RMI Expeditions Blog

It's us again,

Today we said goodbye and safe travels to the other RMI team who trekked to Everet Basecamp. While we are focusing on acclimatization, they are eager to get to lower altitudes and more oxygen. To help with our acclimatization the team took off uphill outside our teahouse and went up Nangkartshang. The top sits at 16, 644' with half the team making the top and half the team hitting 15,000' before turning around to get some more rest. Everyone did great and is feeling well. Tomorrow we push higher to Lobuche. We are only a couple nights away from basecamp and several nights away from heading to our high camp on Lobuche peak. The days are flying by and blending together. Before you know it we will be the team heading downhill while Everest teams head uphill. The nights are cold, so we are all bundled in our sleeping bags getting warm and allowing our bodies to rest before another uphill filled day. 

So goodnight all,

Hannah, Abby, and Team

Namaste everyone,

We are still bopping along here in the Khumbu. The team left Pheriche at 8am in beautifully clear skies and made our way back down valley to the lovely, humid and what felt like warm Namche bazaar.

It was a lot of downhill, uphill, downhill, uphill and even a little side hilling to get here. But the team was rewarded with hot showers and dinner at the best restaurant in town, called Eat Smart!

Full bellies and tired legs have us all headed to bed early.

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Hello Readers,

We woke to a clear frosty day. The team made their way to the dining hall for various hot drinks to warm up the bodies before hitting the frozen trail. Once on the trail it didn't take long for the sun to begin to thaw the grown and us. Shortly I to our hike we came across about 15 Tahr roaming the hillside. You can't beat a wildlife sighting. Halfway to our new Teahouse we stopped in Pangboche to do a puja ceremony where the team got blessed for safe travels. Even though we do not practice their religion or understand all the intricacies in the ceremony, it's a moving experience and makes you want to learn more. A quick stop for tea fueled us to our final location, Pheriche. Here we will spend two nights acclimatizing. The other RMI teamed rolled in in the afternoon. It was fun to see the descending team and know that will be us in about a week. For now we will enjoy the scenery around us and let our bodies adjust to the new altitude. 

Goodnight all,

RMI Guides Hannah, Abby, and Team

Hello again everyone,

All is still well here in the Khumbu as the team members made our way back to Pheriche. It was a busy day on the trail with climbers, Trekkers, yaks, and porters all bound uphill to basecamp. We slowly made our way through the maze of traffic and enjoyed a few last good views of Everest. 

Pretty amazing how thick the air here at 14,000' feels compared to 17,500'. Spirits are high even with slightly tired legs after an eight hour day! 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Good evening trusty readers,

Today we left the comforts of Namche to make our way further up valley. We may not have had views yesterday but we more than made up for them today. The team enjoyed their first views of Everest along with Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. It turns out there is a lot of downhill while making our way uphill to basecamp.

The first half of the day we gradually descended towards the valley floor before we crossed a bridge to reascend everything we had lost and then some. We made quick work of the uphill even with the traffic jam of people and animals. After walking through the monastery at Tengboche we descended one more time to our best Teahouse.

Now we may have left Namche, but we sure didn't not leave any comfort. Our rooms had fluffy blankets and heated beds to sooth and relax our bodies. There is plenty of effort given getting to basecamp but so far we have not had give up much comfort. Another delicious dinner and some dessert has us happy and ready for bed. Tomorrow is another day on the trail with more beautiful views.

Goodnight, all,

RMI Guides Hannah Smith, Abby Westling, and Team

Hello family and friends back home! 

It was a chilly night here at 17,500’. But that was to be expected! Everyone had hot water bottles to keep them warm. We woke to crystal clear skies and a beautiful view. The sun doesn’t get to camp until about 8:30 so we lingered in the tents before meeting for breakfast. Then we lounged in chairs soaking up the warmth of the sunshine enjoying the views up the Khumbu icefall while sipping coffee! Sounds tough, I know! 

