Read about previous Everest Expedition: 2008, 2007 , 2005, 2004 , 2002

Climb to over 21,000 feet on our Khumbu Icefall Extension to the Everest Base Camp Trek!

MT. EVEREST SOUTH COL ROUTE

"Watching the sun rise from the Balcony on summit day was the realization of a dream. The Tibetan highlands yawned to my left, Nepal on my right and the Earth's curvature visible on the horizon. What a treat! Attaining the summit only enhanced this memory. Thank you MM for helping me make this happen!"
Julio Bird

Since the late 19th century, adventurous spirits have been fascinated with the ascent of the highest mountain in the world. Mt. Everest rises to an imposing 8850 meters (29,030 feet), and after 29 years of numerous attempts, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to stand on the elusive summit on May 29, 1953. These courageous climbers ascended through to the South Col from the Khumbu Glacier, and continued their ascent to the summit via the Southeast ridge. Their route is now referred to as the Normal Route and is the route ascended by Mountain Madness.

MOUNTAIN MADNESS SUCCESS

Mountain Madness has been running successful expeditions since 1994 with 40 team members making it to the top of the highest point on earth. We are committed to providing you with the best quality service and experience to help you reach your goal.

OUR GUIDING AND SUPPORT STAFF

All Mountain Madness guides on Mount Everest have made successful ascents on the mountain. Willie Benegas, our lead guide, has reached the summit eight times and has successfully guided Mountain Madness clients up the mountain during three climbing seasons. In addition to having summitted Everest, our guides have extensive past high altitude guiding experience that will contribute to your chances of success. Our guide to climber ratio is 1 to 4, with a 1:1 Climbing Sherpa to Client.  We will also provide a base camp manager with 4 or more clients.

Our Sherpa Team is one of the best teams of high altitude climbing support on the mountain.  Our Nepal staff has worked with us for the last several years to ensure quality and dependable performance.  Many of our Sherpa staff also have multiple ascents of Mt. Everest.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY

Safety is the number one priority at Mountain Madness. Our Everest expedition is heavily supported by strongly experienced staff and has one of the highest staff to client ratios in the business. We provide a one-to-one client to Sherpa support ratio, as well as a one-to-three American guide to client ratio.

Continual communication with base camp is maintained through reliable VHF radios. A 24-hour communication satellite is also provided for personal and emergency use. Mountain Madness also provides Gamow hyperbaric bags and additional oxygen in case of an emergency.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Mountain Madness’ main objective is to help you summit Everest safely with the greatest amount of personal fulfillment and fun. In order for us to achieve our goal we are dedicated to ensuring that you are properly prepared for the summit attempt. Mountain Madness offers a wide variety of mountaineering courses and a diverse range of high-altitude peaks, as well as focused individual attention to help clients prepare for the expedition.

MOUNTAIN MADNESS STRATEGY

Because it’s critical to acclimatize properly to maintain health and fitness and avoid altitude problems, Mountain Madness begins the slow acclimatization process with a leisurely 9-day trek to base camp. Once at base camp a pyramid of camps is established. The highest camp in the acclimatization process is camp III at 7400 meters, and from there we will begin our summit attempt.

Our experienced guides and Sherpas will fix ropes, stock camps and provide leadership and support for the climb. This enables you to carry lighter loads so you can save your strength for the summit bid. Oxygen will be used for all team members above camp III.

Team members leave for the summit the previous evening to allow adequate time to reach the summit by mid-morning. Mountain Madness provides additional oxygen, food, fuel and support for multiple summit attempts until Mother Nature deems the mountain unclimbable for the season.

Mountain Madness equipment, service, and support are top-notch so you will have an outstanding chance at summitting the highest mountain on the planet.

MOUNTAIN MADNESS SERVICE

For prospective Everest climbers choosing the right guide service is a difficult process. We have however taken some of the uncertainty out by providing a program that includes all those services that will increase your chance for success. While “self-guided” expeditions are well-suited for some, they are often fraught with questions of what services you will need to safely reach your goal. We are pleased to offer you guidance. Our program is simple in design – we provide full-service, small expeditions with all the means to safely ascend the mountain; and if something is not included, we'll let you know. In the end, we believe the old adage holds true, “you get what you pay for.”

