Any trekking enthusiastic should try to make it to Nepal. If possible, and although one can find other regions more suitable, trekking in the Everest region has the highest glory. Surely, reaching the Everest base camp itself. If no stress in time and you have this desire for learning mountaineering, then combining trekking and mountaineering course can be a great choice and great value for money, time and soul.
Here we introduce an option of completing Everest base camp trek with mountaineering course and climbing two 6000 meters peaks. This Itinerary is one example of several options you can book as fixed departures or as a customized journey.
It is crucial to choose the right guide and tour agency to meet your travel goals. If mountaineering is part of your plan, you should have a skilled and experienced guide. Verify your guide holds a certification by one of the mountaineering associations like the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations.
This trek and climbing will take you to Everest base camp while combining training in for high altitude mountaineering in several locations during the way to Everest base camp, training on the Khumbu glacier and climbing Lobuche Peak and Island Peak.
Hence, Keep in mind, climbing peaks are rough targets, either due to lack of oxygen because of the high altitude or due to the technical difficulties. It is not something to underestimate. You can be evident to travelers who compromise in their guide’s skills and put their life on danger.
For your high altitude safety, please read the high altitude sickness article and get a better understanding of readiness, precautions, prevention, and treatment for high altitude sickness.
consequently, not treating this right process might result in
This trek and climb combination takes around 26 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. It combines excellent experiences for those who would like to eat all cake, with cherry tops of climbing peaks. Not only you will reach the Everest, but you will also visit the beautiful Gokyo lakes and viewpoints. Also, you will gain actual mountaineering knowledge and practice you need to have for climbing two great 6000meters peaks, Lobuche Peak and Island Peak. Lobuche peak is a 6119m peak with a far, but excellent view to Everest. Climbing Lobuche peak requires some technical capabilities and having a minimum level of independence while climbing and while doing the tricky way down. Rope work and ice-screwing, using ice-ax, belaying. Climbing this peak can be achieved during the training along the trek and the Khumbu icefall practice.
Island peak is a beautiful 6189m peak with a great view of the beautiful mountain of Ama-Dablam which requires technical skills and pre-practice as well.
You will achieve technical capabilities during the course exercises as part of the hiking and resting days. This will include the learning of using ice crampons, ice screws, ascender, ice-ax, rope handling, climbing knots, belaying and more.
Although it might sound not that high, 6000m height can be lethal, if no proper acclimatization happened before and during the climb. One should take all precaution steps to keep safe during climbing.
The trek starts from Lukla after a short flight from Kathmandu, having the mighty mountains of the Himalaya as a stunning background.
Landing at Lukla is exciting; short lane airport by the mountains to take you to the world of mountains, where no roads exist from here and distant villages and lodge points will be your milestones before reaching the holy grail of the Himalaya and returning back.
Our starting point, Lukla, is located at 2860 meters height. Therefore, there are around 1200 meters of ascent till our acclimatizing point at Namche Bazaar. This village lies at 3650 meters in height and is located in a mountains horseshoe to be protective. Although it is only the start of your journey, you might suffer from high altitude sickness. The trek to Namche is not easy. From Lukla usually, it takes two days to allow easy start. This known Himalayan village is the last point to offer most of the usual services of equipment stores, cafes, and souvenirs. It is also the first point usually used for acclimatizing to the high altitude and lack of oxygen, as the village is lying at 3400meters above sea level.
Most likely, here you will rest, eat well, enjoy the tranquility and will do day treks also as part of the acclimatizing to the high altitude. The acclimation day, in which you can also explore the villages in the area, and return back to the same sleeping point is a crucial step for body adjustment to the lack of oxygen.
This location is also the point where you will start practicing for mountaineering. Understanding the basics, things you must be aware of, treating a rope and belaying concept.
First Everest view on the way
We continue our way higher and deeper in the Himalayan ridge.
Mountain goats, trekkers, and tea huts are part of this beautiful mountains puzzle.
mountain goats with a view of far Ama-Dablam
In order to reach Gokyo lakes, we leave the trail that takes to the Everest and heading left as a detour.
First stop is Dole, a small resting point in which we have night stay. Then we head to Machermo in which we spare additional acclimatizing day and some additional mountaineering practice.
We leave Machermo and head towards Gokyo. The route will take us to the three lakes of Gokyo which add beautiful water spots along the rocky ridge.
From Gokyo point, early in the morning, you climb over Gokyo Ri, a 5500 meters peak from which you can see the Everest, Cho Oyo, and other 8000 meters peaks. The panoramic view from Gokyo-Ri is so beautiful and peaceful.
After summiting Gokyo Ri and some rest before next stop, time to move to the next stop at Thangnak. Now we are getting closer to Everest.From Gokyo Crossing carefully rocky grey glacier towards the next stop at. Here we will rest the afternoon and night and will take a good hot shower. Water was boiled by solar dishes then pouring the water to roof container!
From this point, we will cross the Cho-La pass at height of 5387meters. The views of the far ama-Dablam in front of us are very rewarding. The lake in the other side of the pass is frozen but start melting so careful crossing is needed.
The next sleeping point is Dzong Lha. Here we also do some self-belaying practices.
It is so windy today, but practicing is in high priority. Also, we want to be ready enough for the next level of the technical lessons, ice climbing practice over the Everest glacier.
Our next destination is Lobuche point. It is just a refreshing and lunch point on the way to the real thing: Everest base camp!
Legs are hurt and stiff, but finally, after several hours of face pace walking, we reach Everest base camp point, just in time for evening dinner.
Its, morning time, and after a couple of hours walk from the guest house we finally reach our primary destination, Everest Base Camp!. The feeling is so amazing, being just under this majestic mountain. the rocky ice fall is full of tents of the base camp. from here the expeditions leave for climbing the Everest and its neighbor, Lhotse, the third highest mountain in the world.
Here the training is focused on ice expertise. How to walk right on the ice, how to use right the ice ax, how to put ice-screws, how to secure and belay. Also, doing some ladder crossing training. This is required when you need in actual to ice crevasses, like those over the Khumbu icefall over the Everest and also when summiting Island Peak mountain, which we target to complete as part of this mountaineering experience.
That’s it. We completed the training itself. Now, it is time to use our knowledge for climbing over two great mountains, Lobuche peak at 6119 meters and Island Peak, at 6189 meters.
This training and trek were organized by “High Himalayan” company, owned and led by Jyamchang Bhote, who is IFMGA certified and summited Everest 7 times so far by the time these words were written.
We recommend checking his services and specialties.
For further information please check High Himalayan website.
Read further for the Island Peak climbing.
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