It is no surprise that Himalayan peaks have drawn adventurers, climbers and cultural enthusiasts for nearly 200 years. The stark and rugged terrain, so entwined with the culture of local Sherpa people, offers such powerful experiences that Himalayan travel stands in a class by itself. While many think of travel to the Himalayas as only high altitude climbing or trekking, this is somewhat of a misconception as many beautiful ascents can be made with limited climbing experience. This expedition offers both climbers and trekkers an exciting opportunity to enter the world of the mighty Himalayas.
In order to acclimatize prior to climbing Island Peak (20,305ft/6,189m), we offer a trek through the Himalayan Khumbu. This expedition offers wonderful trekking through the glorious Khumbu region and any fit enthusiast is welcome to join the team. All team members will have the opportunity to summit Kala Pattar (18,187ft/5,545m), a wonderful location to view and photograph Mt. Everest, then we head for a visit to Everest Base Camp. While climbing team members make the summit attempt of Island Peak, trekking only team members will spend 2-3 days walking in the stunning valleys around Island Peak.
The route to Kala Pattar takes us along the path to Everest Base Camp. We travel through the renowned village of Namche Bazaar and the revered monastic community of Tengboche. From the summit of Kala Pattar we can snap excellent photographs of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The Kala Pattar trek serves both as an introduction to the warmth of the Sherpa community and as an acclimatization period preceding the ascent of the great pyramid, Island Peak.
The trek to Island Peak also walks us through the countryside, where we partake in Nepalese and Tibetan cultures as they have existed for centuries. The journey offers some of the most striking scenery in the Khumbu via the enchanting village of Dingboche. Filled with Buddhist shrines, this village of stone charms our path to the mountain. The summit of Island Peak stands adjacent to the South Face of Lhotse, one of the world's largest ice walls, and offers stunning views of beautiful Ama Dablam and Makalu. It is an excellent opportunity to participate in and fully experience a Himalayan mountain climbing expedition.
With the assistance of Alpine Ascents' guides, a fit and enthusiastic advanced beginner with basic climbing skills can successfully reach the spectacular summits of Kala Pattar and Island Peak. The climbs are considered physically challenging, but not technically difficult. Porters and Yaks are used to help carry gear, food and supplies. We encourage you to review the detailed itinerary and we would be delighted to put you in touch with veteran trekkers to share their experiences.
Climbers hike to Island peak via the famed Khumbu region trek to Everest base camp. Please visit our Everest Base Camp Trek page for more details on the trek
Prerequisites
Climbing Skill Level
Climbers should have successfully completed a minimum of our 3-Day Mount Rainier or Mount Baker Climb (or have similar experience). Climbers must be mentally prepared to deal with strenuous situations at high altitudes. The requirements are also based on our desire to have similarly skilled team members.
Physical Conditioning
In the best interest of personal safety, success and team compatibility, adequate training and excellent physical condition are required. Climbers must be able to carry an average of 20lbs or more and be physically and mentally prepared to deal with strenuous situations at high altitudes. Climbers need to be in excellent physical condition for both personal enjoyment and to be an integral team member. We encourage you to contact us so that we may assist you in developing a training program that meets your particular needs. Comprehensive training information can be found here.
Lodging & The Khumbu
We lodge in Sherpa villages, many of them remote, giving us a rare look into both traditional and monastic communities. Our lodging is usually in tea houses. We access these villages through our long time Sherpa friends with the belief that a sharing of cultures is paramount in our understanding of the world. While the environs are often primitive by western standards, they are balanced by the warmth and tremendous support of the Sherpa people. On climbing days, we utilize tent camps.
Environmental Responsibility
Alpine Ascents is deeply committed to maintaining ecosystems at home and around the world. With each expedition, trek and course, we not only attempt to leave the environment as we found it, but strive to assist the local population in protecting the land and people indigenous to that region. Alpine Ascents reaches for the highest ethical business practices at home and abroad. Each staff member is dedicated to environmentally sound alpine ascents.
At Alpine Ascents environmental stewardship remains one of our core values and we take Leave No Trace ethics and practices very seriously. The mountains are our home and we are unwilling to sacrifice their preservation for human objectives. On every one of our courses and climbs we teach and follow the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principals and practices.
Over the years, with the assistance of our Sherpa teams, we have stepped up efforts to clean Mt. Everest. Our Wag Bag® program made a pioneering step in human waste management for the National Park System and Forest Service in the North Cascades. On Aconcagua, we pioneered a waste removal system on our climbs, utilizing the WAG Bag® system. And we continue our on-going maintenance and minimal impact plans wherever we guide. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Alpine Ascents is committed to developing safe, self-reliant and environmentally conscious mountaineers.
Private Groups
We regularly organize private climbs for individuals, corporate groups, families and friends. We encourage you to book these climbs early as we are often able to cater these climbs to group-specific desires. Please contact our office to further discuss the benefits of private courses.
