The downhill becomes a big challenge with wet and slippery condition. An impressive demonstration by my group of climbers today with no misstep under trying conditions. All tired but happy with one more BIG day tomorrow, which will get us back to the Lukla airstrip.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Nicole and team,
BREATH TAKING VIEWS, NICE TO SEE THEM. KEEP CLIMBING, I’ll keep praying!
“For a Climber, saying that you are stopping by Everest is like saying that you are stopping by to see God.”
Roland Smith, Peak
Looking at the pictures…I can only imagine!!::))
Peace,
MG
Posted by: MARY GRACE on 4/4/2014 at 1:56 pm
Hi, Nicole LoBiondo and team!
What an amazing journey! The photos are beautiful. Can’t wait to see you standing on the summit! Sending my love and LOTS of positive energy!!! xoxo Patti T
Hey Mark Tucker checking in from Pheriche down here in the lowlands of 14,000'. Well the team got up and had a nice breakfast in beautiful, beautiful weather. We said good-bye to the crew at Base Camp. It was really fun sharing the expedition experience with these guys. We had a really good time and were well taken care of. We were sad to leave Jeff Martin, our Operations Manager, all alone up there, but he's going to be fine. We had a big day today though. Went through Gorak Shep and Lobuche so it was quite a trek for the team. They all did well and the mountain at the last bit threw at us a pretty good snow squall. And for this group of Floridians, the preparation and our great training over the last couple of weeks here, we survived. It was not that bad but it was a fun experience and boy we're going to share these stories. Whatever they say, I'll agree with them. Those numbers change when they get back home but I will verify it. So we're all doing well. The other RMI team, the climbing team, is here as well. It's been great to rub shoulders with them and these guys are getting to know them as well. So we are all hanging tough. More downhill and up tomorrow, where we'll end up in Namche Bazaar. Thank you for following.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Hey everybody. This is Casey Grom checking in again with the RMI Everest Base Camp Trek and Island Peak Climb. Just wanted to let everyone know that all is well. We left Pheriche yesterday and hiked for a few hours. It was up the eastern-most valley in the Khumbu region to a little village called Chukung. Unfortunately, I was not able to get reception where we were staying. No cell service or wifi up there either. We had a great night, great food, and got up this morning to a little dusting of snow on the ground. We had a leisurely breakfast and got everything packed up. And then the team set off this morning around 10 AM. We hiked for about three hours further up the valley to the the base of Island Peak. Our wonderful support staff hiked ahead of us and had our dining tent and even had a hot lunch ready for us. All of our sleeping tents were set up right as we pulled in. We are a little spoiled to say the least. Anyway, the team's doing great. We're just relaxing right now inside the tents and will continue to rest this afternoon. We'll do some training tomorrow and then we're hoping tomorrow night we'll make our summit bid. So that's all for now, hope everyone back home is doing well and we'll check in again soon.
RMI Guide Casey Grom
So happy everyone is doing well. I’m sending my love and warmth your way!
xoxo
Posted by: Sydney on 4/3/2014 at 1:56 pm
GO DAD!! Just saw the pic of you and Lee at the base of the icefall- maybe that’s been a few days ago? Maybe you’re at the base of Island? Jealous, but so happy for you. Fond memories of a DECADE ago on Pisco- proud of you.
Hey Mark Tucker at Everest Base Camp, checking in. Woke up to clear blue, not a cloud in the sky. Here in the early evening, we've got a little light snow- not unusual. The team is doing well. We had a very productive day: some showers, lots of writing, reading... I don't know about arithmetic, lots of photos, and a venture into the Icefall. We are sharing our camp with Jeff Martin, the RMI Operations Manager. It's a pleasure he is setting everything up for the team that's coming in. Actually the bags that went straight from Kathmandu to Base Camp just arrived for the climbing team. I'm sure they are posting on the website. But their gear is all here and that is always a nice thing. A little bit chilly, as you can imagine. My hands are freezing on this phone but we are going to duck into the dining tent where we will have another three to five course meal and have a little heater in there. Play a little bit of cards and relax and we are already gearing up for tomorrow. Our descent will begin back back towards Lukla. So we are keeping that fresh in our mind. Everybody is doing well and thanks for following. We'll talk later.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
RMI Guide Mark Tucker checks in from Everest Base Camp.
Hi,
It’s Mark Tucker here checking in with Rainier Mountaineering’s Everest Base Camp Trek, 17,500’ feet beautiful Mt. Everest. The Team did a bang’em up job and pulled in here in great shape. We are being treated well. We’ve got fine tents, and lots of luxuries. We are going to spend two nights here. Tomorrow will be a great day for investigating and poking around this historic site. We are just so psyched, this team took on a big challenge to get here and we are very thrilled.
