Mt. Everest Expedition

Mt. Everest is an iconic mountain and the world’s tallest peak. It towers above the high Tibetan plains to the north and the lush green pastures of Nepal to the South. Climbing Mt. Everest is one of the world’s great adventures. On this expedition we have the pleasure of experiencing Nepali culture en route to the summit. Nepal is one of the most exotic and photogenic countries on the planet. Mt. Everest is a breathtaking and challenging adventure and the crown jewel of climbing!

Climbing the Seven Summits is committed to providing the highest quality Aconcagua expedition.  You can be assured that it will be both challenging and fun, a true once in a lifetime. Rest assured that our professional priorities are first and foremost “Safety” and “Success” which we achieve by outfitting our teams with the best logistics and the most capable, qualified and seasoned guides in the world.

Mike is pleased to boast a 91% expedition success rate and an 83% climber success rate on expeditions he has led; this is more than double the summit success rate for all climbers, all while maintaining an unprecedented safety record. Who you choose as the leader of your Mt. Everest expedition is a big deal. Sound leadership is the difference between a great expedition and a miserable experience. Mt. Everest is a potentially dangerous mountain and climbing at 8,000 meters is very serious.

This expedition will be organized and led by Mike Hamill, Owner of Climbing the Seven Summits. Mike has personally guided 10 Mt. Everest expeditions, 23 X 8,000m expeditions, has 6 Everest summits, currently holds the record for most non-Sherpa summits of Cho Oyu, and has written the guide book to “Climbing the Seven Summits,” making him perhaps the most experienced Western guide on the mountain. Well over 150 summits have been notched on Everest, Cho Oyu and Shishpanagma under Mike’s direct leadership, more than perhaps any other guide. Climbing the Seven Summits expeditions are meticulously organized with the best logistics. Our Sherpa team are some of the strongest and most experienced high altitude climbers in the world and their great personalities will make them friends for life.

Mike Hamill has an impeccable safety record and an unmatched success rate due to his expertise and professionalism.

Mt. Everest is a serious undertaking meant for climbers with prior experience at altitude and sound climbing skills. The climbing leaders and Sherpa staff will work with clients throughout the expedition to provide logistics, guidance, and information to best ensure the clients summit success.

CTSS Mt. Everest expeditions all begin in Kathmandu where we obtain our climbing permits and have a free day to check out the city before beginning the trek in to base camp via the Khumbu Valley by flying in to Lukla.

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced

Mt. Everest is an iconic mountain in the Himalayas and the world’s tallest peak. It towers above the high Tibetan plateau to the North and the lush green pastures of Nepal to the South. First climbed in 1953 by Tenzing Norway Sherpa & Sir Edmund Hillary it is one of the world’s greatest adventures and the crown jewel of high altitude mountaineering.

Climbing Mt. Everest requires serious fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for 8-10 weeks, along with the desire for rugged adventure travel. Climbers need solid cramponing skill and familiarity with glacier and fixed line climbing techniques. If you want to join this expedition but don’t have these skills we can work with you to get you up to speed prior to the climb. Please let us know how we can help!

On this expedition you will be climbing in the ‘death zone’. Beginning with an imaginary line at 8,000m the oxygen in the atmosphere is so sparse at this altitude that the human body cannot stay for prolonged periods of time. We work with lightweight oxygen systems, state of the art equipment, a refined acclimatization schedule, the best weather forecasting available and phenomenal Sherpa teams to give you the greatest opportunity for success.

Our Mt. Everest expedition meets in Kathmandu where we obtain our climbing permits, run through gear checks and have a team meeting. We stay at the famous and historic “Yak and Yeti” hotel in the heart of town and use this as our base for packing and organizing gear. Following our time in Kathmandu we fly to Lukla to start the trek. We land at the Hillary runway at roughly 9,000ft/3,000m. From the moment you land in Lukla you will be at altitude. It’s important to take it easy and let your body adjust to the altitude naturally. From here we make our way up the Khumbu valley staying at some of the finest lodges in the region in order to mitigate the stress so you can focus on the climb.

Hygiene is incredibly important to us and we take many precautions to make sure our team avoids getting sick. Despite this, illness can be a fact of life in Nepal so chances are people will at least experience a stomach rumbling at some point during the expedition.

You’ll note in our schedule that we climb Lobuche peak en route to Everest base camp. This is both a great climb in and of itself and a great opportunity to make sure your climbing skills are up to speed, but it is also part of our strategy for climbing Everest. One of the most dangerous sections of climbing on Everest is the Khumbu ice fall. We try to limit the number of trips we make through the ice fall and mitigate the amount of time we spend in it. Climbing Lobuche allows us to do one less rotation through the ice fall which makes our Everest climb safer. We see this as huge “value added” to our expeditions not only for the safety factor but also because you will climb another Himalayan gem.

Once at base camp we get settled in and use a slow, methodical acclimatization strategy to position ourselves for the summit bid. Most expeditions rush this process and suffer the consequences of altitude illness because of it. Once at base camp we will make three forays up the mountain to successively higher altitudes to prepare for the summit bid, with plenty of rest back at base camp in between.

Our base camp is first rate. We spare little expense making you feel as comfortable as possible. Our top-notch cooks make you the healthiest food possible with strong hygiene standards. Each of our climbers has their own tent at base camp where they can feel at home when not socializing in the group dining and hangout tents. We have a state-of-the-art communications tent and make internet available to our guests. We receive up-to-date weather reports and have a satellite phone for group use. Our set-up higher on the mountain is top notch as well.

In between acclimatization rotations we spend time training at base camp, practicing both glacier climbing skills like fixed line climbing and crossing ladders, and training with the oxygen systems to make sure you’re fully prepared for the climb ahead. To have these skills second nature before the summit bid can relieve pre-climb nerves and anxiety allowing you to fully focus on your climb.

Mt Everest Climb Sample Schedule:

(Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM) This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel so this schedule will likely change and not everything will go as planned. Climbers need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend climbers arrive in Kathmandu one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the clients responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day or more early or for a single rooming option.

Our expeditions are fully inclusive except for items/services of a personal nature. Please take note that the following is not included:

One cannot underestimate the importance of having the right team of Sherpas to support an Everest bid.

Sherpas are integral to almost any aspect of an Everest expedition and perform crucial roles as climbing partners, such as carrying loads and fixing ropes on the mountain, organizing gear and building camps amongst many other jobs. You will quickly notice not only their importance but also their many other positive traits: hard work, humility, friendliness, gregariousness, not to mention strength.

Our team of Sherpa is simply the cream of the crop and are lead by our sirdar Tendi Sherpa. Tendi has notched a dozen Everest summits on both the south and north sides of the mountain beyond many other summits worldwide. Tendi is an internationally certified guide, co-owns a logistics company based in Kathmandu and is the best in the business.

He holds his team of Sherpa to the same high standard that he holds himself and hand picks only the strongest, most skilled, and trusted Sherpa friends. Tendi and his team will work incredibly hard to make your climb of Mt. Everest a success and they will become friends for life.