-Cho Oyu - World`s Sixth Highest and Most Accessible 8000 Metre Peak-

"Reaching the summit was a fantastic feeling - and made even better by a swift descent to ABC knowing that I would not have to climb the scree hill on the way to Camp 1 again (you will get to know that hill very well during the expedition!). Back in basecamp there were celebrations to be had in ABC and yet another brilliant cake from the cook tent!!

All in all, the Summitclimb expedition was a great experience - so much so that we are heading to Everest north side with them in the spring. Everyone at SummitClimb's enthusiasm, the attention to detail and most importantly the feel that the expeditions are put together with people who enjoy climbing and mountains and the people who work and climb there make Summitclimb a great choice.

Cho Oyu is one hell of a mountain. The feeling as you come up over the summit plateau and Everest pops into view beyond is amazing! Oh and when you see Everest clearly - stop climbing - you are on the summit!"

Cho Oyu - World`s Sixth Highest and Most Accessible 8000 Metre Peak

Cho-Oyo

Your Experience & Training

Personal & Team Equipment

These photos were taken on our recent successful expedition where we put 6 members and 5 Sherpas on the summit, and the team returned home safely. Photos in slideshow: David Lepagne, Guntis Brands, Phil Crampton, Johan Frankelius, Herve Coron, & Thierry Auberson. For caption information, please visit our Cho Oyu photo gallery .

World's sixth highest & most accessible 8000 metre/26,200 foot peaks. High altitude "easy" snow climb.
A great way to test yourself at a very high elevation in only 38 days.
Climbing Cho Oyu qualifies you for Everest from Tibet, Everest from Nepal or Lhotse .
Drive to basecamp experiencing the unique culture of the Tibetan plateau.
Combine Shishapangma with Cho Oyu and earn a 20 percent discount.
Add an exotic and historical trip to the ancient Tibetan city of Lhasa.
Leadership: Dan Mazur, his 5th Cho Oyu expedition and previous leader on Everest & Shishapangma. Max Kausch 2 time Cho Oyu leader and technical expert.
Dates and cost:

21 April to 28 May or 2 September to 9 October, 2010, 2011 & 2012. 38 days in Tibet and Nepal.
2010 Expedition: Full Service Cost: $10,950, £7350, €8550; Basic Climb Cost: $6550, £4350, €5150.
2011 Expedition: Full Service Cost: $12,050, £8050, €9450; Basic Climb Cost: $7250, £4850, €5650. GBP & EUR conversions as of {7-May-10}.
Optional trip to Lhasa, add $1950.
Please click the logo for payment options including credit card, cheque, bank transfer, etcetera.

Recent News: Our spring 2010 Cho Oyu Expedition is currently in the field. Click here to read news of our expedition, listen to audio dispatches, and view recent photos of the climb. Please also visit our "Archived News" for more stories of past trips.

Please click one of the links below to view that section of our introductory information or just scroll down (photo right: Cho Oyu at sunset).

Programme description:

Introduction

Leader and staff
National park
Drive to basecamp
Lhasa option
Basecamp and advanced basecamp
Trek to advanced basecamp
High camps
Rest days
Summit
Who is this trip for?

Cho Oyu Programme Description:

Introduction: Cho-Oyu at 8201 metres/26,906 feet has only recently become a popular mountain to climb. It is now known to be one of the most accessible of the world’s fourteen 8,000 metre/26,500 foot mountains. This is because the ascent to the summit plateau is short and direct, with a few small technical sections, less than 6 metres/20 feet high, climbed using fixed lines. Additionally, the mountain can be easily reached by four-wheel-drive vehicle, and the trail to camp 1 at 6,400 metres/21,100 feet, is basically a steep walk on talus slopes, often done in sturdy leather trekking boots with good ankle support (photo right by Guntis Brands: This photo is looking down on a climber ascending the 6 metre/20 foot high "ice step". On this day it was more of a "snow step". It's actually not very difficult, as the sherpas have cut large steps into the slope and a rope has been permanently attached).

