Climb Ama Dablam with Berg Adventures – Trip Description

For fifty years the best mountaineers from around the world have trod under this gem as they approached Everest, Lhotse and the other great peaks of the Khumbu Region of Nepal. Its graceful lines of rock, ice, and steep fluted snow has pulled at each of them. Four of the six highest mountains in the world ring this enchanted valley, but it is Ama Dablam that defines the core of an alpinist's dreams: The image of this striking peak is universally known to lovers of mountains.

Our route on Ama Dablam will be the Southwest Ridge, as it was climbed by the first ascent team led by Barry Bishop in 1961. This classic route is technically challenging. Berg Adventures guides and Sherpas will lead the route and fix lines where they are useful. We will approach Base Camp and the climb slowly, enjoying the Khumbu region and allowing our bodies to acclimatize. Our Ama Dablam expeditions always ascend one of the region’s 6000 “ Trekking Peaks ” in preparation for the Ama Dablam climb. When we move through Camps I, II and III on our route we will be climbing through some of the most spectacular, varied and aesthetic terrain a mountaineer could hope for. This demanding route requires commitment and skill, and offers the thrills of airy exposure.

Our Approach

Our strategy is to summit a nearby major peak in preparation – both in terms of climbing and acclimatization – before attempting Ama Dablam. In 2002, our team chose Lobuche (6118 m/ 20,075ft) as our first climb. Our guides will assess each expedition team and determine an appropriate peak as a “warm-up” climb.

Qualifications

Competent alpine ice-climbing technique on slopes to 55 degrees and experience climbing on mixed terrain with heavy packs. Good basic rock climbing skills. Ama Dablam is a classic expedition-style climb that requires focus, flexibility and determination over a period of more than 4 weeks.

Our Guides

Berg Adventures Guides have years of experience guiding in the Himalayas and around the world.  They will show you a love of the Sherpa people and the Everest region, they will motivate you, and they will offer impeccable expedition organization and sound, experienced judgement throughout your climb.

Trip Report

We had 100 per cent success on Ama Dablam in 2002 – it was an incredible, aesthetically pleasing, technically challenging and fun expedition. We had six climbers reach the summit at the same time. Our approach of climbing Lobuche first really improved our acclimatization. We’d be happy to put you in contact with some of our 2002 climbers if you’d like to discuss BAI’s Ama Dablam expedition.

Internet Dispatches

Your adventure on Ama Dablam will be cybercast to the Internet via satellite phone. Daily dispatches will be posted on the Web on BergAdventures.com. These dispatches will not be a forum for personal messages but will be a great way for your group to share stories and photographs of your adventures while “on the scene”. In the past, our cybercasts have been used by family, friends and supporters to track the progress of our groups, by classrooms to learn about the wild places we visit, and by local newspapers to report stories of interest. Check our Cybercast Archives for details from last year’s expedition.

View our previous Ama Dablam expedition dispatches.