North Col Mount Everest Training Expedition – Tibet
North Col Mount Everest Training Expedition – Tibet
Full Service Cost: $18,850, £15,150, €17,450. Add on an ascent of Mount Lhakpa-Ri for $12,850. (fixed in USD)
Date: 8 April to 13 May or 20 April to 25 May 2025.
Quick, inexpensive, "easy" way to reach 7000 m / 23,000 ft. See how you feel at altitude on Mt. Everest.
Leader Dan Mazur from UK and USA, 12 Everest expeditions, friendly, organized, and excellent teachers.
New Option: add on a trip to Mount Lhakpa-Ri, easy and beautiful 7000 meter / 23,000 foot peak located near Everest Advanced Basecamp.
Recent News: Please click here to view news of our expedition. We only have a few places left in the team for next season. Please conact us now to book: info@summitclimb.com .
The North Col on Everest is 7000 meters/23,000 feet high. It is a spectacular location with incredible views and on main climbing route for Everest from Tibet. The North Col is located on a high snow ridge above advanced basecamp. We teach you everything you need to know to climb to the North Col in special training sessions in base camp. The climbing could be best described as steep walking and easy/moderate climbing with climbers attached to fixed ropes. The dates we have chosen run in conjunction with the exciting spring Everest climbing season. Climbing up to the North Col could qualify you for climbing Everest
LhakpaRi is a pyramidal trekking peak at roughly the same height as the North Col, located across from Everest on the East Rongbuk Glacier.Climbing LhakpaRi could qualify you for climbing Everest
Our full-service expedition includes:
- British, European, or American leader
- Climbing Sherpa for the group
- Transport to base camp to/from Kathmandu, including accommodation
- Yak transport of all equipment from advanced base camp
- Skillful base camp cooks
- Three meals each day
- Group emergency equipment and satellite phone
- Full base camp with dinning tent, showers, bathroom, and solar charger
- Private tents in basecamp (no sharing)
- Double occupancy tents above base camp
- All permit fees and liaison officers
- Use of group gear and supplies
- Two nights stay in a Kathmandu hotel on arrival and two nights prior to departure in a double room. Private rooms are available for a small additional fee.
- Airport transfer
What is not included?
- International flights to/from Kathmandu
- Mountain climbing rescue and travel insurance
- Personal climbing equipment and clothing
- Gratuities for staff
- Nepalese and Tibetan visas
- Cost of jeep transportation if leaving early
2) Kathmandu – Go to Chinese embassy for visa, team orientation meeting, purchasing, packing, visit temples, city tour, shopping. Stay at hotel.
3) Early morning drive to Rusuwaghadi at 2557 meters (8,389 feet). Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa or if you are coming from a city in China, arrive in Lhasa on this day.
4) Enter Tibet, drive to Gyirong at 2700 meters (8,858 feet) Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Rest in Lhasa, tour Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, the most sacred building in all of Tibet.
5) Rest and acclimatization in Gyirong. Walk around the local hills. Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Drive to Shigatse. Rest and acclimate. Tour the surrounding area. Visit the 15th century Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest active monastic institution in Tibet.
6) Drive to Tingri, 4300 meters 14,108 feet. Stay at hotel.
Lhasa option: Drive to Tingri. Rest and acclimate, tour the surrounding area.
7) Rest & acclimatization in Tingri. Explore surrounding hills and beautiful meadows. See the restoration of the historical Buddhist temples. Stay at hotel.
8) Drive to Chinese basecamp, 5200 meters (17,060 feet). Camp.
9) Rest and acclimatization in Chinese base. Organize equipment and supplies.
10) Acclimatization hike near Chinese base. Meet the Lama and participate in a Puja ceremony.
11) Rest & acclimatization in Chinese base. Organize equipment and supplies.
12) Walk with the yaks halfway to interim camp, 5800 meters (19,029 feet).
13) Rest and acclimatization at interim camp.
14) Rest and acclimatization in interim camp.
15) Walk with the yaks to advanced base camp (ABC) at 6400 meters (20,9997 feet).
16) Training/rest day in ABC.
17) Training/rest day in ABC.
18) Climb partway up the North Col and return, camp in ABC.
19) Climb to the top of the North Col 7,000 meters (22,966 feet). Return to ABC.
20) Extra day in case of weather, acclimatization, etc.
21) Walk down to Basecamp.
22) Early morning drive to Gyirong. Stay at hotel.
23) Early morning drive to Kathmandu. Stay at hotel.
24) In Kathmandu. Final packing, celebration, saying goodbye to new friends.
