Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world which is 8,848.86 metres (29,032 feet) tall. Reaching the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point in the world, has always been a dream come true for explorers around the world. Many people climb Mount Everest for the pride and the status of being able to say that they have accomplished one of the riskiest tasks in the world as an explorer/climber.
To begin our ascent of Mount Everest, we will hike to some of the high points in and around the vicinity of basecamp. We will be walking in just our sturdy leather ankle-high snow proof trekking boots, using just our trekking poles, but we will be walking to very high altitudes of 5800 metres / 19,000 feet +. In this way we will be acclimatizing and getting adapted to the altitude without having to step foot into the complexities of the Khumbu Icefall until we are good and ready. After several sessions of ice climbing training, we are ready to cross the Khumbu Icefall and head to Camp 1.
During all climbing, our Sherpas will help to carry your load. You won’t have to climb with a heavy backpack.
The Ascent to Camp 1 at 6100 metres / 20,000 feet:
The ascent to camp1 at 6100 metres / 20,000 feet involves travelling up through the beautiful Khumbu Icefall, traversing around crevasses, climbing up and over seracs, down into glacial valleys, crossing open expanses of snow and ice, walking over crevasses, crossing and/or climbing ladders, all while clipped to well fixed safety lines. Camp 1 is placed on a large glacial plateau in the Western Cwm, the valley which lies at the heart of Mount Everest. We will take several rest days in Camp 1, adjusting to the altitude. Our skillful Sherpas will be taking very good care of you here. On one of our rest days, we hike part way up to camp 2 and come back to camp 1 to sleep. After resting and acclimatizing, we are ready to walk up the Western Cwm to Camp 2.
The Walk to Camp 2 at 6350 metres / 20,750 feet:
The walk to camp2 at 6350 metres / 20,750 feet encompasses a long hike up the Western Cwm to the lateral moraines beneath the West Face of Everest. These moraines form a nice level sandy rocky campsite and we use camp 2 as a kind of base station and we even have a permanent cook up here, who prepares 3 delicious meals each day. We spend multiple days in Camp 2, resting and walking up and down the easy snow apron to the base of the Lhotse face at 6550 metres / 21,500 feet in order to get used to the altitude. When we are good and ready, we prepare to climb up to camp 3.
The Climb to Camp 3 at 7100 metre/ 23,250 feet:
The climb to camp3 at 7100 metre / 23,250 feet on the Lhotse Face involves several hours of easy walking to the base of the Lhotse Face, followed by a climb on moderately steep snow ice up to 50 degrees. While climbing the Lhotse face, we do our best to stay near the seracs and other slope anchors, in order to avoid avalanche. Our camp at 7100 metres / 23,250 feet, is inside a serac/crevasse system providing a solid shield of protection. After a night in Camp 3, we go back down to Camp 2, and then back down to basecamp to rest, having completed our visit to 7000 metres / 22,950 feet, we are now ready (after resting for a good long period of time) to try for the summit on our next foray up the mountain.
After resting for three, four, five, six, seven days or more we will reascend to camp 1, camp 2, and camp 3.
The Climb Up To Camp 4 South Col at 7950 metres / 26,000 feet:
After sleeping a night on oxygen in camp 3, we head out early and, using oxygen, climb up the Lhotse Face, crossing over to the Yellow Band. The Yellow Band is easy rock scrambling. It might feel more difficult than it is due to the high altitude and all of the cumbersome clothing, crampons, and mitts you are wearing. After climbing up and over the Yellow Band, we continue traversing across the Lhotse face, over to the Geneva spur, a rock ridge. We walk up the ridge, which gets a little steep in places, but not bad, and then cross over the ridge top and walk along some rocky ledge / plateaus until descending into a large broad valley which is the South Col at 7950 metres / 26,000 feet. At this time of year, the South Col is a large flat snowy plain perched on the border of Tibet and Nepal. It is extremely beautiful, and may be windy, sunny, moderately cold or very cold.
We will rest on the South Col for 1 night and 1 day, using oxygen. We will relax in the tent, brewing lots of hot drinks, soups, tea, and eating food. The following evening, we set off for the summit.
Going to the Summit of Everest:
We plan to set off for the summit at about 8 O’Clock at night. So that means we will wake up around 5pm and fill our water bottles, eat dinner (breakfast) put on all of our clothing and head out of the tent with our headtorches and our oxygen bottles topped up. We will climb through the night, up the slopes of Everest which loom above the South Col, changing oxygen bottles as necessary. Upon reaching the top of the face, to the “Balcony” at 8500 metres / 27,880 feet, we will change oxygen bottles once again, and then keep going up the ridge to the South Summit of Everest at 8750 metres / 28,700 feet. Here we get our first really good look at the “Hillary Step” which is the crux of the upper route, guards the summit of Everest, and has turned back teams previously. The Hillary step is a half block long row of rock gendarmes splayed out along the ridge, with one large 12 metre / 40 foot high buttress cliff at the far end. A lot of the smaller rock gendarmes fell off in the 2015 earthquake, and also, when windblown snow drifts in here, the rock features can become buried under smooth hard snowpack. We will make sure our oxygen supplies are abundant before tackling the Hillary Step, and as we climb over the top of the step we just need to walk a few metres / feet onto the summit of Everest, the highest point on Earth at 8,848.86 metres / 29,031.69 feet. Its an exhiliarating and amazing feeling, and we will take many photos and videos of one another on top and the incredible views all around Nepal and Tibet.
Descending From The Summit:
After spending a little time on top, we will walk back down to the South Col, have a nice dinner, lots of liquids and a rest. The following morning, we will pack up after breakfast and walk down to Camp 2, for dinner, drinks, and a rest. The next morning, after an early breakfast, we will walk back to Everest basecamp.
Descending from Basecamp:
We will pack up and walk back to Lukla, which takes 3 days. It is also possible to take a helicopter, if you do not wish to walk. On day 4 we will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu. Day 5 is an extra day held in reserve for shopping, rest, and celebration in Kathmandu. On Day 6, we fly home. Thanks for joining our everest expedition. It has been a great trip, and CONGRATULATIONS!
Our long-term philosophy is to provide top-quality high-altitude Mount Everest climbing at the most efficient cost level. The well-organized expedition is affordable. So we welcome you to Everest Expedition.
Congratulation!