Our proposed schedule allows for a careful and safe ascent, as well as multiple full descents to advanced basecamp.
The style of climbing is cautious and careful, with excellent leadership, organization, Sherpa climbers, 'walkie-talkie' radios, satellite telephones, the best oxygen bottles and apparatus available (about half of our members use oxygen), cooks and waiters, tasty food, the best equipment, a full kitchen in basecamp plus advanced basecamp (ABC), 4 camps on the mountain, 1000s of metres of fixed line, hundreds of rock, ice and snow anchors, top-quality high altitude tents and high altitude stoves, expedition mix gas, and full safety equipment: medical oxygen, gamow bag, and extensive medical kit.
This expedition maximizes experience gained over eight prior Cho Oyu expeditions with a strong record of reaching the top and descending safely. In addition to more than 25 Himalayan expeditions we have an intimate knowledge of the Tibetan officials who regulate the permit system, liaison officers, sherpas, cooks, yak drivers, and hoteliers/restaurateurs. back to top

Leader and staff: During the drive, trek, in Chinese Base, ABC and on the climb, our experienced staff is with you all of the way. Our helpful climbing sherpas are some of the best. They are real high-altitude star-performers and very friendly. Our western leader is a highly experienced, friendly, and well-organized professional with multiple ascents of Cho Oyu. Our skillful basecamp and advanced basecamp cooks prepare delicious, fresh, tasty food and hot drinks at least 3 times a day (photo right David Lepagne: John Arnold and Tim Boelter at Camp 2, 7000 metres/23,000 feet).

On trek: Our western leader, together with friendly and helpful sherpas, cooks and local people leading yak caravans carry all of your personal equipment, group equipment, and set up camp each day, prepare and serve delicious meals, so you can relax and enjoy the trek. You do not need to carry a heavy rucksack during the trek.
Our comfortable basecamp and ABC: Our cooks and waiters will serve you delicious meals in our heated dining tent.
On the mountain: Our western leader and group sherpas will fix the route, set up the high camps and carry the group equipment, such as tents, stoves, etc. If you wish to help out, we welcome you to do so, otherwise just relax and focus on getting well acclimated and achieving your goals. You do not need to carry a heavy rucksack during the climb.
Sherpas: We have many group sherpas to help the team. For an additional expense, we can also provide personal sherpas and climbing-guides to individual members who wish to have their own private sherpa. We now encourage members who wish to have a lighter rucksack to hire a 1/4 of a sherpa to help with high altitude equipment transport, carrying your extra weight both up and down the mountain. For information about hiring a personal sherpa, please click here to learn more (photo right by Guntis Brands: It's "easy" to walk to camp 1 at 6400 metres/21,100 feet wearing only sturdy leather trekking boots with good ankle support. You may wish to use a trekking pole to navigate through this uneven terrain). back to top

Cho Oyu National Park: The park is situated among rolling, vast green (in May, June and September) short-grass and boulder strewn valleys leading up to the basecamp. The environment is beautiful and stark, inhabited with wild birds and animals. Upon arriving in basecamp by vehicle, you trek towards the mountain, where the vegetation changes to become more alpine and rocky, with Cho Oyu and many smaller unclimbed peaks looming upwards above you. Plants in the park range from spruce, pine, a wide variety of evergreen trees, as well as coldbelt grasslands. Many precious animals inhabit Tibet, such as antelope, deer, fox, gazelles, yaks, and many species of birds.

Drive to basecamp: Our drive from Kathmandu, into Tibet and finally to basecamp is a relaxing and interesting adventure. We stop in medieval looking towns with dirt streets, experience Tibetan culture, while stopping to walk each day or so in the beautiful surrounding hills to acclimate to the rising altitude. It offers a great chance to encounter the vast Tibetan plateau and great views of the surrounding Himalayan Giants, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma . We end at Chinese base camp at 4900 metres/16,000 feet, which is located just below the Jabula glacier, also known as the Kyetrag or Gyabrag glacier. Along the way we stay and eat at rustic hotels at the organizer's expense (photo right by Guntis Brands: The view from advanced basecamp at 5600 metres/18,400 feet. On the left side of the photo is the famous Nangpa La, where Tibetan traders carry goods to Namche Bazaar in Nepal. Many of the peaks in this photo have yet to be climbed). back to top

Lhasa option: If you wish to add on a tour of the ancient city of Lhasa before arriving at basecamp, this is easily arranged so please let us know. Most people will prefer to fly to Kathmandu first to take advantage of the excellent equipment shopping there, then fly to Lhasa. The price includes a spectacular flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa over the Mount Everest massif. Some people prefer to fly to Lhasa from another city in China and we can also assist you with these arrangements.

Basecamp and advanced basecamp: Features your own private sleeping tent that will be all your own, not needing to be shared with anyone. We have comfortable, heated dining tents with tables and chairs where our cooks and waiters will serve you delicious meals

Trek to advanced basecamp: A beautiful trek to the base of the 6th highest peak in the world. This trek is very accomplishable by the average person who enjoys walking. Normally, you never step on snow and there is no climbing, only walking on moraine trails. There are gorgeous views of stunning peaks in the area, including Jobo-Rabzang, and many unclimbed and unnamed 6000 metre peaks. The trek is near the famous Nangpa La, an ancient route through the Himalaya where Tibetan traders carry goods to Namche Bazaar in Nepal and where many Tibetan refugees have fled for their lives. ABC is located at 5600 metres/18,400 feet.

Climbing to the high camps:

After ABC, walk up to camp 1, which is located in a saddle at 6,400 meters/21,100 feet, at the base of the north-west ridge. The trail to camp 1 crosses a flattish glacier, than a hill with loose scree and stone sometimes with snow. It is often referred to as the: "horrible hill" and is nearly always accomplished in sturdy trekking shoes, with good ankle support and a trekking pole for balance.
The northwest ridge opens onto the northwest face, and there is one easy 6 metre/20 foot high technical fixed ice/snow step tilted at 40-68 degrees. Camp 2 is located on a large flat plateau at 7,000 meters/23,100 feet.
Ubove camp 2, climb another headwall at about 28-46 degrees to camp 3 which is located on a flat space of the northwest ridge-face at 7,450 meters/24,600 feet. You shall attempt the summit from camp 3

Camp 3 at 74500 metres/24,600 feet. From this camp you will attempt the summit. In the centre left of this photo you can see Shishapangma, the lowest of the world's 8000 metre/26,000 foot peaks. On the right side of this photo the Tibetan plateau is visible (Guntis Brands). Tim Boelter climbing the headwall to Camp 3 at 7,500 metres/24,600 feet (David Lepagne).

Rest Days: We will be taking a lot of them throughout the expedition. During your rest days we encourage you to concentrate on recovering, eating and drinking, to read, relax, listen to music and stroll around visiting other teams. back to top

Summit attempt: You climb through a few small-easy rock steps (4 metres high) and mixed snow at a 28-46 degree angle to the wide summit plateau and make the long traverse to the little bump that marks the summit, at 8,201 meters/27,000 feet. You know you are on the true summit when you see the inspiring views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, and the entire Khumbu valley, as well as great views across the Tibetan plateau to Shishapangma.

Who is this trip for?

We encourage men and women from around the world, of all ages to join us as an individual team member or with your own group, whether that is your spouse, partner, friends, sibling, clients, colleagues, etc. Most of our members join as individuals, our team dynamics work well, and we are able to build successful and safe groups that enjoy trekking, climbing, and traveling together (photo right by David Lepagne: Franck Pitula arriving in Camp 2 at 7000 metres/23,100 feet).
You should have previous high altitude climbing experience (such as Lhakpa Ri / North Col, Ama Dablam, Mustagata, Aconcagua, Denali, or other).
To participate in this expedition you must be a very fit and active winter-walker-climber in good health. Prior to joining, please see your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice. back to top

Clockwise from upper left: Johan Frankelius (Sweden) reached the summit with our team Sherpas. He has also climbed Ama Dablam with our team and took this black and white photo with a self timer. Andy Sloan from Sussex on the summit of Cho Oyu in September 2005. He is holding a good luck card his Mum gave him (Photo by our very strong and friendly Tibetan Sherpa Lobshang). Tunc Findik (Turkey) on the summit in September 2005. He has climbed Lhotse and Everest with SummitClimb (Thierry Auberson, Switzerland). Doug Cote from Colorado on the summit in September of 2005 (The photographer was Herve Coron from Paris). back to top

Please "click" one of the links on the column on the upper right of your screen under "Cho Oyu" to learn more about our expedition.