Everest Expedition Summit the world’s highest mountain HIGHLIGHTS: Summiting the highest mountain Stunning views from the roof top of the world Colourful Buddhist culture and the spirit of Sherpa people www.himalayanascent.com OVERVIEW • Employing an experienced, strong, caring In 2020 Himalayan Ascent will be and professionally trained team of Sherpa undertaking our 10th expedition to Mount guides on the mountain, all with previous Everest, following the successes of past Everest experience/summits expeditions since 2010. The ultimate • Creating a small, cohesive team of dream of most mountaineers is to one climbers and Sherpas day take on the biggest mountaineering • Strictly vetting the calibre of expedition challenge possible – climbing Mount members Everest – and Himalayan Ascent is here to • Providing a comfortable base camp help you make that dream a reality! • Staying healthy Of course, turning the dream into reality We will tackle Mount Everest via the requires a lot of hard work, and Himalayan South Col and South East ridge route. Ascent will only accept climbers who have You’ll feel like you’re climbing through the requisite skills and level of experience. history as you pass through and across such infamous features as the Khumbhu The aim of Himalayan Ascent’s Mount Icefall, the Western Cwm, the Yellow Band Everest Expedition is to provide the and the Geneva Spur. Once you’re on necessary framework for expedition the summit push, you’ll look back in awe members to have a safe, enjoyable towards Makalu, Lhotse, and when you’re trip, with the best possible chance of standing on the South Summit you’ll stare summiting. The key components of this across towards the Hillary Step and the framework include: true summit, and know that your dream is within reach. Page 2 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com GRADE/FITNESS INCLUDES: This expedition requires excellent 4 nights Kathmandu accommodation, airport fitness and prior experience of a transfer to hotel and welcome dinner, all Himalayan expedition. You should necessary climbing and trekking permits, be able to carry at least 20kg, experienced expedition leader and base camp demonstrate strong endurance and manager, government liaison officer, flights to high mountaineering experience. and from Lukla, all meals and accommodation The South Col-South East ridge during trek to base camp and return, porter is the classic route that passes service to carry 50kg of personal gear to base through the Khumbhu icefall and camp, fully serviced powered base camp involves a steep climb on the (including personal tent, heated dining tent and Lhotse face. The maximum altitude communication tent, full satellite communication is 8848m. system (pay per use), all meals/snacks and hot Page 3 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com showers), 2-way radio system for all guides early departure and mountain search/ to communicate between camps, team of rescue) and personal climbing gear. Sherpa climbing guides to set up and stock all higher camps, all meals and tents above OTHER OPTIONS: base camp, maximum oxygen allowance with the Summit delivery system (allows Optional limited services available: multiple summit attempts), 1:1 climbing • Base camp only service (no climbing Sherpa to client ratio, extensive high Sherpas or serviced higher camps) altitude wilderness first aid kit, porters to • Full service with limited oxygen carry group equipment, all group climbing • Climb through Khumbu Icefall to Camp equipment, all other charges for route 2 only fixing and expedition duffels. • Trekking to Everest base camp EXCLUDES: Optional helicopter services: international flights to Kathmandu, tips • Helicopter fly out of EBC to Lukla or and summit bonuses for Sherpa guides, Kathmandu tourist visa fees, meals in Kathmandu (USD 10-15 per meal), aerated and alcoholic Contact us for cost details for these beverages, personal items (e.g. phone options. calls, laundry), travel insurance (including Page 4 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com ITINERARY exhilarating flight on a Twin Otter to Lukla Day 1-2 Arrival and in Kathmandu and (hopefully!) catch the first glimpses A Himalayan Ascent representative will of Everest from the plane. In Lukla we will collect you from the airport. It’s a free day meet our porters and other BC staff, and to recover from your international flight. after lunch walk to Monjo, a small village Later in the evening, there will be a group on the roaring Dudh Koshi river, which briefing and welcome group dinner. You can drains the bulk of the Everest region. The use the next day to explore the crazy, yet milky, glacier-fed waters of the Dudh Koshi wondrously beautiful city of Kathmandu. are the source of its name, which means (Swayambu and Boudhanath). It’s