Madhu Chikkaraju
Madhu’s love for the outdoors began as a child exploring the granite domes of his hometown of Bangalore in Southern India. His first journey to the Himalayas in 1999 inspired him to explore high altitude mountain ranges across the world. Madhu started to work as a field instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School in 2006 where he has worked 225 weeks teaching students mountaineering and rock climbing skills. Madhu has led expeditions in India’s Kumaon & Garwhal Himalaya, Chilean Patagonia, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, North Cascades, Alaska, and the Waddington Range of British Columbia.
When he is not working in the mountains, Madhu enjoys paragliding, working on his farm in India, hanging out in his tiny house with his wife, and playing on the granite rocks in his current home of Leavenworth, WA.
Significant Ascents
India
Month long high-altitude expedition in Kumaon Himalaya (traversing over 17500feet passes from Greater to Trans Himalaya, 6x guiding)
Unnamed Peak, 19400 ft, Sikkim Himalaya
Ralam valley expedition high- altitude mountaineering 18000feet. (personal)
USA
Cascades:
Eldorado Peak (2x guiding)
Mt. Baker via Squak & Talum Glacier (5x guiding)
Mt. Shuksan via Sulfide Glacier (guiding)
Mt. Rainier via Disappointment Cleaver
Glacier Peak via White chuck/Suiattle/Chocolate Glacier(3x guiding)
Ptarmigan Traverse.
Colchuck Peak.
Prussik Peak.
Alaska:
Denali, West Buttress (guiding)
Rockies: Gannett Peak via Gooseneck Glacier (2x guiding)
South America:
Crossing of Northern Patagonia Icefield (Steffen – Colonia Glacier – guiding)
Certifications
Wilderness First Responder & CPR
Avalanche Level 1
Leave No Trace Master Educator
