Here's what Roger from Zurich had to say about SummitClimb:
After comparing and evaluating a bunch of expedition companies, SummitClimb seems to offer best what an experienced climber may expect: great infrastructure, professional organization and adequate services for people that wont need a hand-holding guide on the mountain. Thanks a lot for your great answers to my questions.
Mount Shishapangma Climbing Expedition Questions Section
These photos were taken on our recent successful expedition where we put members and sherpas on the summit, and the team returned home safely. Photos in slideshow: Dan Mazur & Sean Burch. For caption information, please visit our Shishapangma photo gallery.
Full service includes: Sherpas, hotels, drive to basecamp (bc), yaks to advanced basecamp (abc), ropes, good food on trek, in bc, abc, & climb, group climbing equipment, tents, radios, satphones, etcetera.
Leader: Arnold Coster , Everest expert: 6 Everest expeditions.
2011 Expedition: 4 out of 5 members reached the summit. Cho-Shisha double-header 100 percent success.
The lowest of the world's fourteen 8000 metre peaks, located in Tibet, near Everest.
A great way to test yourself at a very high elevation in only 38 days.
Combine it with Cho Oyu. Climb Shishapangma in just 14 days and save 20%.
Please click the logo for payment options including credit card, cheque, bank transfer, etcetera.
Recent News: Our Shisha Pangma Expedition has just returned with all 6 members and 2 sherpas reaching the summit. Our trekking members also walked to ABC and even higher. Click here to read news of our expedition, listen to audio dispatches, and view recent photos of the climb.
Some members ski Shishapangma (it is much better for skiing than Cho Oyu), as it has a north facing slope which is wind protected between camp 2 and camp 1/2. The snow is often best there and it's on the climbing route.
Most of our members carry their personal equipment and snack foods in their checked and carry-on luggage on their international flight.
In Britain, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, your baggage allowance may be as low as: 23 kilos/50 pounds of checked baggage, plus a small carry-on bag of 15 kilos/33 pounds (don't show the counter staff this much carry-on luggage upon check-in), for a total of 40 kilos/88 pounds. First ring your airline and request their "sport baggage allowance". Many airlines allow it, and often provide this for golfers, bicyclists, surfers and skiers. Quite often they extend it to climbers. Some of our members have had good luck bringing a ski bag and filling it with climbing equipment. WARNING: They might not give the same allowance on the inbound portion. Be sure to check this and request it if not given, or you could incur high baggage charges when coming home. 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).
If you are unable to attain a sport baggage allowance, obviously, those members coming from these countries will either be faced with wearing their climbing boots, helmet, duvet-clothing, etcetera onto the plane (this is normal procedure for many Australian, British, and European team-members), or paying excess baggage charges, or purchasing/hiring a portion of their equipment or daily snacks in Kathmandu, which is now becoming more and more of a viable option. If you chose to pay the airline's excess baggage charges, you might be faced with $20 per kilogram/2.2 pounds, of excess. Be sure to make full telephone and email inquiries before checking your bags at the airport.
Those members flying from North Americaare currently allowed 2 checked bags weighing 50 pounds/23 kilos each, plus one small carry-on weighing 30 pounds/13 kilos, for a total allowance of 130 pounds, or 60 kilograms. Baggage allowances change frequently. Before departure, you must ring your airline to verify the exact amount.
In North America it may be possible to pay an additional $120 per extra 70 pound/32 kilo bag, up to a total of ten or so extra bags, on flights bound for Nepal or China, but not for flights returning from there. However, be sure to ask about such "extra-bags" policies carefully before booking, and be sure to check with ALL of the airlines on your itinerary, as some of these airlines may try to "double-charge" you.