25) Fly home. Thank you for joining our Mount Everest Training Climb
LhakpaRi add-on
21) Rest Day in ABC.
22) Climb to the summit of LhakpaRi and return to ABC.
23) Extra Day.
24) Walk down to basecamp.
25) Early morning drive to Gyirong. Stay at hotel.
26) Early morning drive to Kathmandu. Stay at hotel.
27) In Kathmandu. Final packing, celebration, saying goodbye to new friends.
28) Fly home. Thank you for joining our LakpaRi add-on.
Leadership: During your full-service expedition, you will benefit from the leadership provided by David O'Brien David has climbed in the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas as well as in the Alps. He has led expeditions in the high arctic island of Spitsbergen and has a liking for the cold and remote having crossed Greenland by ski. He has organized and led overland trips in Asia and North Africa.
David has been climbing and working with Summit Climb since 2006 and is a thoughtful, considerate leader. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and lives in London with his partner and child.
Sherpas: We employ some of Nepal, Tibet, and the Karakorum’s best local mountaineers and Sherpas to assist team members in realizing their summit goals. Our friendly and loyal high altitude climbing staff has supported teams to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya.
Climbing:
- Climbing harness
- 5 meters (16 ft.) of 6mm accessory cord
- Figure 8 abseil/belay device (tube style devices, i.e. ATC will not work on fixed lines)
- Full size ascender (i.e. PetzlAscention)
- 2 locking carabiners, 1 large and 1 small
- 4 non-locking carabiners
- Ice axe with leash
- Steel crampons with anti-balling plates
- Trekking poles
- Abseiling/Rappelling Gloves
Upper Body:
- 2 cotton t-shirts
- 2 synthetic t-shirts
- 2 long sleeve synthetic shirts
- Light-weight soft shell jacket
- Medium weight insulatingjacket (fleece, down, or synthetic)
- Hard shell jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Heavy down coat
- For 6,000m peaks a very warm down coat with hood or an 8,000m coat with hood
- For 7,000m peaks an 8,000m coat with hood
- For 8,000m peaks an 8,000m down coat with hood or an 8,000m suit can be used instead
Hands:
- Lightweight poly-liner gloves
- Mid-weight soft shell gloves – water/wind resistant
- Heavy- weight waterproof gloves – Gore-tex shell with removable liner
- Expedition weight mittens -Gore-tex over mitt matched polar fleece mitt liner
Head:
- Helmet
- Warm hat that covers your ears
- Balaclava
- Face mask
- Baseball hat or brimmed sun hat
- Glacier sunglasses with side shields
- Ski goggles with light and dark lenses
- Glasses with clear lenses to protect your eyes while climbing to the summit on windy nights. (cost less than 10 dollars in Kathmandu)
- Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
- Buff/neck gaiter
- Bandana or head scarf (optional)
Lower Body:
- Synthetic underwear
- Hiking shorts
- Hiking pants
- 2 pair lightweight thermal bottoms
- Medium or expedition weight thermal bottoms
- Polar fleece or soft shell pants
- Waterproof/breathable pants with full side zips (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Heavy insulating pants
- For 6,000m peaks: Down or synthetic pants will full zips
- For 7,000m peaks: 8,000m down pants
- For 8,000m peaks: 8,000m down pants or a 8,000m suit can be used instead
Feet:
- Boots
- For 6,000m peaks: Plastic or composite double boots (Koflach, La SportivaSpantik, etc) Modern waterproof, single boots designed for 4-5,000m peaks may be suitable if they can be worn with 2 pairs of socks and vapor barrier lines and/or they are equipped with overboots
- For 7,000m: Plastic or composite double boots (Koflach, La SportivaSpantik, etc)
- For 8,000m peaks: 8,000m boots - One-Sport Millet Everest boots or equivalent
- Sturdy leather walking boots
- Trainers, running shoes and/or sandals
- Down booties (optional)
- 3 pair med-heavy poly or wool socks
- 2 pair poly or wool liner socks (optional)
- Vapor barrier liner socks (optional)
- 2 pair lightweight trekking socks
- Cotton socks for in town
Sleeping:
- Down sleeping bag
- For 6,000m peaks: -18C or 0F
- For 7,000m peaks:-23C or -10F (If you sleep cold consider -29C or -20F)
- For 8,000m peaks: -29C or -20F (If you sleep cold consider -40C or -40F)
- An additional down sleeping bag for basecamp for the following climbs: Everest, Lhotse, AmaDablam, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum I and II, Spantik, K2/Broad Peak Everest training climb. For Mastagata a second sleeping bag is optional, but highly recommended.