a city “Milk River.” We will stay in a comfortable that stimulates all senses, so be prepared lodge on the edge of the river. because Kathmandu is a city that demands attention. Day 4 Trek Monjo (2610m) to Namche (3440m) ~7 hrs Day 3 Fly to Lukla (2840m) and Today’s trek officially starts in the trek to Monjo (2610m) ~4 hrs Sagarmatha National Park, a protected Welcome to the Khumbu! We will take the area encompassing 1,148 km2, as we pass Page 5 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com through park gates just after Monjo. We days we will take along the way to foster continue up the Dudh Koshi under a forest this process. Today you can check out of mixed conifers and hardwoods, passing Namche market, rest, or take the optional through several beautiful villages. The hike up to Syangboche to take in your first real view of our objective. On a clear route crosses many suspension bridges day, enjoy the spectacular views of Ama high above the confluence of the Dudh Dablam, Lhotse, and Everest, as well as an Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers, before we overview of the valley you will be headed head up the hill through a black pine up for the next few days. Visit the national forest to Namche Bazaar, the political and park visitor centre to learn about the economic centre of the Khumbu. natural, cultural, and human history of this region. You are part of a long tradition of Day 5 Acclimatisation day in mountaineers, both foreign and local, to Namche the highest mountain on earth. It is critical to the success of an expedition like this to let our bodies gradually Day 6 Trek Namche (3440m) to acclimatise to the altitude. This will be Tengboche (3860m) ~ 5 hrs the first of several rest and acclimatisation From Namche on, the terrain changes Page 6 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com dramatically. We will trek along the Day 7 Trek Tengboche (3860m) to edge of a juniper-covered ridge, through Dingboche (4410m) ~2.5 hrs rhododendron and silver birch forests We will continue down into the wide on the north-facing slopes, ever deeper glacial valley from Tengboche, stopping into the heart of the Khumbu. On this to take in splendid views of Ama Dablam section of trail keep your eyes open for the from Pangboche. We then cross the river spectacularly colored Impeyan Pheasant— again before ending up in the lovely Nepal’s national bird, or for large mammals farming village of Dingboche at the head like the Jharal—a shaggy wild goat which of the Imja Valley. grazes in this area. After dipping once more down to the Dudh Koshi we climb up steeply to stay the night in the high Day 8 Acclimatisation in meadows of Tengboche. Tengboche is the Dingboche site of a working monastery and several We will take our second rest day in beautiful stupas. Time permitting, you Dingboche, where guides will facilitate may attend morning or evening services your acclimatisation by organising a and complete your own khora of the site. short walk to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association at Pheriche, or to take in the surrounding scenery. Page 7 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com Day 9 Trek Dingboche (4410m) to Day 11-12 Acclimatisation in BC Lobuche (4910m) ~5 hr and puja Leaving Dingboche behind, we will For the next few days we will settle into continue along the path towards BC, our comfortable BC and get acclimatised. passing just below the edge of the Sherpas have a spiritual connection with Khumbu glacier before climbing steeply the Himalayas so we’ll perform a special up alongside the glacial moraine to the puja ceremony in respect to the mountains village of Lobuche. and to ask for safety, good health and success. Day 10 Trek Lobuche (4910m) to BC (5364m) ~5 hr Day 13-16 Optional climb Climbing up the trail 3 hours beyond of Lobuche or stay in BC Lobuche, we will reach the small outpost of acclimatising Gorak Shep (5140m), the BC for the 1953 For the next few days you can either climb expedition that first climbed Everest. From Lobuche, a trekking peak of 6110m located here, we walk 2-3 hr winding through the just behind the Lobuche settlement, or rubble and scree of the Khumbu glacier, to you can hang out in BC to allow your body reach BC at the base of the Khumbu Icefall. more time to acclimatise. Page 8 of 15 www.himalayanascent.com Day 17-20 First rotation through 2 days to acclimatise at C2, and attempt to Khumbhu icefall and ladder spend one night at C3 as well. crossing training We will start moving through the icefall, Day 27-36 Rest and recover for practicing on ladders and testing our summit window equipment as we make it for the first time At this stage our preparatory work is over. to Camp 1 (C1, 5950m) at the top of the In this period we rest, fuel up on calories icefall.