Mount Everest is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas and is considered the highest mountain in the world. Climbing Everest is a cherished dream of climbers from all over the world. However, such an adventure comes with several risks, and we’re here to help you organize your climbing to enjoy it to the fullest.
A Guide to Planning a Climbing Expedition
In this post, we’re going to talk about how to get prepared for climbing Mount Everest, covering everything from the required documents to the equipment you’ll need. Now let’s begin.
1. Prepare Documents
Mt. Everest is located between China and Nepal, so the documents you need for traveling here depend on the part of the mountain you’re going to climb.
To enter Nepal, all citizens around the globe except Indians require a visa. However, you can get the visa at Tribhuvan International Airport. You have to prepare two passport-size photos, pay for the visa fee, and have a valid passport for up to six months. By the way, there’s a way to save money and time – printing passport size photos for a visa on your own. The article will guide you through the entire process of preparing your photos: taking, cropping, and printing the picture.
To climb Mt. Everest from the Tibetan side, you also have to get permission from the General Administration of Sport of China.
You should also have a copy of your passport and travel/health insurance documents with contact details.
2. Join a Group of Enthusiasts
To climb the mountain, you need to join a team. It’s extremely dangerous, Nepal has even passed a new law forbidding climbing Everest alone. So the most adventurous climbers have a chance to get there only from the Chinese side. It’s best to join a group of climbers or buy a tour.
3. Get Yourself Equipment
There is a long list of equipment items you need to take with you when climbing the mountain. It’s better to ask your guide, but we’ll list a few items to give you an understanding of what you might need.
Head and face: sun cap, balaclava, neck gaiter, snow goggles, oxygen mask, headlight, climbing helmet, and a warm hat.
Clothes and footwear: hardshell pants and jackets, trekking boots, wool socks, etc.
Other: Swiss knife, GPS tracker, trekking poles, ice axe, sunscreen, and lip screen.
4. The Expedition Cost
It’s not a secret that you need to invest a lot in climbing Mt. Everest. The price tag of the adventure depends on your guide’s fee, agency, equipment, and permits. The permit to climb alone will cost you $11.000. You will also need oxygen bottles ($1.000 each), food, equipment, insurance, etc. Typically, climbers spend at least $30.000 per person.
5. Learn to Breathe Right
High-altitude trekking requires special breathing techniques to be used. In low-oxygen environments, you need to provide your body with oxygen. You should practice breathing deeply through your nose and quickly out through your mouth. It will help you give your brain, lungs, heart, and body enough oxygen to climb up and get back safely. This kind of breathing requires focus, so we strongly recommend you practice it during your training.
6. Consider the Expedition Food
While climbing a mountain, a person burns several times as many calories as they normally do at home. That is why it’s important to bring a lot of snacks. Climbers tend to eat small amounts of calories all day. For example, you can take crackers, meats, cheese, granola, nuts, and fruits. Another recommendation is to store snacks in an area of your backpack where you can reach your food easily.
Conclusion
As you can see, visiting Mt. Everest is no joke. This is not only a big dream but also a serious decision to make – the process of preparation requires a lot of money, time, and effort. Apart from physical training, you should also prepare documents and equipment to be ready for any situation. However, difficult doesn’t mean impossible. We hope the tips we shared in this article were helpful and that you’ll fulfill your dream soon.