| Day
1 |
Depart
USA. While there are a number
of options, one of the better
connections to Kathmandu is on
Thai Airways, via Bankok. |
| Day
2 |
Arrive
in Bankok, overnight. |
| Day
3 |
Fly
to Kathmandu. Transfer to our
hotel. |
| Day
4 |
Organize
and sightsee in Kathmandu. There
is a fair bit of packing that
must be accomplished, but normally
there is time for to look around
and enjoy the sights of this exotic
city. |
| Day
5 |
Drive
to Zhangmu, 7500 feet, across
the Chinese border in Tibet. Initially
the road is in good condition,
but deteriorates as we travel
closer to the border. Conditions
can vary depending on recent rain
and mudslides. The border town
of Kodari is reached in about
4 to 5 hours. We'll continue on
to Zhangmu where we pass through
Chinese immigration. |
| Day
6 |
Drive
to Nylam at 12,300 feet. This
drive is a short day and we expect
to arrive in the early afternoon.
The road winds along steep mountain
slopes and is quite impressive.
As we travel further to the north
the land becomes increasingly
drier. |
| Day
7 |
Acclimatization
day in Nylam. We'll take an additional
acclimatization day in Nylam.
From our walk we'll get good views
of the peaks of the Langtang Himal
and Shishapangma. |
| Day
8 |
Drive
to Tingi, 14,800 feet. We cross
the stony Lalung Leh Pass at 16,500
feet. If it is clear we should
get great views of the peaks to
the south, and about a little
later our first views of Everest
and Cho Oyu. |
| Day
9 |
Drive
to Cho Oyu Base Camp at 15,700
feet. This is a short drive, only
about 2 hours. We will have time
to relax, and enjoy the views.
This camp is also known as the
Chinese Base Camp. |
| Day
10 |
Rest
and organize in Chinese Base Camp.
We can take short walks to help
us acclimate, but most of our
time will be spent resting and
organizing equipment for the trek
into Advance Base Camp. |
| Day
11 |
Trek
to an intermediary camp (about
16,900 feet) between Chinese Base
Camp and Advance Base Camp. Our
equipment is carried by yaks.
The route leads along the lateral
moraine of the Gyabrag Glacier.
Our camp is normally reached in
about 4 to 5 hours walking.
|
| Day
12 |
Trek
from the intermediate camp to
Advance Base Camp (ABC) at about
18,400 feet. We continue along
the side of the Gyabrag Glacier,
crossing its huge moraine to reach
ABC. Here we have great views
of the route on Cho Oyu and the
Nepalese peaks behind the Nangpa
La. |
| Day
13-39 |
ABC,
18,400 feet, will be our base
of operations for the next 4 weeks.
We will make a number of carries
to higher elevations occasionally
returning to rest. Acclimating
to the high altitudes is a long
process that can't be shortened.
Our exact schedule will be adjusted
depending on the needs of acclimatization,
health, and conditions on the
mountain. |
| ABC
to Camp I |
Camp
I, 21,000 feet, is located at the
top of a ridge above a long scree
walk and scramble. While the terrain
is easy, it is long and tiring walk.
We begin the hike crossing about
3 miles of moraine covered glacier
before we start up the steeper scree,
following vague paths to Camp I. |
| Camp
I to Camp II |
From
Camp I we follow the snow and ice
ridge towards the upper part of
the peak. We encounter a few steeper
sections which are normally equipped
with fixed rope. Above, the Ice
Cliff, the steepest part of the
entire climb, must be surmounted
with the aid of fixed ropes and
ascenders. Camp II is located on
a nearly level plateau at about
23,000 feet. After we establish
Camps I and II, we will most likely
descend again to ABC to rest and
gather our strength before the final
push to Camp III and the summit. |
| Camp
II to Camp III |
The
terrain between camps II and III
is gentle glaciates slopes and offers
no particular difficulty other than
a shortage of oxygen. Camp III is
located at about 24,400 feet on
a low angle slope just below the
steeper upper slopes of the mountain. |
| Camp
III to the Summit |
From
Camp III the route slowly steepens
until we reach the Yellow Band.
This is a short rocky step, not
particularly steep, that is usually
equipped with fixed rope. Above
this the angle eases again. The
actual summit is a long way back
on a very gentle plateau. The days
starts very early, typically about
1 am. |
| Camp
III to ABC |
Advance
Base Camp can easily be reached
from Camp III. |
| Day
40 |
Trek
from advance Base Camp to Chinese
Base Camp. |
| Day
41 |
We
will most likely have to spend a
day in the Chinese Base Camp packing
and sorting for the truck ride back
into Nepal. |
| Day
42 |
On
our return to Nepal we will stop
in either Kodari, Tatopani, or Zhangmu
depending on how far we want to
drive. |
| Day
43 |
Drive
to Kathmandu. |
| Day
44 |
Rest
day in Kathmandu. There is a good
chance we will be finished with
our expedition earlier than the
above schedule, in which case we
will have additional time to explore
the Kathmandu Valley. |
| Day
45 |
Return
to USA. |