- Down base camp sleeping bag should be rated to -10C or 15F (If you sleep cold consider -18C or 0F)
- Down base camp sleeping bag should be rated to -10C or 15F (If you sleep cold consider -18C or 0F)
- 2 closed cell foam kari-mats (sleeping pads) for use in basecamp and high altitude (these can be purchased inexpensively in Kathmandu)
- High quality inflatable sleeping pad designed for cold weather (Thermarest)
- Patch kit for inflatable pad
Rucksack and Travel Bags:
- Medium rucksack/backpack (50-70 litres / 3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used as carry-on bag)
- Waterproof rucksack cover (optional)
- 2 large (120+ L / 7500+ cubic inch) duffle kit bags for clothing and equipment
- Small luggage locks for duffel kit bags
Personal Hygiene:
- Female or male hygiene supplies
- 2 tubes lip sun cream
- Large tube skin sun cream (min factor 30)
- Anti-mosquito cream
- Toothpaste/brush
- Hand sanitizer gel (small-medium bottle)
- Bar of soap small towel
- Hand wipes
- Face Mask
- Hand sanitiser
- Disposable gloves
- Disinfectant wipes
Medical:
- Small personal first-aid kit. (Simple and Light) Aspirin, first-aid tape, plasters (band-aids), personal medications, etc.
- Blister repair kit
- 10 anti-diarrhea pills
- 20 anti-headache pills
- 10 cough and/or cold medicine
- Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox, Acetylzolamide
- 10 Stomach antibiotics: Ciprofloxacin, etc.
- 5 Azithromycin tables
- Steri pen or bottle of water purification tablets
- Cough sweets/lozenges (Halls/Stepils)
- Earplugs
- Extra prescription glasses/contact lenses and supplies
Personal Food:
- Snack food/daily energy food
- Everest training Nepal/Tibet, AmaDablam, Baruntse: 2-4kg (4.5-9lbs)
- Spantik, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Mustagata, Manasu: 2-5kg (4.5-11lbs)
- Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum I/II, K2/Everest training, Everest, Lhotse: 3-6kg (6.5-13lbs)
- Dehydrated meals (freeze-dried dinners) for summit attempt
- Everest training Nepal/Tibet, AmaDablam: 2 meals
- Spantik, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Mustagata, Manasu, Baruntse: 3 meals
- Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum I/II, K2/Everest training, Everest, Lhotse: 5 meals
- Small roll of repair tape
- Sewing repair kit
- Cigarette lighter
- Small box matches
- Compass or GPS
- Battery powered alarm clock/watch
- Camera with extra cards and extra batteries
- Nylon stuff sacks for food and gear storage
- 2 water bottles (1 litre) wide-mouth Nalgene
- Pee bottle (1litre or larger)
- Plastic cup and spoon
- Small folding knife
- Binoculars (optional)
- 4 large, waterproof, disposable rubbish sacks
- Passport, 2 extra passport photos, flight ticket, flight itinerary
- Separate photocopies of passport and relevant visa pages, proof of insurance
- Dollars, pounds, or euros cash
- Bank/ATM/Cash and credit cards
- Bathing suit/swim suit (you never know)
- Paperback books, playing cards, ipod/mp3 player, musical instruments, extra batteries, etc.
- Travel clothes for basecamp and in town
- Umbrella (optional)
- Small solar panels for personal electronics (optional)
Group Equipment:
We provide group gear, equipment, and supplies including: rope, ice, rock, and snow anchor protection, tents; stoves, fuel, walkie-talkie radios, bamboo marker wands, etcetera. A personal tent will be provided for each member at base camp. On the upper mountain, team members will share tents. In base camp, a shower, toilet, solar charger, and a dining tent will be provided.
Please fill out an application and return it to us with your refundable ten-percent deposit to hold your place on the team.
- Application for US Team Members : PDF Form or MS Word Doc
- Application for all other Team Members : PDF Form or MS Word Doc
In addition to your application, we will need the following at least two months before the trip begins:
- Completed Payment
- Oxygen order (if any)
- Sherpa order (if any)
- Trip Registration form
- 1 Passport sized photo
- A scan of your passport identification pages
- Complete flight itinerary
- Proof of travel, accident, and repatriation insurance. We strongly recommend Global Rescue, with at least $50,000 worth of helicopter rescue insurance.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is recommended
Please contact us with any questions you may have.