Climb Mt. Everest with Berg Adventures – Trip Description

Everest – South Col Route

Everest is still the ultimate summit for any mountaineer. The accomplishment of standing on its apex is not diminished by recent popularity. No one can climb Everest for you, and, despite what some believe, terms such as “short-roping” do not apply. This is a mountaineer’s climb, demanding skill and self-awareness. Our team will take on this challenge in a competent and focused manner, using the collective experience of elite Sherpa high-altitude mountaineers under Wally Berg’s leadership.

Each of our team members will benefit from the same level of support and equipment, and each will have the goal of standing on the top of Everest. We do not believe in the “tiered” pricing for various categories of team membership that has become the hallmark of the strictly commercial expeditions to Everest in recent years.

With our team, each member will have superb support from the most experienced Sherpas climbing on the mountain. Oxygen systems will be the finest available, and the supply of oxygen for each team member will be more than adequate for a strong summit attempt and for emergency backup if necessary. All BAI climbing Sherpas and guides are given plenty of oxygen and are required to use it.

We will approach the climb with all the dedication, humility and organization necessary to succeed on the highest summit on Earth.

Members of our spring Everest expeditions will arrive in Nepal in late March and acclimatize while enjoying a gradual trek up the Khumbu Valley to Base Camp. The Berg Adventures Sherpa staff will have left long before of us and when we arrive, they will have already established our Base Camp and will be hard at work building the route through the Icefall.

Post-monsoon/Autumn Expeditions

Berg Adventures is happy to offer unique post-monsoon expeditions during the autumn climbing season in addition to our spring expeditions. Autumn expeditions are quite different from spring expeditions because we have the world’s highest mountain almost entirely to ourselves. Wally Berg is a strong supporter of fall expeditions. In fact, he made his first climb to the Everest summit on October 9th, 1992. Laurie Skreslet, the first Canadian to stand atop Everest, also completed his ascent in the fall, reaching the summit on October 5th, 1982.

Climbing Everest’s South Col route during the post-monsoon season requires the same time, dedication and effort as do springtime ascents. In 2003 Berg Adventures climbers entered the Khumbu Icefall on September 14th and were on the South Summit November 2nd. In 2006 we began our trips into the Icefall on September 13th and had the great satisfaction of reaching the summit five weeks later.

 

Making Your Everest Dream a Reality

Proper preparation and organization, as well as choosing a team that is right for you, are critical. We have the resources and time to make your Everest dream a success, and the patience and expertise to help you navigate the road to the top of the world. If you can begin now to prepare yourself physically and mentally for this expedition and if you have up to two months available, from late August to late October, you can become a member of a strong BAI Everest team.

If your Everest goals are further down the road, please call us to discuss a strategy that will get your training and plans headed in the right direction.

If Everest is something that you’ve always dreamed of, but you don’t know if it is for you, please call our office to schedule a telephone appointment with Wally Berg. He can help you answer the questions you may have: Is Everest right for me? Am I right for Everest? What should be my next step? When is “my time”?

 

Khumbu Icefall / Western Cwm Expedition

If you’ve always dreamed of climbing Everest, but you do not believe it is within your abilities, your budget or if you can’t find the time, you should consider our Western Cwm expedition which will take you through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp II. This is also a great training expedition for Everest. For more information visit our Western Cwm Expedition contact our office.

Qualifications and Training

At over 29,000ft/8,840m, Everest requires climbers to have a very high level of fitness. Begin training for the expedition as early as possible before departure to ensure that you are in top condition. Overall fitness, with a focus on increasing endurance, is important to your success. Running, fast walking, swimming, cycling, soccer, basketball, and other sports can be ideal for aerobic training. You will want to practice hiking with a weighted pack (approximately 40lbs), going uphill as much as possible. Weight your pack with jugs of water during training ascents. By dumping out the water before coming down, you can reduce the strain on your knees.

Conditions

Everest is extreme, but it can be a surprisingly pleasant place to camp and live during the spring and fall seasons when we will be there. Life at base camp is simple, but you will be well cared for by the best cooks and support staff around. That said, weather conditions are highly variable on Everest – from warm, sunny days to cold, windy and snowy ones. Experience camping at high altitudes and in low temperatures is necessary before you go because it teaches you how to adjust your gear and manage your body temperature. Selection of the proper equipment for climbing and camping on Everest is imperative. We are certainly happy to help you find the gear that will best protect you from the elements and will help you manage your clothing and gear choices on the mountain too. Everest is uncompromising, but being well prepared will help you to appreciate just how spectacular it is.