Then I took the team for a short hike into the very beginning the icefall, but still more than a mile from any real danger. Where we talked about the route and took some pictures and then made our way back to camp to an awaiting lunch. The afternoon was spent relaxing around camp and hanging out in our well stocked dinning tent! 

Headed down valley tomorrow!

RMI Guide Casey Grom and the Puffy Pants Crew 

Good evening/ good morning,

Today we had an active rest. A later breakfast allowed for a casual morning full of coffee and milk tea. We sipped on our hot drinks while the sun thawed out the town. Warmed by the sun we took off on a hike uphill to the Everest View Hotel. Unfortunately for us our view was clouds. Even with the lack of mountainous views, it was still pretty and beneficial to go on the hike. Our legs and lungs are getting stronger. In no time we will be at Everest Basecamp. Once back at our teahouse in Namche we all roamed the town for souvenirs and lattes. The lattes at Sherpa Barista taste like a cup of happiness. Tomorrow we will leave Namche for Deboche. One teahouse closer to Everest Basecamp. As for now we are going to enjoy our dinner together and our heated blankets (now that everyone knows about them hidden under the mattress). 

Goodnight on our side of the world,

RMI Guides Hannah, Abby, and Team

Namaste everyone!

Well we did it! The team has successfully made it to Everest Base Camp on a beautiful day. We had a relaxing start to allow the day temperatures to rise enough so that the hike would be pleasant. The team hiked for almost three hours to reach Base Camp or EBC as we call it, stopping along the way many times to take pictures and just enjoy the stunning views. 

Once here, we were greeted with some of the best food thus far for lunch and then all team members enjoyed a well deserved hot shower while it was still warm and sunny. Although the temperature wasn’t high, the intensity of the sun at this altitude made it feel quite warm to us. 

Everyone is doing great and looking forward to a good nights rest after all the days trekking to get here. We are sleeping on the Khumbu glacier in a campsite chopped out of the ice. Our camp is surrounded by mountains and glaciers in nearly all directions. It’s incredibly breathtaking to say the least.

That’s all for now! 

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew

Greeting from the Khumbu,

The team woke to clear skies for our walk to Namche. We filled our bellies with coffee and breakfast and hit the trail. After about two minutes of walking with pulled off the trail for a bakery pitstop. Herman's Bakery in Phakding makes a variety of delicious baked goods that make great trail snacks. Packs full of pastries we hit the trail for real this time. The trek to Namche gains 3,000' but with all the ups and downs it feels like much more. Walking these stairs is much more beautiful and engaging than the Stairmaster at home. We crossed high and long suspension bridges that have a slight bounce to them as you make your way across. A final big push up and we are greeted by a town in a bowl on the side of the mountains. Namche is vast and bustling with eager trekkers. It is a great place to have a rest day. The team made great work getting here and is looking forward to exploring all that is Namche. Tomorrow we will sleep in with a casual breakfast than go on a small hike followed by well-deserved resting. 

Goodnight all back home,

RMI Guides Hannah Smith, Abby Westling, and Team 

Hello Everyone 

It's incredibly beautiful, peaceful, and the mountains are grandiose. We've been very comfortable hiking each day in the sunny weather, then bundling up in our warm sleeping bags each night as the temperature drops. 

Dinner is often around 7 and the menu is pretty much the same at every tea house with plenty of soups, simple pasta, rice, potatoes, and typical Nepalese Dal Bat.  

After dinner we relax and have a brief review of the day ahead and then it's off to bed. 

The team hiked up Kala Patar this afternoon to get a better view of Everest which didn’t disappoint!

Spirits are high as we push closer to basecamp and if the weather cooperates, we should arrive tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll be able to get updates out, but in the off chance we can’t, the team will be at Everest Base camp for two nights. 

There’s no cell service or WiFi most likely. 

That's all for now

RMI Guide Casey Grom and crew