“It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves” - Sir Edmund Hillary.
Climb Mount Everest with Makalu Adventure Ltd.
You do however need to be extremely fit and have the right mental attitude. You should be a 'mountain person,' at home in the mountains and ideally have climbed lesser peaks, perhaps Island Peak (6,165m), Ama Dablam (6,812m) or better still Mt. Manaslu (8,163m). Many operators facilitate expeditions to Mt. Everest, but we believe we have a near perfect itinerary, honed over many years. The key to a successful assent is planning and preparation and starts well before the client reaches Base Camp. Instead of rushing up to Base Camp we encourage our clients to take time for acclimatization and to revise skills needed on the mountain. Having spent a couple of days in Kathmandu, checking equipment and attending official briefings etc.
The team is ready for the ‘exciting’ flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu. From there it is a two-day hike to Namche Bazaar, the unofficial Sherpa Capital. From Namche our itinerary differs from the norm, the norm being two nights in Namche for acclimatisation and then following the tourist trail to Base Camp. We do spend two nights in Namche but then we head up the Dudh Koshi Nadi to Gokyo for two further days of acclimatisation. On day one a hike towards Cho You and on day two the ascent of Gokyo Ri (5,360). From Gokyo we then cross the Cho La Pass (5,420m) to Lobuche East Base Camp. Lobuche East is a 6,119m non-technical peak and is perfect for topping up mountain fitness, acclimatisation and revising skills that will be required on Mt. Everest. This phase of the Everest expedition can take two or three days depending on the client's ability and conditions. When all are confident the team will move to Everest Base Camp via Lobuche and Gorak Shep.
When client and guide feel the time is right, they will ascend, through C1, C2 and C3 to Camp 4 on the South Col at 7,925m, client and guide will now be using supplementary oxygen. The South Col is not the sort of place you want to spend much time, the virtual oxygen level is down to about 20%, it is bitterly cold and can be extremely windy! Ideally clients will spend just one night in C4 before the summit push and one more on the descent. The push for the summit normally starts at about midnight, the plan being to reach the summit (8,848m) at about 8am, allowing plenty of time to descend safely to C4. Client and guide will be using oxygen and the guide will carry at least one spare cylinder.
Having returned safely to C4 the guide will make sure the client hydrates, rests and eats. If all is well the client and guide will descend to Base Camp in two days, a night spent at C2 and another at C1. It is advisable to spend the night at C1 and negotiate the Ice Fall early in the day, when it is at its most stable. Having safely returned to Base Camp, clients have a choice, they can walk-out to Lukla for the return flight to Kathmandu or they can, at additional cost, fly out by helicopter. We recommend walking out, slowly, relaxing and recounting with others what has been achieved.
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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