Ώ
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS ?
We
encourage you to ask many questions and share ideas. This seems to be the best
way for all of us to understand one another's expectations. Please don't hesitate to ask or
comment at anytime, as we enjoy discussion of our favorite subject: Mountains!
For
your convenience, we have organized the questions into the following categories.
Please "click" on an item below to go to that section. However, please
be sure to read, understand and ask further questions about ALL of the items
below. Thank you.
|
More Information |
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Leaders |
|
Sherpas |
|
Who are the organizers of
this expedition? |
|
Who are the
staff of this expedition? |
|
Experience Required |
|
Health and
Fitness |
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Must I carry a
heavy rucksack? |
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Fitness training before the expedition |
|
Training during the expedition |
|
Safety |
|
Who are the other team members? |
|
May I
bring my own climbing partner, group, and tell my friends? |
|
Who
will I be climbing with? |
|
Will I be sharing a tent or room? |
|
Meeting the other
team members prior to the expedition |
|
Speaking to previous and current members |
|
What is the
difference between "Full-Service"
and
"Basic-Climb"? |
|
What does the
"Full-Service" price include? |
|
What are the
'Full Service" expeditions on offer? |
|
What does the
"Basic-Climb" include? |
|
What are the
"Basic-Climbs" on offer? |
|
Joining the Team - Application Forms |
|
Payment |
|
Why are the prices so low? |
|
Discounts |
|
Agency Commissions and "Cash for signing-up your friends" |
|
Registration Deadline |
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Cancellation Policy |
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International Flights |
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Will someone meet me at the
airport? |
|
Visas |
|
Inoculations and Vaccinations |
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Insurance |
|
Risk |
|
Rescue |
|
Doctor |
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Where shall we stay and what shall we eat? |
|
In Kathmandu and Kashgar |
|
On
the road, during the trek, and in basecamp, all food and accommodation is
included. |
|
All high altitude meals and fuel are included in the full-service climb. |
|
We ask you to bring your own snacks. |
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What
equipment shall I bring? |
|
Weather
and Temperature |
|
Where shall I purchase my equipment? |
|
How do climbers handle their eyeglass/contact lens situation? |
|
How shall I
transport my personal equipment? |
|
Cargo Shipping |
|
Oxygen |
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What equipment do
the organizers bring? |
|
Communications: Website, Satellite Telephone, Walkie-Talkies, Laptop Computer |
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Will
there be a
website
dedicated to this expedition? |
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How much will it cost to use the
satellite telephone? |
|
How shall I purchase
my own satellite telephone? |
|
Tips and Gratuities |
|
Gifts of Equipment and Clothing |
|
Fundraising |
|
Charity
Fundraising |
|
Hosting a Lecture |
|
Finding
a Sponsor |
|
Employment |
|
"Leader Training"
and Internships
Please view our new
Leaders-In-Training
Website |
|
I would like to
be the team photographer, videographer, journalist, or author. |
|
Other
Expeditions |
back to top
Would
you like to contact us directly? :
SummitClimb@earthlink.net
*!*please
read carefully*!* An informed team member is the best possible team member.
Please carefully read through, understand, ask questions about, discuss and come
to agreement with all of the information in our websites, brochures,
applications and waiver materials before joining our team. We encourage you to
ask as many questions about the following points as possible, and invite
detailed discussion with you. We always love to talk about our favorite topic:
MOUNTAINS. Thank you, and we await your reply.
* How
shall I find out more about the expeditions?
Be sure to read and understand the specific web page for each trip, and read and
familiarize yourself with all of the information contained in the entire website,
application and waiver forms. Please be sure to study the
NEWS page, where we post updates and the latest information. Additionally, we encourage
dialogue, questions, and enjoy discussions of mountaineering. Please submit your
ideas, comments, suggestions, and questions to us by "clicking" the
CONTACT
link above. You can assist us to provide better information, to address your
concerns, to learn from one another, and to build the best team possible, in
order to meet your requirements, and to continue our long tradition of running
safe and successful expeditions.
Please email or telephone us at the addresses/numbers listed on the contact
page. We try to be as prompt as possible when replying to your email, and if you
ring us on the telephone when we are near a landline, we will do our best to ring you back immediately on
our very inexpensive global telephone line. back
*
Is this a guided trip? No. We are
friendly and highly experienced expedition leaders, climbers, and
organizers, with a 12+
year track record of building high-quality, safe, friendly and fun climbing
teams and safely placing our team members on the
summit and getting them back down succesfully.
