Mount Everest, Nepal

Mount Everest is earth’s highest mountain standing at an altitude of 8848 meters or 29029 ft. when calculated from sea level as a base. The Himalayas are sixty million years old, and the structure is still getting higher because of tectonic plates pressure in its crust. The peak is positioned in Nepal in the Mahalangur mountain range. The area falls on the border between China and Nepal, where the North slope of Everest is owned by China and south slopes fall in the dominance of Nepal kingdom. Close to Mount Everest, there are three peaks named Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu that are above 8000 meters in altitude.

There have been many peak climbing attempts at the Everest, but none were successful initially. Notably, was an expedition taken by George Mallory, who is believed to have climbed the peak in 1924, but could not come back alive to tell the tale. His body was found in 1999, 75 years after that fateful day. It was only in 1953 when Kiwi climber Edmund Hillary along with his Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first made the climb. Thus, the highest peak in the world was climbed. Today, it has been climbed several times by mountaineers all across the world.

Mount Everest has various names. Its English names owe to a tribute to Surveyor General of India in the year 1865 – Sir George Everest. In Nepalese, the peak is known as Sagarmatha or the ‘Forehead of the Sky’. People from Tibet calls it Chomolungma, which would mean ‘Mother Goddess of the Universe’. While in China it is called Zhumulangma Feng.

To climb mount Everest one has to prepare a lot. Because the adventure into the zone of this peak poses many hazards like extreme weather conditions, wind storms, altitude sickness, avalanche and most importantly the chill. Temperature can plummet to -40 to -60°C. The Khumbu Icefall is a huge wall that one has to negotiate during the expedition to the Everest.

There is a timeline to attempt Mount Everest. It is ideal to begin it somewhere in early-middle May in order to avoid bad weather. The best times to attempt Everest is mid-May to mid-June. Then there is small window again from mid-September until mid-October. Trying to attempt Everest peak climb beyond this window is like lunacy. Photographers are most likely to go in April to get the best shots of the floating clouds and get beautiful sceneries with a great sightseeing of Mount Everest, but the trek is possible till Basecamp only. One cannot attempt Everest in winter season because of difficult natural conditions there.

There is a possibility of doing Everest climbing in July and August, but the attempt can only be made from the Tibet side. One has to reach Shigatse from Lhasa using Bus or Train. From there one can reach the Base Camp trekking through Dingri and Rongbuk Monastery. It is advisable to stay at Shigatse for few days before leaving for Everest. This helps you to get acclimatize for harder weather conditions to come in future. In order to climb Mount Everest from Tibet side, one must have Aliens’ Travel Permit and Tibet Entry Permit.

The trip to Mount Everest from Tibet offers you many beautiful places to witness. The Rongbuk Monastery is where Statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and Padma Sambhava are installed, and there the statutes are respected and worshiped by pilgrims and travelers alike. This is the perfect place to witness the beauty of Mount Everest. The Everest Base Camp is just eight-km from the Rongbuk Monastery. But this place becomes the technical point for supplies and preparation before gearing up for the Everest climb.

To climb Mount Everest one needs all mountaineering essentials to improve their chances of success. Quality trekking gear for the climb, which includes top quality clothing, protection gears, climbing gears etc is mandatory for Everest peak climbing expedition.

We have prepared a list here of what must include in your gears:

• Clothing: Lightweight long underwear top, Expedition weight underwear bottoms, Down suit, Waterproof breathable jacket & pants, Wind shirts/light shell jacket, Jacket synthetic or fleece of down feather, Synthetic insulated pants etc.
• Gear for Hand & Head: Liner glove, Windcheater fleece gloves, Mittens with liners, Bandanna, Sun hat, Insulated climbing gloves, woolen caps, Face mask etc.
• Other Accessories: Glacier glasses, Sunglasses/Goggles, anti-glare glasses, night vision glasses, Headlamp with spare bulb and extra batteries.
• Climbing Gears: Ice ax, Crampons, Webbing, Carabineers, Rappel device, Ascenders, Jumar, Piton, Shovel etc.
• Protection and First-Aid: Sunscreen, Toiletry kit, Water purification tablets, Zip-lock bags, Earplugs, First-aid and all essential medicines.
• Gears for Travel: Expedition duffel bag, Nylon stuff sacks, Rucksack, Daypack for hiking purpose etc.
• Camping Equipment: Tents, sleeping bags with liner, Trekking poles, Pee bottle, Pee Funnel for Women, Water bottles, Sleeping mat, etc.
• Amongst the most important things for trekking, backpacking is your footwear.  You’ll need Cold weather boots, Climbing boots, Casual shoes, Gaiters, Koflach, Crampon, Lightweight/ Midweight/ Liner socks.

Cost of Mount Everest Climbing

Peak climb of Mount Everest is an expensive travel plan. It takes a lot of money starting from training to the ultimate aim to reach the top. If you sit down and calculate the entire cost for preparing Mount Everest climb you will heave to shell out close $ 50000-60000 easily. Climbing and clothing gear, permits, travel, and stay might make a big hole in your pocket. Discuss your travel plan with a registered travel operator when you decide to make Mount Everest peak climbing attempt.