YEE HA! We will be checking in later.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker & Team
Way to go Elizabeth!!! Guess the Lucky Charms watch did it’s magic!!! Enjoy the sights and safe travels on the Long & Winding Road home
PS Did You Know You’re My Hero? :)
Posted by: melissa mccarthy on 4/1/2014 at 4:38 pm
What an amazing trip - our hats off to you all! Love to Elizabeth, Nancy & Liz…Can’t wait to hear all about it in person!(PS: you missed a spectacular Tastevin!!!)
Hugs and kisses,
Janet and Larry
Posted by: Janet & Larry Mendez on 4/1/2014 at 3:25 pm
Hello everyone. We have finally made it back to the land of wifi!
It was a wonderful two days at Base Camp and thoroughly enjoyed by all. We bid farewell to everyone there and headed back down the valley to Pheriche. It was an incredibly busy day on the trail with hundreds of porters and yaks heavily burdened with their loads. The weather was pretty nice most of the way which was a treat after yesterday being so windy. We are relaxing in the dinning room here with dozens of climbers where it's actually hot because of the stove fueled by nothing more than dried yak dung.
Enjoying the thick warm air!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Crew
Hello Matt, This is Jay Shah, Nisha’s uncle from Los Angeles. Being selfish, I envy what You all doing now,going to the base camp. I wish I could have done the same. I have gone to Mt. Kailas in Tibet few years ago, but
Base camp is something I have missed out. The group looks so happy!!!!! Wish You all good luck & thumb’s up to all.
Hope all of You have a refreshing, happy & purposeful trek
Mark Tucker checking in today from Gorak Shep, at about 17,000’ feet. We had a nice hike today with the wonderful weather holding on for us - feeling lucky! We pushed on after we had lunch and got the summit of Kala Patar just over 18,000’ feet, right around sunset. The big “E” popped it’s top out a couple of times, beautiful colors with an alpine glow, windy, and cold. I am standing outside right now and it is chilly up here! I am looking at about 500 million stars, just a beautiful night aside from cold.
Everybody is tucked in and we are going to get up and rock-n-roll for Base Camp tomorrow. That’s the plan, hope it all holds true.
All the best to everybody and we will be keeping you posted!
RMI Guide Mark Tucker & Team
Wonderful progress you’ve made. I hope you are treasuring every moment and can’t wait to hear all about it first hand from Nancy Harris. Have safe travels and thank you for sharing your experience with us through your posts.
Posted by: Maria Eichelberger on 3/31/2014 at 5:53 am
Hello Elizabeth Harris, Hope you are having an amazing time!
We are thinking of you!
stay warm & happy journey.
The Tamboli Family, Tampa
Hello Everybody,
This is Casey Grom checking in from Everest Base Camp. Our team actually arrived yesterday after making the summit of Kala Patar. Unfortunately we were not able to get a satellite call to let everyone know that we had safely arrived here. Everyone here is doing fantastic!
We woke up this morning to pretty blustery weather, but our wonderful cook Kumar actually got our hot shower up and running here. So it is nice for everyone to get a nice hot shower and just relax. This afternoon we went for a short walk from out camp down the start of the glacier where the route through the Kumbu Ice Fall starts. That was a nice treat for everybody to get to walk down there and try and get an idea of where the route will go in.
Everyone is doing great; we are currently sitting down for dinner. Our game plan is to head back down to Pheriche and we should have cell service Wi-Fi once we get back down there. We are looking forward to getting back down there and will hopefully send pictures then.
Good Night Everybody!
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Crew
Oh my goodness! We must be so far out there. No cell service, no internet, no wifi. How are we gonna get by? Just fine. That's what I can tell you. The team's doing well. We are up here at Lobuche. Had a nice walk up. Fine weather, a little overcast now. Chilly, chilly up here at 16,000'. We are happy to be here in good shape. We are checking in by satellite phone, so we can still be connected. We appreciate everyone following along. Hopefully tomorrow we will move up to Gorak Shep where I think we may have some connectivity, and I may be able to send some fabulous pictures from the jaunt up the hill today. We will check in again.
RMI Guide Mark Tucker
Thanks for posting useful information about the island peak climbing. I read your complete blog and got i lot of information for my future trek plans. I really got to know about some interesting facts which I was not aware of. I have also got some useful insights from ExpedReview as well.
Thanks for posting wonderful content. Keep posting such types of blogs.
Posted by: John Andrew on 10/26/2023 at 3:19 am
Congratulations, everybody!
Posted by: Jan on 4/5/2014 at 9:25 am
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