Our leaders and
our top team of sherpas are some of the most qualified Himalayan mountain
specialists available. They are there to ensure (for our full-service members)
that you make it up to the summit and down safely. However, this is not a guided
expedition (although we are glad to assist you in hiring your own personal guide, sherpas,
etcetera),
and you are not expected to be a "client". This is a team effort, and members are
requested to try to share equally in the tasks, within their abilities;
including an equal chance at the summit for everyone in the team.
back
* Who will
be leading the expedition? During
the full-service expedition, you will benefit from the leadership provided by
Felix Berg, Jeffrey
Justman, Daniel
Mazur, Jon Christian Otto, Jay Reilly, or one of our other highly
experienced leaders. For example, one of our leaders, Daniel Mazur, has been a climber-leader-organizer of Everest, K2,
Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Manaslu, Shishapangma, Gasherbrum1,
Gasherbrum 2, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Lakpa Ri, Mustagata, and has reached the
summits of 7 "eight-thousand-metre peaks". Additionally he has lead
and organized 12 "eight-thousand-metre-peak expeditions".
He is a relaxed, friendly and well organized person, and a highly-skilled professional
with 25 years experience in getting
people to the summit and back down with the highest attention to safety. For more
about our leaders, please "click" on the
Leadership link above. Are you interested in becoming a leader? If so, please visit our new
Leaders-In-Training
Website. Thank you. back
* How can
I meet the leader(s) of the expedition?
We encourage you to meet with the expedition leader(s) during our Lecture
Tour. Each year our leaders tour the world and present slide and video
lectures detailing their recent climbs. Please enquire as to the possibility of
hosting or attending such a presentation in your area. In
addition, we encourage you to participate in one of our
Glacier
Schools, held during June, July, August, and September, where you can meet and climb together with the leader(s).
*
What sort of experience should I have?
Our goal is to work
together as a team so that all members reach the top safely. We do not expect
you to be expert (although some members are) but, nor are we a
climbing school (although we do conduct one or two days of training at the beginning of each
expedition). If you need fundamental technical
training, and snow and ice experience, we urge you to participate in our
GLACIER SCHOOL
held each June, July, August and September.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, members need to have experience
in being part of a team, working toward a common goal, and be ready to work with the group and be a good
"team-player".
For
our Glacier-School and all climbs, team
members are expected to be able to care for themselves and others in a winter-camping
and climbing environment. Obviously, when climbing the highest mountains in the
world, there are hazards
present, and members must have knowledge of roped rock and ice, and
winter-condition climbing and descending techniques (to protect
from falling down the mountain or into crevasses), including placing and retrieving anchors,
belaying, abseiling, and glacier rescue. It is also required that all members will have an
awareness of altitude sickness, HAPE, HACE, frostbite, and the recognition of their
symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Once traveling above advanced
basecamp, all members must be prepared to be roped to another team member at
all times. Neither solo climbing, nor descending, are allowed above
advanced basecamp.
For Ama
Dablam, please be able to
follow, ascend, and descend unlimited pitches of moderate scrambling and
occasional very short pitches up to British Severe or North American 5.6, while wearing your plastic boots
and gloves.
Below 7600
metres, you should be very fit and healthy, with
experience and knowledge of all winter climbing techniques.
Above 8000
metres,
you should have previously climbed on a high mountain.
* Where
can I obtain the experience I need to qualify?
If you do not already have the necessary experience, whether you are a beginner,
novice, intermediate or expert, we encourage you to join in.
1.
We
recommend that you begin with a look at our websites and literature, and read a
book about mountain climbing, to familiarize yourself with the basics of ropes,
anchors, clothing, etcetera (Freedom of the Hills is one such title). You
should attend a "climbing-class" an "adventure-centre" or a
"rock-gym" in your home town, where you can learn the basics of
"how-to-tie-in", handle the rope and harness and carabiner and
descender/abseil-rappel device, and see if you enjoy the thrill of safe climbing
and cautious descending on a rope. Or, perhaps you can have a climbing-friend
show you the basics.
2.
We
suggest you meet with us personally to view videos and slides and listen to
dialogues about our previous expeditions, and learn about our teams, staff, see
the equipment in action, study the routes, etcetera. Please visit our LECTURE
site to view our upcoming lecture schedule, or you are welcome to visit us
personally.