INCLUDED IN TRIP COST

• Low client to guide ratio of 4:1, plus high altitude Sherpa climbing guides
• Park and climbing permit fees
• Group tents and cooking gear
• Domestic airfare to/from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Porters and pack animals
• Food while on the climb
• Four scheduled hotel nights in Kathmandu at the Yak n Yeti
• Scheduled restaurant meals and mountain food
• Airport transfers
• Six 4-litre oxygen bottles with RAF mask and regulator

NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST

• International airfare
• Teahouse trek in to basecamp- teahouse accomodations and food
• Personal equipment
• Staff/guide gratuities
• Items of personal nature (calls, laundry, room service, extra meals, etc.)
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Medical rescue insurance
• Airport departure tax
• Satellite phone usage is available, but at an additional cost
• Alcoholic beverages
  

QUALIFICATIONS

All climbers are required to have past high-altitude mountaineering experience. In addition, members should be able to ascend and descend fixed lines independently and be proficient with cramponing on steep ice/snow slopes. For an increased chance of success, members should also be in good physical condition. Our “Live Your Dreams” training program can help you gain any additional training or experience needed.

If you have any questions, please call the Mountain Madness office for questions about preparation and training for the climb at 800-328-5925. 

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PRACTICES

Mountain Madness not only strives to offer the highest standard of service, but also to be the most socially and environmentally responsible adventure travel company in Nepal. To further our commitment, Mountain Madness has joined forces with the International Mountain Explorer’s Connection (IMEC) Porter Project, which has developed guidelines for the proper treatment of porters including making sure porters have adequate gear and equipment, proper shelter arrangements, proper food, cooking equipment and water, proper medical care for sick or injured porters, insurance where available, acceptable weight limits on loads, and fair wages. The IMEC Porter Project also educates the tourist population about acceptable standards of porter treatment, and encourages the reporting of abuse or mistreatment. Mountain Madness is the first pro-active company in support of the Porter Protection Project in the Khumbu region.

Although there are many interpretations of "ecotourism," Mountain Madness believes that everyone benefits by choosing a company that is respectful of the environment and the local cultures. At Mountain Madness, we practiced ecotourism long before it became a buzzword and we have a broad understanding of the issues. We are always involved in training, conservation, and social development programs that ensure that the net impact of our company in Nepal is positive.

MOUNTAIN CUISINE

The menu for our climb is specially prepared to provide a balanced diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, plenty of protein and carbohydrates. We choose food items that are easiest to digest at high-altitude. Our cooks undergo extensive culinary training, with many having previously worked as chefs in local restaurants. The cooks are particularly vigilant in their hygiene practices since contracting stomach bugs is common for visitors to the developing world.

Dinners typically include a main course of pastas and rice dishes served with vegetable, soup and salad. Lentils, beans or chicken are provided with dinner for a protein source. Lunches at base camp consist of a hot meal similar to our dinner menu. Breakfast is your choice: granola, oatmeal, toast, eggs, and sometimes pancakes or French toast. Coffee, tea, hot drinks and snacks are readily available throughout the day.

Since it is difficult to eat at the higher camps, we offer a wide variety of tasty food. At camp II we have a mess tent and a dedicated cook who prepares dishes similar to those had at base camp. In addition, there are plenty of teas, hot drinks, soups, and salty and sweet snacks to munch on including European sausages and cheeses.

We cater to different dietary requirements and full vegetarian menus can be provided on request.

YOU ARE INVITED!

Mountain Madness invites family members, friends, and Everest enthusiasts to trek along with our Everest team into Base Camp. Be part of the Everest support team and enjoy two days participating in the preparations at Base Camp.

For those who would like to experience climbing Mt. Everest, but don’t aspire to climb to the summit, then we invite you on the Khumbu IceFall climb. Members have the opportunity to ascend through the infamous Khumbu Icefall and reach your high point of 6400 meters or camp II located in the Western Cwm.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

We require an application, climbing resume, and a $5,000 deposit for our Everest Expedition. Please call our office for an application, or download it and fax it to 206-937-1772. For more information on our Everest Expedition, please call our office at 800-328-5925.

TOP

Itinerary for Mt. Everest

March 24 – 26: Travel from your home port to Kathmandu. All flights cross the dateline and a day is consequently lost. Arrive in Kathmandu, where a Mountain Madness guide will meet you. On your way to the hotel, we stop by our office, Mountain Madness Pvt. Nepal Ltd. Check into the Yak & Yeti Hotel, a classic five-star hotel located in the Durbar Marg district. Great food from all over the world, fabulous shopping and Durbur Square, with its numerous temples and markets, are nearby.

