North Col Mount Everest Training Expedition – Tibet

General overview

The North Col on Everest is 7000 meters/23,000 feet high. It is a spectacular location with incredible views and on main climbing route for Everest from Tibet. The North Col is located on a high snow ridge above advanced basecamp. We teach you everything you need to know to climb to the North Col in special training sessions in base camp. The climbing could be best described as steep walking and easy/moderate climbing with climbers attached to fixed ropes. The dates we have chosen run in conjunction with the exciting spring Everest climbing season. Climbing up to the North Col could qualify you for climbing Everest

LhakpaRi is a pyramidal trekking peak at roughly the same height as the North Col, located across from Everest on the East Rongbuk Glacier.Climbing LhakpaRi could qualify you for climbing Everest

Itinerary

1) Arrive in Kathmandu, 1350 meters (4,429 feet). Go to hotel
2) Kathmandu – Go to Chinese embassy for visa, team orientation meeting, purchasing, packing, visit temples, city tour, shopping. Stay at hotel.
3) Early morning drive to Rusuwaghadi at 2557 meters (8,389 feet). Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa or if you are coming from a city in China, arrive in Lhasa on this day.
4) Enter Tibet, drive to Gyirong at 2700 meters (8,858 feet) Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Rest in Lhasa, tour Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, the most sacred building in all of Tibet.
5) Rest and acclimatization in Gyirong. Walk around the local hills. Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Drive to Shigatse. Rest and acclimate. Tour the surrounding area. Visit the 15th century Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest active monastic institution in Tibet.
6) Drive to Tingri, 4300 meters 14,108 feet. Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Drive to Tingri. Rest and acclimate, tour the surrounding area.
7) Rest & acclimatization in Tingri. Explore surrounding hills and beautiful meadows. See the restoration of the historical Buddhist temples. Stay at hotel.
8) Drive to Chinese basecamp, 5200 meters (17,060 feet). Camp.
9) Rest and acclimatization in Chinese base. Organize equipment and supplies.
10) Acclimatization hike near Chinese base. Meet the Lama and participate in a Puja ceremony.
11) Rest & acclimatization in Chinese base. Organize equipment and supplies.
12) Walk with the yaks halfway to interim camp, 5800 meters (19,029 feet).
13) Rest and acclimatization at interim camp.
14) Rest and acclimatization in interim camp.
15) Walk with the yaks to advanced base camp (ABC) at 6400 meters (20,9997 feet).
16) Training/rest day in ABC.
17) Training/rest day in ABC.
18) Climb partway up the North Col and return, camp in ABC.
19) Climb to the top of the North Col 7,000 meters (22,966 feet). Return to ABC.
20) Extra day in case of weather, acclimatization, etc.
21) Walk down to Basecamp.
22) Early morning drive to Gyirong. Stay at hotel.
23) Early morning drive to Kathmandu. Stay at hotel.
24) In Kathmandu. Final packing, celebration, saying goodbye to new friends.
25) Fly home. Thank you for joining our Mount Everest Training Climb
LhakpaRi add-on
21) Rest Day in ABC.
22) Climb to the summit of LhakpaRi and return to ABC.
23) Extra Day.
24) Walk down to basecamp.
25) Early morning drive to Gyirong. Stay at hotel.
26) Early morning drive to Kathmandu. Stay at hotel.
27) In Kathmandu. Final packing, celebration, saying goodbye to new friends.
28) Fly home. Thank you for joining our LakpaRi add-on.

Good to know

Leadership

Leadership: During your full-service expedition, you will benefit from the leadership provided by David O’Brien David has climbed in the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas as well as in the Alps. He has led expeditions in the high arctic island of Spitsbergen and has a liking for the cold and remote having crossed Greenland by ski. He has organized and led overland trips in Asia and North Africa.

David has been climbing and working with Summit Climb since 2006 and is a thoughtful, considerate leader. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and lives in London with his partner and child.

Sherpas: We employ some of Nepal, Tibet, and the Karakorum’s best local mountaineers and Sherpas to assist team members in realizing their summit goals. Our friendly and loyal high altitude climbing staff has supported teams to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya.