Trip Summary:

Here are photos and stories from our recently completed www.IslandPeakClimb.com   , which is offered in October, April and May of each year.

On our last trip to Island Peak, our fun team of men and women of all ages enjoyed Nepal ’s most easy and famous “ Trekking Peak ”. In just 22 days, we walked on beautiful wide snow-free gentle trails, following in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing to the famous Everest basecamp amongst friendly Sherpa people living in gorgeous green terraced villages. Overall, we found Island Peak to be  an easy and affordable way to obtain high-altitude experience. We were able to see how we felt at 6,000 metres/20,000 feet. Our experienced leaders taught us everything we needed to know for the half day of snow climbing required to reach the summit. Inexpensive gear rental was available in Kathmandu and our leaders took us around to many of Kathmandu's more than 100 outdoor equipment shops to help us try on boots, crampons, harnesses, crampons, etcetera. I thought Island Peak was an especially stunning place to take an up-close look at Everest, including the famous south face of Lhotse, Makalu and north side of Ama Dablam.

Our schedule allowed plenty of time for acclimatization, training, practice and rest. Our expedition was cautious and careful, with excellent leadership, organization, Sherpa climbers, cooks and waiters, tasty food, the best equipment, a full kitchen and sleeping tents in basecamp and high camp. The trip included a fun trek to Everest Basecamp, as well as to the top of Kala Pattar, Everest's famous "view ridge", with the best views of Everest.

• We were taught everything we needed to know in special training sessions in base camp and the half day of walking on snow was mainly steep walking. The actual climbing on this fun trekking peak could be best described as steep walking, with team members walking roped together. There is never anywhere on the mountain where one needs to hang from any vertical walls.
• Throughout the trip we travelled at a very careful pace without having to carry a heavy rucksack, while enjoying freshly prepared meals and lots of hot drinks, all important for acclimatization. The logistics were all taken care of, so we just relaxed and enjoyed the pure and pristine environment of the high Himalaya .
• Along the way we stayed in beautiful lodges and soaked up the amazing hospitality.
• Our trip included 4 free nights at a nice hotel in Kathmandu where they served a free yummy breakfast every day.
• Free flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and back to Kathmandu were included in the price. Amazing!

Thank you very much.BACK TO TOP

Heading up the ridge towards the summit. Looking down the ridge from the summit.(Valerie Hovland)

Our team on the summit of Island Peak.(Valerie Hovland)

Our members trekking along a river near Pangboche on a beautiful sunny day.A gorgeous sunset from Pangboche.(Elselien te Hennepe). 

 

Trekking through the villages below Namche Bazaar. That's the Dudh Kosi river.Our team members crossing the river on their way up to Namche Bazaar, the capital of the Sherpa people.(Elselien te Hennepe) BACK TO TOP

Team member on the summit looking off towards higher peaks in the Himalaya. A member approaching the final metres towards the summit.(Valerie Hovland). BACK TO TOP

One of our team members approaching the summit. Ms. Elselien te Hennepe, looking out into the Imja Tso Lake on the left of the photo on our October 2005 trek. Behind her, on the right side of the photo is Island Peak basecamp at 5100 meters (16,728 feet). (Dan Mazur)

Island Peak high camp at 5500 metres (18,000 feet) on our October 2005 trek. We use this high camp for added safety, a more relaxed climb, and additional acclimatization and time in case of bad weather (it snowed during our October 2005 climb, but because we used the high cmp we still made it to the top), to ensure we will reach the summit at an un-rushed pace with plenty of time to spare. In the background is the Imja Glacier at 5000 metres. (Dan Mazur)BACK TO TOP

Walking roped up in total safety on the upper Imja Glacier at 5770 metres (19,000 feet) on our October 2005 trek. Just a few metres below here the glacier has receded and there is an easy trail on a rocky slope. Our team reaching the summit at 6189 metres (20,300 feet) on our October 2005 trek. We had perfect weather for the final walk up the 34 degree slope which is about 200 metres (650 feet) high. In the background, you can see another team starting the climb and a few people on the valley floor. (Dan Mazur) BACK TO TOP

Two of our 2005 trek members: Kristof Wielicki from Poland and Dan Mazur from Seattle and Bristol, on the summit during a beautiful warm day in October 2005. Thats Nuptse and Lhotse in the background. Lhotse is the fourth highest peak in the world, located on the shoulder of Everest. Our team on the summit on a beautiful sunny day on our October trek: Ms Elselien te Hennepe, Lakpa Kongle Sherpa, Kandu Sherpa, and Nima Dolma Sherpa. By the way, Lakpa Kongle Sherpa has led 25 climbs of Island Peak. Thats Makalu, the world's 5th highest peak, in the background. (Dan Mazur)

The route up Island Peak.(Valerie Hovland), One of the many terraced hillsides on the trek to Everest basecamp.(Elselien te Hennepe) BACK TO TOP

 

Island Peak at the end of the valley, an easy walk from from Dingboche Village along the Everest Trek at 4412 metres (14, 500 feet). Monuments to fallen climbers, known as "chortens" atop the Dugla Hill, with Ama Dablam in the background.(Elselien te Hennepe) 

Trekking into the village of Lobuche seen below with stunning views of Lobuche peak and Cholatse. Our trek members heading out of Lobuche towards Everest basecamp.(Elselien te Hennepe).  BACK TO TOP

 

Our sturdy trekking yaks taking a rest outside of Lobuche.Elselien te Hennepe, our past Everest basecamp leader, receiving a blessing from the local Buddhist Lama in Pangboche.(Elselien te Hennepe)

 Our team members hitting the snow on Island Peak. Members moving up from the mid camp at 5,500 metres/18,000 feet.(Valerie Hovland ).BACK TO TOP