March 27: While we wrap up last minute paperwork with the Nepal Government, you will have a casual day of shopping for souvenirs in the streets of Kathmandu, visiting the palaces, Thamel District, Hindu temples and shrines, Buddhist stupas, or just relaxing at the hotel. Favorite destinations are Swayambunath, a Buddhist temple with prayer flags descending from the highly ornate steeple and situated on a small hill that offers outstanding views of the city. Or you can join the thousands of Hindus who venture to the Pashupatinath temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples in Nepal and the most famous Shiva temple in Asia.

March 28: We fly to the Himalayan foothills where we will begin our trek into the Khumbu region. The sights from the plane are amazing, providing panoramic views of terraced hills and the distant Himalayan giants. After landing in the village of Lukla (9,350 feet) we will meet our staff and porters and continue on about two and a half hours to Phakding (8,700 feet).

March 29: We continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing this majestic river many times on wild suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering Sagamartha National Park at Jorsale, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views up to Namche Bazaar, the gateway to the Khumbu region at 11,300 feet.

March 30: Today is a rest and acclimatization day in Namche. Namche is a colorful village with many wonderful and interesting shops and vendors, fabulous food and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. An early hike above town before the clouds move in will reward climbers with a spectacular Himalayan sunrise and views of Everest, Lhotse (the 4th highest peak in the world), and the beautiful Ama Dablam. On the way down, we can visit the Sherpa Museum that displays an exhibit on traditional Sherpa lifestyle as well as a fabulous photography collection. A local Nepalese naturalist takes all photos, and in one room the Sherpa traditions are highlighted, while in another Sherpa high altitude climbers are presented.

March 31: The trek continues along the Dudh Kosi with rushing clear blue rivers and magnificent views of the mountains. We will stay the night at Thyangboche monastery at 12,887 feet where you will find one of the best views in the world. Inside the monastery are incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas. If our group is lucky, we will get to see the Lama perform a ceremony and listen to the mystical chanting and music. Remember to bring lots of film!

April 1: From Thyangboche the trail drops to Debuche, crosses a wild bridge on the Imja Khola, and then climbs to the village of Pangboche where incredible mani stones line the path. The uphill trek continues, taking us to the quaint traditional Sherpa village of Dingboche (14,250 feet) with its exquisite views of Lhotse, Island Peak, and Ama Dablam.

April 2: Another rest day. There is the option of taking a light acclimatization hike up the valley for better photo shots of the valley and mountains of the Khumbu region.

April 3: From Dingbouche, the trail traverses along farmlands and meadows before continuing up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Our path skirts along the glacier’s edge to the Italian Research Station where we are treated to great Italian food, showers and real beds!

April 4: After an early morning start, we ascend Kala Pattar (18,450 feet) and enjoy famous views of the Himalayas; then descend from this viewpoint and continue on to Base Camp on Khumbu Glacier, at the foot of the icefall.

April 5 - May 4: We arrive at Everest Base Camp (17,500 feet) on the jumbled moraine below the infamous Khumbu Icefall. There we spend some time acclimatizing. The next weeks are spent negotiating the Khumbu Icefall, entering the Western Cwm, and climbing to lofty Camp III (23,500 feet). Our objective for the next 3 to 4 weeks is to establish and stock three camps above base camp and to acclimatize for the climb to the summit. We sleep at Camp III for a night or two before heading down to base camp to rest before our summit bid.

May 5 - 9: With everybody fit and acclimatized, we head back to base camp. For the next 5 days rest is top priority. We visit with trekkers, eat, rest, eat, rest, and prepare for the summit bid.

May 10 - 31: We climb to camp II, then to camp III and finally to the South Col where we place our final camp at 26,000 feet. Our summit target date is between May 15 through the 25. We are prepared to stay at base camp to wait for good weather or until the monsoon arrives at the end of May. Mountain Madness service continues as we head back down to Kathmandu (3-5 days); we’ll fly out of Lukla. Hotel accommodations with breakfast and dinner in Kathmandu for the night of our return and the next night are included in your package. However, if individuals want to make a faster return to Kathmandu or deviate from the trek back down from other points along the way, they are free to do so at their own expense.