3.
Next, you may wish to join one of our
Glacier-Schools,
where you will be able to hire and purchase the necessary equipment
inexpensively, if
you do not have it already. You will have an opportunity to experience for
yourself: snow-camping, ice-climbing, glacier-travel, crevasse-rescue,
rope-anchors, rope-ascending, rope-descending, and summiting peaks of moderate
altitude (4000 metres, 12,000 feet) in glacial conditions.
4.
Now, if you are fit and healthy, you could be ready for a climb of a mid-size
Himalayan peak such as Pumori,
or Lakpa-Ri,
or Ama-Dablam,
or Mustagata,
where you can test your body's ability to handle altitude climbing, on a
month long true Himalayan-Style expedition.
5.
Finally, if you feel ready, you might want to try one of the world's fourteen
highest "8000 metre peaks", such as Everest,
Manaslu,
Shishapangma,
or Cho-Oyu
back
* How
healthy and fit do I need to be? To participate in this
expedition you must be a very
fit and active winter-walker or climber in good health.
Make sure you have physically trained yourself very thoroughly before joining
this climb of the highest mountains in the world. Prior to joining our group, please see
your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for
travel in extremes of altitude, and also for exotic locales. Note: You can
purchase all necessary medicines inexpensively with no doctor's prescription
in Kathmandu. back
*
Must I carry a heavy rucksack? No.
Our
expedition includes transport of all of your equipment from Kathmandu to basecamp or advanced basecamp, and returned to Kathmandu (but not in
the case of Mustagata, which is in China). While climbing on the mountain, we DO NOT ask
our full-service members to carry heavy group equipment (although it is an option if you really want
to), such as tents, rope, fuel, food, etcetera. We employ climbing sherpas,
and high-altitude porters, to carry group equipment and supplies. For a minimal expense, we can also provide personal
sherpas, and climbing-guides, to
individual members who wish to have their own private sherpa or personal
climbing-guide.
back
* What
sort of training will I need to pursue?
You should exercise regularly, with one hour or more of cardiovascular exercise
three or four times each week. It is a good idea to do one long-session of
training each week, for 2-3 hours. Also, you should be doing regular exercises
designed to train your entire body, such as rock-climbing, situps, pullups,
pressups, etcetera. You may wish to carry a light rucksack (less
than 10 kilos) during some of your sessions. The best form of training is
walking, running, and climbing up and down hills and crags carrying a light
rucksack. If you live in a very flat place, you may wish to walk and run up and
down stairs, viewing stands, bleachers, etcetera. Be sure to take at least one rest day each week. Please be careful not
to over-train, as each season, some members arrive with sprains and strains and
injuries they acquired from training-related injuries. We need you to be 100
percent healthy and fit when you arrive, so please be careful, cautious, and
very sensible as
you prepare. back
* Will
there be any training of the members and staff during the expedition? Yes,
upon arrival in Kathmandu, all members are required to participate in a day of
training and orientation. Once we reach basecamp or advanced basecamp, ALL full-service and basic-climb members are
again required to
participate in one to two days of training in the areas of climbing
techniques, glacier travel, rope fixing, ascending, descending, safety techniques, rappels
(abseils), belaying, medical equipment and procedures, communications
equipment, camping techniques and high-altitude cooking. For the expert and
beginner alike, it is important to review these techniques in order to enhance
skills, ensure safety-awareness, and learn to work
together as a team.
Please make sure you have studied the standard books, such as "Mountaineering,
Freedom of the Hills", and are comfortable and familiar with the necessary
climbing techniques, before joining our team. Thank you for being a well-prepared and safe team member!
back
* What
sort of safety precautions are to be taken?
BOTH full-service and basic expeditions are allowed access to our
extensive medical supplies, first-aid kits, medical oxygen, and a gamow bag in
case of emergency. Our methods and equipment used in expedition climbing and
trekking are time-tested over more than 20 years. We do not spare expense and
have a complete range of equipment and very in-depth knowledge and experience in
the use of lead and fixing ropes, rock-ice-snow anchors, rescue equipment,
communications equipment, full-climbing equipment for safe ascent and descent,
cookers, fuels, cooking equipment, proper and nutritious foods, hydration
supplies and techniques, a vast array of tents, high-altitude camping equipment,
and the best oxygen equipment available. We have more than 1000 kilos of the
highest standard equipment available in storage locally in Nepal, Tibet, and
China. Our philosophy is one of "It is better too bring too much than not
enough". We believe that this is one of the key factors in our long
tradition of successful ascents. back
*
Who are the other team members? Members are men and women from around the world
(ages 21 and up) who enjoy touring, walking, climbing, camping, and being
in the mountains with friends. Our youngest member was age 20, and our oldest 78
years of age. The average age is 36,
with many members in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. We have neither a lower nor an upper limit on
group size. The average group has probably been 12 people, with half of all
expeditions having less, and half having more members.
