Girlfalldown 0 #1 February 1, 2005 I'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. I was checking out a book on some long hiking trips and this one seemed like the one I'd want to do the most. Have any of you ever done it? Climbed it? Hiked it? Visited? Whatever? I'd like to hear your stories and how you went about it like if you went with a legit company and traveled with a group of people you didn't know of if you threw a bunch of friends together. Any info would be appreciated. This is all very raw thought so I don't have dates set or even an idea of what I'm doing here.... Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #2 February 1, 2005 QuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. Might want to rethink that: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/index.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vdschoor 0 #3 February 1, 2005 QuoteQuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. Might want to rethink that: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/index.html Wouldn't that make it even more exciting? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #4 February 1, 2005 QuoteQuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. Might want to rethink that: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/index.html Bummer for me but hopefully it's a good thing for them. I still want to go. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #5 February 1, 2005 QuoteQuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. Might want to rethink that: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/index.html SHIT!! Looks like a nice time to take up knitting or something closer to home...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #6 February 1, 2005 Quote SHIT!! Looks like a nice time to take up knitting or something closer to home... Are you kidding? I could put my eye out with one of those needles. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #7 February 1, 2005 I have friends who have done it. The overall concensius was that it was cool, but the fact that it has become a "tourist" attraction is somewhat bothering. Although there are much more challenging climbs, it is still an extreme event that can be performed in extreme conditions. Not all companies seem to take the risks too seriously, and it has resulted in deaths. If you want to treck the Himalayas while limitting the risks as well as the "tourist group" factor, I would recommend getting a good guide in Nepal and trecking the Dolpo plateau. Totally deserted, you will not see another person aside from the occasional buddhist hermit for weeks, and will experience a one of a kind experience. My €.02 "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #8 February 1, 2005 QuoteI have friends who have done it. The overall concensius was that it was cool, but the fact that it has become a "tourist" attraction is somewhat bothering. Although there are much more challenging climbs, it is still an extreme event that can be performed in extreme conditions. Not all companies seem to take the risks too seriously, and it has resulted in deaths. If you want to treck the Himalayas while limitting the risks as well as the "tourist group" factor, I would recommend getting a good guide in Nepal and trecking the Dolpo plateau. Totally deserted, you will not see another person aside from the occasional buddhist hermit for weeks, and will experience a one of a kind experience. My €.02 Thanks Frenchy. That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I don't want touristy but I do want to survive. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #9 February 1, 2005 I can provide you with one of my friend's info if you'd like. He spent 3 months in the Dolpo, shooting a documentary on an isolated buddhist monastry (only 1 monk left, 3 days walking from the nearest village). He'd be happy to provide you with more info I'm sure. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #10 February 1, 2005 QuoteI can provide you with one of my friend's info if you'd like. He spent 3 months in the Dolpo, shooting a documentary on an isolated buddhist monastry (only 1 monk left, 3 days walking from the nearest village). He'd be happy to provide you with more info I'm sure. Yes please! -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marz 0 #11 February 1, 2005 Some lawyers at my wife's firm trekked to base camp and made a presentation on it. Apparently, it's an intense trip requiring lots of hiking at high altitude (Base camp is at 5340 meters = 17,519 feet), but it's a unique experience. If you google "Everest base camp trek" you will find companies that offer the trip. Good luck with that!!! I would love to do something like that some day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #12 February 1, 2005 You don't have to climb the highest mountain for me.Wouldn't you rather BASE Norway ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Girlfalldown 0 #13 February 1, 2005 Quote Wouldn't you rather BASE Norway ? Well yeah of course I want to BASE Norway and I most certainly will, eventually. I just got really into this book I was reading on Everest and the hiking sounds challenging to me. Not that Norway isn't. I dreamt about Everest last night. -------------- (Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #14 February 1, 2005 No, you do not have my persmission to go. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #15 February 1, 2005 I would also highly reccomend you look at the Cordilla Blanca ringe in Peru. It is very like Nepal with the high peaks and trekking options without the political strife and with fewer tourists. I went there several years ago to climb some big mountains and loved it. There are an unlimited number of high mountains (as high as 22,000') of varying difficulty to climb. It's also cheaper to get there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakbrother 0 #16 February 1, 2005 QuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. I was checking out a book on some long hiking trips and this one seemed like the one I'd want to do the most. Have any of you ever done it? Climbed it? Hiked it? Visited? Whatever? I'd like to hear your stories and how you went about it like if you went with a legit company and traveled with a group of people you didn't know of if you threw a bunch of friends together. Any info would be appreciated. This is all very raw thought so I don't have dates set or even an idea of what I'm doing here.... Thanks! (Deaths on Everest)/(Successful Everest Summit climbs) = 37% (death rate even higher for female climbers). . www.freak-brother.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #17 February 1, 2005 Everest would be cool, but 1) Even very experienced mountaineers die there every year. 2) Doesn't matter how good you are you could easily die or be permanently injured. Id rather dive w/ great white sharks, skydive from 140,000 feet, BASE jump the Eiffel tower, that sort of thing. Mountain climbing is cool and I have a goal to climb a serious mountain here in CO in the winter, but the rush is more from accomplishment than from the rather boring actual climbing. I think that most people climb Everest for bragging rights. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,991 #18 February 1, 2005 One former girlfriend of mine tried to climb both Everest and K2. She successfully climbed several others including Gasherbrum, Kanchenjunga etc. It was scary to talk to her afterwards - she'd lose around 50 IQ points. (She had them to spare, fortunately.) She was buried in an avalanche once, and had several porters die on her. She wrote a book on it - "K2: one woman's quest for the summit" which you can get on Amazon if you're interested. Another friend of mine goes off regularly to climb Whitney, Shasta, mountains in Ecuador etc and she has good luck with those. Climbs/hikes like that are a good way to start out. There's some basic rope, axe and crampon skills to learn, and the lower local mountains are a good place to learn it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douva 0 #19 February 1, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteI'm thinking about doing a 3 week Mount Everest trip. Might want to rethink that: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/index.html Wouldn't that make it even more exciting? Climbing a killer mountain in the midst of a revolution? Count me in! This has "based on a true story" written all over it.I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFKING 4 #20 February 2, 2005 Have you read "Into Thin Air", by Jon Krakauer ? First-person account of one of the deadliest Everest attempts ever.....he puts you right there in the moment. One of the most gripping books I've ever read. Don"When in doubt I whip it out, I got me a rock-and-roll band. It's a free-for-all." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflycracker 0 #21 February 2, 2005 nerdgirl@dropzone.com has done the base camp deal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #22 February 2, 2005 McKinnley is on my list of things to do before I die. Shasta is up there too in difficulty, and they are not international in travel. I have lots of backpacking gear already, but to outfit me to do McKinnley would still be probally $2500-3000 if I was to solo it without travel. Everest Base camp treks I've heard were going for 5k+ for gear, porters and everything else plus travel. If you have the money to burn I know one of the former execs at work did a K2 base camp tour thing and was so impressed by it. Turns out all he had to carry was hisown clothes and little things. Tourist all the way with Wine, and all the luxuries of home waiting for him at camp. Places you can look into if you are just wanting to get out and experience things... Peru. From all accounts its a wonderful warm up spot if you want to do anything like K2 or Everest. Death rate here is pretty low. Alaska. If you wanted to get lost this is the place to do it. I've read lots of articles from people that went entire summers never seeing anyone else except when they went into town for supplies. I saw something recently on Kayaking in Baja that looked cool. North/South Pole tours. You can sometimes get one of these tours... middle of nothing except a whole lot of scienctists. I'd personally reccommed some nice warm up hikes through the Cascades and the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. My ex-roommate did a pretty simple 30 mile loop and was blown away at how rough it was. We've each done multiple 50+ mile trips covering 10+ in a day and he was just blown away by how rough it is compared to some stuff in CO, NW, WV, and PA that he's done.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
