Chessell Adventures - Lhakpa Ri - North Col Expedition

Advance Base Camp 6400m

Brief Itinerary

Day 1	Arrive in Beijing
Day 2-3	Sightseeing & cultural tour around Beijing, board train for Lhasa late on Day 3
Days 4-5	Train to Lhasa
Days 6-7	Sightseeing in Lhasa
Days 8-11	4WD across Tibet to the Everest Base Camp, explore
Days 12-27	Acclimatise in Everest Base Camp, trek to ABC, summit Lhakpa RI and North Col, return BC
Day 28-29	Drive to Kathmandu
Day 30	Depart Kathmandu

•     Be part of the Everest Expedition season, travel with Duncan Chessell and Chessell Adventures' Everest team as they start this journey to the roof of the world
•     Enjoy a tour of Beijing, a two day train trip to Lhasa and visit the Potala Palace
•    Our experienced guides are there to ensure your safety and enjoyment
•    Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Tibetan plateau and the grandeur of Mount Everest
•    Develop high altitude expedition experience and skills
•    Trek between stunning glaciers and peaks to Advanced Base Camp at 6400 metres

• Climb to the summit of Lhakpa Ri at 7045m and the North Col (Camp 1) on Everest

In Beijing

You will be picked up at the airport by one of our representatives, and you will be met by our representative(s) and your Chinese Mountaineering Association liason either at the airport or at the hotel. Because we provide all tents, meals in the field, gas, stoves on the mountain etc, you should be able to get to Beijing without excess baggage.

In Tibet

We handle all the paperwork for the Tibet travel and climbing permits. You will need to obtain a Chinese Visa from your local embassy before your arrival. Going to Tibet, we handle all the transportation. Once in Tibet all meals are usually included; hotels are ‘interesting’ though, sometimes doubles, sometimes only dormitories. We take what we can get… Lhasa is nice but it goes down hill after that. Usually we get decent rooms all the way to BC but Tibet can be an adventure!

Base Camp and ABC
At base camp we have a permanent kitchen with cook and helpers, large dining tent and smaller ones as required, solar power for recharging, satellite phone contact with ABC, radio contact with ABC and camps on the mountain and internet. We provide 1 BC tent per member. We provide three good meals a day and afternoon tea, plus all hot drinks and boiled water for drinking. At ABC we provide the same. At BC there are also showers and good toilets.
We have good solar power systems providing 12V DC, so you can charge all digital cameras, video cameras, battery packs and laptops. 220-240 V AC is available in BC only via a generator which is run intermittently as required. We do not provide unlimited power in ABC or BC, as the solar power system is at the mercy of the weather. Please discuss heavy usage requirements with us ahead of time. BRING ADAPTERS for your equipment to charge from car sockets.
We have laptops available for exclusive use of our teams. Email (text only) is free. Alternatively for heavier users please bring your own but you must have a 12V DC adaptor to charge it. Note that not all laptops will work at 5000m+. If possible ensure your laptop has one of the newer solid state hard drives rather than the traditional spinning versions which perish at altitude.
Mobile phones will work to BC very well and from Camp 2 to the summit also. ABC and North Col camps are blackspot for mobile coverage.

You can surf the web?!!? why you would want to, I am not sure... or check hotmail and yahoo etc, $15 a MB

Climbing

All mountain tents and meals (a good variety), gas and stoves are included. Fixed rope charges are included. The sherpas are responsible for stocking and positioning all the camps.

Communications

We will be providing updates using our own website and specialised dispatch software so regardless of whether you have your own communications or not, your family and friends will know what is happening. You will be amazed at the level of interest. We can assist you with this if you need a few hints.

Expedition Doctor and BC/ABC manager

We have our own team Doctor, Dr Rob North, who will be climbing with the summit team or at ABC or BC for medical consultations. Rob has extensive experience at altitude and will be a real asset to the team. Health and weather are the two biggest random factors in determining your success on the peak. While on the mountain our western climbing leader(s) have extensive experience in dealing with any medical issues that might arise.

Emergency evacuation

We have a PAC bag usually stationed at ABC, and emergency oxygen at ABC and BC, plus full medical kits. If you have to leave the mountain early alone or as two people then there will be a jeep charge of up to $700 per vehicle for transport payable in cash directly to the Chinese liaison officer. If you are a group of three or four then there is unlikely to be a charge but it may be a while before your baggage arrives in Kathmandu. (As 4 people is a jeep load).

Medical kit

We have a comprehensive medical kit at BC and ABC. You should be prepared with a SMALL personal medical kit for on the mountain. Expedition guides are used to dealing with altitude issues and intestinal problems.

Environment
We remove all garbage from the mountain to BC and this includes toilet waste from BC and ABC. This is then disposed of by the Chinese.

Expedition Summary

Lhakpa Ri in the background, taken from the Nth Col, 7045m

Start at:	Beijing, China
Finish at:	Kathmandu, Nepal
Duration:	30 days (single climb) 32 days (double peak)
Hotels:	2 nights Beijing, 7 nights Tibet,1 night Kathmandu
Train:	2 nights sleeper
Camping:	17 nights single tent
	(share available - itinerary subject to change)
Meals provided:	29 Breakfasts 22 Lunches 22 Dinners
Group Size:	6 minimum
Activity Split:	14 travel, 16 climbing program days

Surely this is the best way to begin the pilgrimage to Mount Everest… Arriving in Beijing, we have two days to explore the city before boarding our train. For those who would like to take more time in this amazing city feel free to arrive early - we can assist you with hotel bookings for a few free days before the rest of the group arrive.

We then take in the sights of Lhasa – including the former home of the Dalai Lama, the Potala Palace - as we steadily acclimatise. This will give you the best opportunity for success as well as enjoying your stay in Tibet. We drive in the comfort of Landcruisers to Everest Base Camp, to slowly acclimatise and allow our bodies to rest while still adjusting to the ever increasing altitude.

Our achievable four-day trek to ABC (Advanced Base Camp) is among stunning glaciers and peaks. Only a day-climb above ABC is Lhakpa Ri, a classically shaped peak that must be the worlds most achievable 7000m mountain. This expedition reverses the route taken by George Mallory on his 1921 reconnaissance expedition to Everest. There is then also the opportunity to climb the North Col of Everest, to 7050m, camp 1 on the way to the summit.

Is it right for me?

What to Expect

Trekking to ABC and climbing Lhakpa Ri and the North Col are appropriate goals for trekkers wanting to experience Beijing and Tibet, plus Lhasa and Everest’s north-side base camp and people seeking an accessible 7000m summit. This is a strenuous trek and climb, but with ‘basic’ technical difficulty and is one of the few 7000m peaks in the world accessible to someone who has never mountaineered before. A background in trekking at altitude is an advantage.
The trekking days are not especially long, you will need to be able to walk for 6-8 hours a day with a daypack. We have yaks and vehicles to carry our equipment, all the way to Everest ABC, so you can walk with your daypack (usually 5-8kg).
Summit day (usually 10-14hrs return) will require high levels of aerobic fitness, stamina and strength but you should be quite strong from your pre-trip preparations and your trekking during the previous weeks.

Skills, experience, fitness and determination required to succeed

Equipment:

The equipment on the list is required. So please bring it, and we suggest you do not skimp on poor quality.

Fitness:

We suggest a 6-9 month training program which focuses on cardio and endurance in the legs. You will not need hugely strong arms as the more muscle you carry up top the more it will slow you down and draw down oxygen that your legs will be wanting.
Fitness guidelines: you should be capable of covering around 50kms in approximately 6-9 hours on foot in hilly terrain.

Skills:

You need to master basic fixed rope techniques. Moving along a fixed rope with a jumar on all angles of terrain including vertical, passing knots and anchors using lanyards (or “cowstails”) to maintain safety very efficiently: practice, practice, practice. You will need efficient cramponing technique, the better you are at this the faster you will climb. There will be the opportunity to either brush up on previous skills or learn them prior to summit day.
Summary skills: profficiency in fixed rope skills; cramponing; familiarity with equipment.

Experience:

Ideally you would have done some personal rock climbing to give you familiarisation with ropes and you would own your own harness and jumar, with some practice of fixed line work at your local crag or in the trees in your back yard. A climb of a lower peak, around 6,000m will give you an idea of how you cope at altitude, but is not essential. But being comfortable living in a harsh environment is extremely important, so some experience of camping would help.

Summary experience: easy to moderate rock climbing; fixed rope proficiency; maybe a 6000m peak.

Dates, Prices & Includes

What’s included:

• All airport/train station transfers in Beijing, Lhasa and Nepal

Tents at Base Camp 5200m

•   Sightseeing tour in Beijing
•   Hotels in Beijing, Kathmandu & Lhasa, including breakfast
•   Hotel accommodation and all meals in Tibetan towns (other than Lhasa)
•   Trekking permits, peak fees and National Park entry fees
•   Individual tents and sleeping mats
•   sleeping bag and down jacket rental are included
•   Western guide(s), Sherpas, cooks, yaks, porters
•   Local staff insurance
•   Lhasa-Beijing train fare
•   Shared mountain tents, sleeping mats at high camps
•   Group kitchen/dining equipment and tents
•   All meals on trek and in base camps
•   Group climbing gear such as ropes, snow stakes, and rock and ice protection equipment

• The crew will carry a comprehensive medical kit including medical oxygen, Gammov bag and specialised drugs, as well as a satellite phone for emergency communications. Safety of the entire group is our first priority.

Mountain Designs VIP card

Members of Chessell Adventures Expeditions receive a Mountain Designs VIP 15-20% discount card valid from the time your deposit is received to the start of the expedition.

Mountain Designs manufactures high quality outdoor gear suitable for your expedition. You can visit one of Mountain Designs’ 35 outlets in Australia and New Zealand (see www.mountaindesigns.com for locations).

Your expedition cost does not include any of the following:

• International & home country domestic airfares, & excess baggage

• Departure taxes, Chinese Entry Visa

•   Nepalese visas: available on entry (Single entry USD $30. Transit visas are available (free) if you stay less than 3 days)
•   Nepal international departure tax (USD $25) included with e-tickets now
•   Tips for crew (USD $100- $150 usually)
•   Personal travel insurance (REQUIRED)
•   Changes in itinerary or break from the group
•   Personal expenses such as gifts, phone calls, laundry and drinks (including alcohol)
•   Meals and accommodation other than those specified
•   Lunch & dinner in Beijing, Kathmandu and Lhasa
•   Emergency evacuation due to any natural calamity or any unforeseen events
•   Optional trips and sightseeing tours

• Chinese visa

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Himalayas - Lhakpa Ri - North Col Expedition

Duration: 32 Days
Cost: $11,500 USD

View in your currency:

Trip Name & Code	Starting On	Trip Ends	Total Days	Total Cost	Deposit	Places	Book
11LRI - Nth Col Lhakpa RI/Nth Col expedition	12 April, 2011	13 May, 2011	32	$11,500 USD	$2,000 USD	12	Book Now
11LRI Lhakpa Ri only expedition	12 April, 2011	11 May, 2011	30	$10,500 USD	$2,000 USD	12	Book Now
11NCol North Col only expedition	12 April, 2011	11 May, 2011	30	$9,900 USD	$2,000 USD	12	Book Now