As we add members to our team, we hire more Sherpas to assist the group as a
whole, bring additional supplies and equipment, and add additional leaders,
assistant-leaders, or leaders-in-training. You may wish to study our
MEMBERS
link. PLEASE NOTE: We seek out members who can bring to this expedition a friendly spirit of
team-work, as high altitude climbing and trekking are all
about cooperation and working together and getting on with your team-mates.
back
* How
do we decide who we will be climbing and camping with during the expedition?
We have been told that our members and groups get along extremely well, and
members are pleased to learn how enjoyable our expeditions are, and often say
how pleasantly surprised they are by how well our team members and staff and leaders function
together. In Himalayan mountain climbing, it is common to use fixed lines, where groups of
as many as 9 people ascend and descend together, or "roped travel" where groups of
two, three, or four people move together. Each night, the groups will camp in an
established campsite where there are multiple expedition tents. Throughout the
climbing days and camping nights, our leaders and Sherpas will be climbing and
camping together with you at all times to help
set up tents and make sure you are staying healthy and safe and that things are going well. If you did not join together with your
climbing partner (many members do not), you will have ample opportunity, during
the training, approach/trekking, and first expedition days to determine who you
would prefer to climb with. Depending upon the variable speed with which
everyone is acclimatizing, these groups and partnerships can form and recombine several times
throughout our expedition, where the pace is slow and careful, and there is
enough time for multiple summit attempts.
back
*
Will I be sharing a room or tent with anyone?
In basecamp and advanced basecamp, WE PROVIDE YOUR OWN PERSONAL TENT,
WHICH DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SHARED. Most
members prefer a single room while in Kathmandu. Our trek-tents and
high-altitude tents are based on sharing. back
* How can I
meet the other members of the expedition?
Quite often, during our lecture tours, we organize meets of our team-members.
Please enquire as to the possibility of this in your area. Also, in our
GLACIER
SCHOOLS
past, present, future, and prospective members are able to meet and climb
together. Additionally, we
encourage you to contact members who have been with us before and will be going
with us again.
back
*
How can I speak with people who have been previous members and may be joining
again? Please refer to the
following lists of prior members, and contact them. Please send our best
regards when you do! Thank you very much.
"Click" here for:
Prior
Member List for UK
or Europe and World-citizens.
Prior
Member List for US-citizens.
When
you are finished, please return here to the "Questions and Answers"
page. Thank you.
back
*
Will there be Sherpas? Yes.
All of our full-service
expeditions include sherpas for the group. We hire
Sherpas and high altitude porters in a support capacity, and now have 23 of
these very experienced, friendly, strong, helpful, and loyal people on our
staff, including some of Nepal's best climbers and some of Nepal's only women Sherpas.
One of our lady sherpas just became the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit
of Ama Dablam. Many of our sherpas have personally assisted foreign climbers to
the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya, and Everest
as many as six times. During our expedition they will be carrying group equipment such as tents, rope,
food, and gas.
They are also there to assist in any rescues, so the other team members do not
have to give up their summit attempt to rescue a sick member.
back
For
those who do not wish to carry their own rucksack, or prepare their own meals
and drinks above advanced basecamp, we offer personal-private Sherpas (or, you
may wish to share one with another member), at
minimal additional cost. WE NOW OFFER THE OPTION OF HIRING A
"QUARTER-SHARE" OF A SHERPA, SO JUST DIVIDE THE FOLLOWING PRICES BY FOUR IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR HEAVY PERSONAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED UP AND DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN, BETWEEN CAMPS.
The cost of hiring a top-quality sherpa is as follows:
Nepal
personal-private Sherpa cost:
Pumori
and Ama Dablam: $1950,
Manaslu
and Dhaulagiri: $2450
Everest
from Nepal 8000 metre Sherpa:
$2950
"Super-Star"
Nepal Sherpa who has summited Everest: $3950
Tibet-China
personal-private Sherpa cost:
"Super-Star"
Nepal Sherpa who has summited Everest: $4950
Everest
from Tibet
(Highly Experienced Nepalese Top Quality 8000 metre Sherpa): $3950
Now,
in Tibet only, an "apprentice" Tibetan sherpa is available for: $2450,
£1390, 2105 for
Shishapangma and Cho Oyu, and $2950 for Everest.
Mustagata
(Tibetan "apprentice" sherpa only): $2450, £1390, 2105
Shishapangma
and Cho Oyu (Experienced Nepalese Sherpa): $3450,
£1957, 2964
The
above costs of hiring your own personal-private Sherpa include their equipment,
food, accommodation, clothing, permits, visas, transport, and insurance. The
above prices do not include oxygen, nor do they include gratuities and tips.
back
On Everest,
for maximum
safety and high performance,
we supply all of our summit group sherpas with
oxygen. Please remember, if you are
hiring your own personal sherpa to accompany you to the summit of Everest, you
will have to provide him or her with three bottles of Oxygen, a mask and
regulator, even if you choose to try it without.
back
* Who will
be organizing the expedition?
Your expedition is organized by our British, European, American, Nepalese,
Tibetan, and Chinese staff
working in your home-country as well as on-the-ground together with our
in-country agencies, government mountaineering offices, liaison officers, yak
drivers, porter leaders, Sherpas, individual staff, basecamp managers,
suppliers, and transport personnel. For example, one of our lead organizers is
the very experienced Jon Christian Otto, fluent Chinese
speaker, Tibet and China expert, with ten years
experience in Chinese Himalayan climbing. Jon is an excellent
communicator, an international diplomat, extremely well organized,
with superb attention to each and every detail. For more
about Jon, please "click" on the
Leadership link above. back
* Who
are the staff of the expedition?
Our staff are made up of more than 23 Sherpas, in addition to ethnic Tibetans,
Uighurs, Tadzhiks, and many others. In each Himalayan region we visit, we do our
best to hire the local indigenous people who inhabit that area. We believe in
trying to help out the local people. Our very loyal and hard-working staff is
made up of porters, yak-drivers, guides, basecamp managers, wait staff, kitchen
assistants, cooks, high-altitude porters, high-altitude climbing-sherpas, bus,
truck, and jeep drivers, local agents, tour-operators, and government liaison
officers and ministry officials. back
* What is the difference between "Full-Service" and
"Basic-Climb?
"Full Service"
expeditions feature almost every imaginable service.
"Basic-Climbs" feature the
lowest possible prices. Please read down to learn more:
* What does the
"Full-Service"
price include?
| 1. |
An
experienced Leader, from Britain, Europe or the US, who is an
accomplished Himalayan mountaineering professional; |
| 2. |
An
experienced Organizer who arranges all of the permits, liaison
officer, and all other services included in the trip; |
| 3. |
Climbing Sherpas for the
group. Personal-private Sherpas may be hired at minimal expense; |
| 4. |
Transport
to basecamp to/from Kathmandu, for you and equipment, including
domestic flights where applicable, and camping or lodge accommodation and meals on the
road and on trek; |
| 5. |
Yak,
porter, and plane (where applicable) transport
of all equipment from the road to and from advanced basecamp; |
| 6. |
Three meals per day
and plenty of hot drinks on the road, on trek, in basecamp
and advanced basecamp. Comfortable tables
and chairs and dining tent; |
| 7. |
Skillful basecamp
and advanced basecamp cooks; |
| 8. |
All mountain,
basecamp and advanced basecamp food; |
| 9. |
All permit fees,
including peak climbing fees, and liaison officers; |
| 10. |
Use of group gear and supplies: rope, ice,
rock, and snow anchor protection; basecamp and altitude tents; cookers, fuel,
high-altitude food,
walkie-talkie radios, satellite telephone, etcetera; |
| 11. |
Emergency equipment and supplies: medical oxygen, gamow
bag, basecamp medical kit, high-altitude medical kits, etcetera; |
| 12. |
In addition to our top-quality high-altitude tents, we
now provide an individual tent (1 tent per person) in basecamp. |
*
What is not included in the
"Full Service" price? International
flights, hotels and meals in Kathmandu, personal clothing and equipment
(sleeping bag, boots, ice axe, etc.), personal sherpas, personal climbing
oxygen, visas, vaccinations, health, travel and
rescue insurance, personal snack-energy food, gratuities, drinks on the road or
in town, expenses of a personal nature, personal changes to the pre-planned
itinerary, and expenses while traveling away from the group or leader. Not
included are unexpected expenses, such as expenses due to emergencies,
accidents, rescues, weather, itinerary changes, political situations, terrorism,
crime, transport delays, etc. This is not an exhaustive list, and is written
specifically for our full-service expeditions.
back
* What are the
"Full-Service"
expeditions on offer?
|
|
|
PUMORI,
"Nepal's Climb-able" 7000 Metre Peak, Next to Everest:
1
March to 1 April (32
Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Full
Service Cost: $4950, £2850, 4150.
|
|
|
|
|
EVEREST
- TIBET, The most
coveted peak.
4 April to 6 June,
64 days in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Full
Service Cost: $19950, £11450, 16850. |
|
|
|
|
LAKPA
RI,
"World's Easiest" 7000 Metre Peak, Next to Everest:
4
April to 27 April (24 Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Full
Service Cost: $4950, £2850, 4150.
|
|
|
|
|
MUSTAGH-ATA
- World's easiest 7500 metre peak:1July
to 23 July (23 Days in China) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Full
Service Cost: $3450, £1950, 2950.
|
|
|
|
|
AMA-DABLAM,
Asia's
Famous Rock - Snow - Ice Climb
1 October to 1 November (32 Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Full Service
Cost: $4450, £2550, 3750.
|
|
|
|
|
SHISHAPANGMA
- 14th
Highest, and one of the easiest 8000ers 4
September to 3 October, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (30 Days in Tibet
- Nepal).
Full
Service Cost: $7450, £4250, 6250. |
|
|
|
|
EVEREST
- NEPAL The original
first-ascent route.
4 April to 6 June,
64 days in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Full Service Cost: $29500, £16950, 24950. |
|
|
|
|
MANASLU - 8th Highest in the
World, and perhaps the easiest 8000er
1 April to 1 June, 2004 (62
Days). Full Service
Cost: $7950, £4550, 6750. |
|
|
|
back
* What does the
"Basic-Climb"
price include? Note:
the "Basic-Climb"
services are different in Nepal and Tibet and China.
| 1. |
An
experienced Coordinator from our company may be present during the
climb, perhaps leading one of our Full Service teams; |
| 2. |
An
experienced Organizer who arranges all of the permits, liaison
officer, and all other services included in the basic climbs; |
| 3. |
All permit fees,
including peak climbing fees, as well as liaison officers; |
| 4. |
For Basic
Climbs in Tibet: transport
to basecamp to/from Kathmandu, for your personal equipment only
(boots, ice axe, clothing, sleeping bag), including accommodation and
meals on the road; |
| 5. |
For Basic
Climbs in Tibet: yak transport
of your personal equipment only (boots, ice axe, clothing, sleeping
bag), from the road to and from advanced basecamp; |
| 6. |
Emergency equipment and supplies: medical oxygen, gamow
bag, basecamp medical kit, high-altitude medical kits, etcetera; |
| 7. |
Access to
team fixed ropes and camps (sites, not tents), coordinated with our own
"full-service"
climbing team. |
| 8. |
Other necessary services and supplies
(ie: extra yaks, trek services, basecamp meals, high altitude services and
equipment), may be purchased and hired at minimal expense. We offer
basic climb "packages" as noted on the specific website for each trip,
or, we can furnish individual items such as tents, stoves, gas, food,
etcetera. |
* I would like to purchase the
Basic Climb,
and a few extra services. How much are these?
We encourage you to "pick-and-choose" the services you would like us to provide.
When you study the Basic
Climb part of our website,
and go to each specific trip dossier, you will see a list of additional services
and the cost. back
* What are the
"Basic-Climbs"
on offer?
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PUMORI,
"Nepal's Climb-able" 7000 Metre Peak, Next to Everest:
1
March to 1 April (32
Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Basic Climb Cost:
$1750, £950, 1450.
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EVEREST
- TIBET, The most
coveted peak.
4 April to 6 June,
64 days in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Basic Climb Cost: $6950, £3950, 5850. |
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LAKPA
RI,
"World's Easiest" 7000 Metre Peak, Next to Everest:
4
April to 27 April (24 Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Basic Climb Cost: $3950, £2250, 3350.
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MUSTAGH-ATA
- World's easiest 7500 metre peak:1July
to 23 July (23 Days in China) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Basic Climb
Cost: $1690, £950, 1450.
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AMA-DABLAM,
Asia's
Famous Rock - Snow - Ice Climb
1 October to 1 November (32 Days) 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Basic Climb Cost:
$1450, £850, 1250.
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SHISHAPANGMA
- 14th
Highest, and one of the easiest 8000ers 4
September to 3 October, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (30 Days in Tibet
- Nepal).
Basic Climb Cost:
$5250, £3000, 4450. |
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EVEREST
- NEPAL The original
first-ascent route.
4 April to 6 June,
64 days in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Basic Climb Cost: $14500, £8350, 12250. |
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MANASLU - 8th Highest in the
World, and perhaps the easiest 8000er
1 April to 1 June, 2004 (62
Days).
Basic Climb Cost: $3250, £1850, 2750.
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back
* Please Remember that we also offer a
"Design Your Own Climb" option for the following expeditions:
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CHO
OYU - World's Most Accessible 8000 Metre
Peak
13 April to 29 May, and 31 August to 14 October,
57 Days in
Tibet,
2004, and 2005.
Basic Climb Cost:
$5250, £3000, 4450. |
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TIBET
7000 Metre Peaks - Easier: "Nojintangla"
9 April to 8 May, or 10
September to 9 October, 30 days in
Tibet, 2004, and 2005.
Basic Climb Cost: $3600, £2050,
3050. |
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back
*
How shall I join the team? Please
email us your postal address, email address, and
telephone number on the
CONTACT
page (which will remain
absolutely confidential, as we never share your postal nor email addresses/phone numbers
or any of your personal details with anyone).
Please print out your brochure from here on the website, then carefully read all of the
associated information here on the website, make sure you understand and discuss
it with us, then
complete, sign, and post the attached forms, and additional required documents
immediately. Include your 10 percent refundable deposit, passport photocopy
(name printed on reverse), 2 passport size photos, and proof of insurance.
Here are the application forms for you to print out, complete, and return:
Registration
Forms for UK
or Europe and World-citizens.
Registration
Forms
for US-citizens.
back
* How shall I
pay? We accept cheque,
electronic bank transfer, cash, traveler's cheque, etcetera. You can post us
cheques, pay in cash on arrival (initial payment required), send
a bank wire (details are in the registration forms), etcetera. If
you wish to pay via credit or debit card,
please go to the
CONTACT
page and scroll down to the bottom, where you will see a "Credit
Card" link.
Note when paying by credit card:
We do accept credit card payments via www.Paypal.com . Our
email address for Paypal is
himalayainc@earthlink.net
. If you are a new user of Paypal's cash transfer facilities, you most likely
will be subject to a low monthly maximum payment. Make yourself well aware of
this amount, prior to planning your payment schedule, so that your payment is
not delayed. If it is, your membership in our expedition could be delayed and
cancelled. Please don't let this happen to you. back
*
Why are the prices of these trips low?
We are dedicated to a philosophy of encouraging mountaineering by keeping costs
to a minimum and welcome team members who are willing to share in achieving our
objectives. All of our European, British, or
US staff and leaders began their Himalayan climbing careers as paying team
members. Thus, we never charge more for a trip than we would be willing to pay
ourselves. We have excellent and generous relations with the government authorities who
regulate the world of mountain climbing permits, liaison officers, yak drivers,
etcetera. Additionally, our staff of more than 23 Sherpas are very long term,
loyal, hard-working, and honest employees. We take good care of our staff and
their families, and they work for a fair wage in return for steady employment. We
help our Sherpa's families in many ways, and have been building schools and
hospitals in their villages, and helping to protect their local environments for
many years. Our agents and local on-the-ground operators are
also very long term employees and they provide services at a minimal cost, in
return for a fair-market-compensation and our return business,
year-after-year. We receive corporate
sponsorship and we do not print expensive colour brochures.
This is not a luxury expedition.
Our equipment and methods are basic, simple, and proven over more than 25
Himalayan expeditions. We re-use our equipment and re-hire our staff over many
expeditions. Our food is well prepared, abundant, and nutritious, but we do not
use expensive imported foods. back
*
When must I decide? Please
post your 10% refundable deposit now, to reserve your membership in our team. If
you decide not to go, we send your money back. Complete your payment two months
prior to departure. back
*
What if I decide to cancel my membership? If
you decide to cancel your membership, your payment will be refunded according to
the refund policy contained in the registration forms. We urge you to purchase
cancellation insurance whenever possible.
*
Is there a chance this trip will be cancelled?
We have not cancelled a trip before. If we decide to cancel the trip,
100 percent of your payment shall be
returned. back
*
May I have a discount? Yes,
and you may combine these discounts for LARGE SAVINGS. We offer the following
discounts:
5%
for returning members;
5%
for groups of 2-3 people, 10% for 4-8 people,
15% for 9 or more;
Leader
Training Discounts for aspiring expedition leaders. Please scroll down to: Leaders-in-training.
5%
cash "referral-fee" for
telling your friends, and larger commissions for recommending a group, or
multiple referrals in the same calendar year;
5%
trip-combination
discounts. For example, climb Lakpa-Ri, then climb Everest, and receive a 5%
discount on both!
10% Physician's discount. We encourage medical doctors to join our teams, and
offer a ten percent discount (in addition to those mentioned above). We
understand that doctors who join us are climbers, and will be focused on
ascending and descending the mountain safely, rather than staffing some kind of
"base-camp surgery". All of our leaders are highly skilled and experienced in
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of altitude related illness and general
illness and injury. However, it is sometimes reassuring to have a medical
professional as a team member, in order to provide an occasional consultation. back
*
May I bring a climbing partner, group, and tell my friends and colleagues? Yes,
please do so. We offer a 5% discount for groups of 2 to 3, 10% for 4 to 8, 15%
for 9 to 15, and 20% for 16 or more. We also offer a 5% cash
"finders-fee", paid to you for each of your friends and colleagues who
become a member of our team. back
* If
I tell my friends or a lot of people about your services, am I entitled to a
cash payment or a large
commission? Yes.
Often, someone is well-placed as a guide, lecturer, eminent community figure,
travel agent or tour operator, etcetera. We are glad to offer increasing
commissions based on multiple referrals to any of our various trips and classes
in any calendar year:
5%
commission for the first 1,2, and 3 people who you refer;
10%
commission for the next 4-8 people you refer;
15%
for the next 9-15 people;
20%
for 16 or more.
If you were
able to send us numerous people during any calendar year, you could earn upwards
of $30,000,
£19,500 (GBP), 28,690 (Euro).
When you send a referral to us, we
note your name as the person who originally recommended the person. Even if the
individual chooses to participate years later (or in several expeditions) you
still receive your commission(s). This is our way of extending our gratitude and
building trust, ensuring you that you will receive your commission now, and long
into the future.
back
*
What is the best way to purchase my international air ticket? We can recommend
agencies and airlines that offer the lowest prices and best service.
Flights
from UK or Europe to
Kathmandu currently cost £450-£700
(GBP), or
665-1000 (EURO).
Most flights go over the Persian Gulf. The most normally used airlines are Gulf
Airlines, Qatar Airlines, or occasionally Thai Airlines. It takes 1 or two days to fly there, and
one or two days to fly back. Many Europeans prefer to fly to London first, to
take advantage of the inexpensive flights. Flying from London, to begin, may we recommend you contact
Toby or anyone at Trailfinders on 0207
9383939. Also, please ring the
Flight Centre in London on: 08705 666627, or 0207 9356669.
Please also try Jane and Marion at PIA-Bristol: 01179 272788. At the time
of enquiry and also during the booking process, please be sure to request a
"sport-baggage allowance", by carefully explaining what you will be
doing out in the Himalaya, and why you need the allowance. Airlines often allow
extra weight (perhaps 15 additional kilos) on the outbound portion of the
flight, but you have to make a special request for this. The documentation of
this allowance may take the form of a letter from the baggage officer at the
airlines, or the allowance may be printed on the ticket itself (the best form of
documentation by far). Note,
please avoid "Royal Nepal Airlines" fraught with plane, baggage, and computer
problems, members who use this airline are perpetually frustrated. Please do not
let your travel agent sell you any tickets on "Royal Nepal". In
addition, we encourage you to avoid flying through Delhi, India. This is a very
confusing place, with a likely loss of baggage, flight delays, and generally
only served by the most unreliable airlines (even if the same airlines may
perform adequately in other parts of the world).
Flights
from US to
Kathmandu currently cost
$1100-$1500. The be