climbnjump 0 #23 February 2, 2005 QuoteMcKinnley is on my list of things to do before I die. Shasta is up there too in difficulty, and they are not international in travel. I have lots of backpacking gear already, but to outfit me to do McKinnley would still be probally $2500-3000 if I was to solo it without travel. Um, you probably already know this, but McKinley is a climb, not a hike. While the West Buttress route isn't really a technical climb, it is still a serious undertaking due to crevasse hazards, weather and of course, the altitude. While the summit is only 20,320 ft, this altitude in Alaska is the equivalent of about 23,000 ft in the Himalayas due to the difference in latitude. This difference in latitude also means that McKinley is routinely (but not always, of course) colder than the higher peaks in the Himalayas. Most people will use up the better part of three weeks on this climb due to the time it takes to acclimatize as you ascend. Base camp on the Kahiltna glacier is about 7000 ft, but you'll descend to about 6000 ft to turn the corner to head up the glacier for the approach. This works out to about a 14,000 ft vertical gain on the climb if one makes it to the summit. But most folks have to double carry at least part of the climb, so total vertical gain will be closer to 22,000 ft. If by solo, you mean "no one else with you", the rangers in Talkeetna will "greatly discourage" you if you have a good climbing resume and it is possible that they might not even let you on the mountain if you don't. But the views ARE worth the effort (that is, if the weather ALLOWS you to actually SEE the views). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites VanillaSkyGirl 6 #24 February 2, 2005 Shannon, I agree 100% with everything that Derek posted, especially that many people do it for the bragging rights. Not that this is why you would want to do it at all, but you should look into other options before Everest. It would be good if you learned how to really mountain climb the right way and began to climb other mountains before deciding upon this one. I know that you are thinking of mountain climbing, but have you ever tried rock climbing? It can be as challenging as you'd like and is more easily accessible than Kathmandu's Everest. Lead climbing 5.11, 5.12 + can be so physically demanding (yet rewarding!)...so dynamic, yet graceful. Personally, I've done pretty ballsy lead climbing very early as a climber and loved every minute of my climbing life (I haven't climbed in years). When I have some time and have become skilled with setting gear for big wall climbing, I am definitely trying some big wall climbing in the future, myself. There is so much to rock climbing...different disciplines, similar to skydiving, so look into it, girl. As for the "touristy" Everest journeys, it would seem that there could possibly be many incompetent people (looking for bragging rights) on these trips. This quote by Phreezone sums up what what I would be worried about: QuoteIf you have the money to burn I know one of the former execs at work did a K2 base camp tour thing and was so impressed by it. Turns out all he had to carry was hisown clothes and little things. Tourist all the way with Wine, and all the luxuries of home waiting for him at camp. Now, that's just silly. Shannon, you should go into the rock climbing forum on here and post more detailed questions there about how to begin this quest to climb Everest someday, if that is what you have your heart set on. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites linny 1 #25 February 2, 2005 Forget the tallest mountain in the world...... most all those treks are super commercialized now anyway........ go to Chittwan National Forest in Southern Nepal to go Rhino stalking. Now THAT is a rush!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #24 February 2, 2005 Shannon, I agree 100% with everything that Derek posted, especially that many people do it for the bragging rights. Not that this is why you would want to do it at all, but you should look into other options before Everest. It would be good if you learned how to really mountain climb the right way and began to climb other mountains before deciding upon this one. I know that you are thinking of mountain climbing, but have you ever tried rock climbing? It can be as challenging as you'd like and is more easily accessible than Kathmandu's Everest. Lead climbing 5.11, 5.12 + can be so physically demanding (yet rewarding!)...so dynamic, yet graceful. Personally, I've done pretty ballsy lead climbing very early as a climber and loved every minute of my climbing life (I haven't climbed in years). When I have some time and have become skilled with setting gear for big wall climbing, I am definitely trying some big wall climbing in the future, myself. There is so much to rock climbing...different disciplines, similar to skydiving, so look into it, girl. As for the "touristy" Everest journeys, it would seem that there could possibly be many incompetent people (looking for bragging rights) on these trips. This quote by Phreezone sums up what what I would be worried about: QuoteIf you have the money to burn I know one of the former execs at work did a K2 base camp tour thing and was so impressed by it. Turns out all he had to carry was hisown clothes and little things. Tourist all the way with Wine, and all the luxuries of home waiting for him at camp. Now, that's just silly. Shannon, you should go into the rock climbing forum on here and post more detailed questions there about how to begin this quest to climb Everest someday, if that is what you have your heart set on. Good luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linny 1 #25 February 2, 2005 Forget the tallest mountain in the world...... most all those treks are super commercialized now anyway........ go to Chittwan National Forest in Southern Nepal to go Rhino stalking. Now THAT is a rush!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
