JOIN LUKE SMITHWICK, ONE OF THE MORE ACCOMPLISHED HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERS OF RECENT DECADES, ON A MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION
At 8848 metres above sea level, a Mount Everest expedition climb is one of the most significant mountaineering achievements on Earth. Any expedition to this peak is a major undertaking and should be undertaken only with the very best leader, guides, support staff and logistics.
Luke Smithwick offers incomparable Himalayan experience with more than one hundred Himalayan expeditions in the past 14 years. He offers a full-service, fully guided expedition with the best chance of a successful and safe summit on a Mt Everest expedition. The expedition is limited to six climbers with Luke as expedition leader and a 1:1 Sherpa to climber ratio. Our expedition will ascend Mt Everest in the pre-monsoon season (April – May) of 2025. The expedition will follow the traditional route on the North (Chinese) side of Mt Everest.
The expedition will meet in Kathmandu on 20 April 2025 where we will obtain the final expedition permit. The team will then fly to Lhasa from which we will commence our journey towards Everest basecamp.
Basecamp is located at 5200 metres. The team will spend several days there resting and acclimatising to that altitude. Once in Advanced Base Camp, we will practice our ropework and team climbing skills on the Khumbu glacier prior to moving onto the mountain.
When the team’s skills are honed and we are feeling well acclimatised, will we move onto the mountain to commence a gradual and carefully programmed ascent utilising oxygen mark and regulator, high altitude expedition clothing and technical climbing equipment that includes ropes, crampons, ice axes, harnesses and helmets.
Three high camps will be established on the mountain above advanced basecamp (ABC – 6200m), at altitudes of approximately:
Camp 1 – 7000m (North Col), Camp 2 – 7800m, Camp 3 – 8300m
Our ascent to these camps will follow a flexible but safety oriented schedule. Typically, expeditions complete their acclimatisation on the mountain by the end of the third week, after which we rest and prepare for the final ascent while awaiting the weather window that usually arrives in mid May. Once that window arrives and the team is at peak fitness, a summit attempt will be launched. This is likely to take five to six days from ABC and another one or two days to descend from the top.
Following our ascent, we’ll pack our personal belongings and trek back to Everest Base Camp, from where we drive back to Kathmandu and conclude the expedition.
LEADERSHIP
Climbing Sherpas and Support Staff
Pemba Rita Sherpa is the lead climbing Sherpa, he is an IFMGA mountain guide with 15 Everest summits. He will be accompanied by Sherpa climbers that all have previous Everest summits.
Supporting Luke will be a strong team of highly experienced English speaking Sherpas with numerous summits of Mt Everest and many other 8000 metre peaks between them. They are among the most experienced and well regarded in the Himalaya.
Safety and equality are paramount on all Himalaya Alpine Guides expeditions. All Sherpas and support staff receive clothing and equipment allowances for the expedition and use the highest quality clothing and equipment available, to the same standard that Luke and our guests use.
Each climber on our Mount Everest – North side expedition will have nine (9) bottles of oxygen for their ascent to the summit. All climbers will go on high flow oxygen at Camp One (North Col 7010m), Camp Two (7800m) and Camp Three (8300m). Additionally we will climb from Camp One to Camp Two on 2L oxygen, utilize 4L oxygen from Camp Two to Camp Three, and 4L oxygen from Camp Three to Summit and back to the North Col.
Climbing Plan
We will climb to 7500m during our acclimatization period through a series of rotations. After this acclimatization phase we will return to Everest base camp to rest and prepare for our summit window.
Fitness
Climbers need to arrive in excellent physical condition. Contact us to discuss your training and preparation.
Tashi Delek and Namaskar
ITINERARY
20 April 2025, Sunday – Arrival in KTM, transfer to the hotel & briefing
21 April – Half day sightseeing and afternoon equipment checking and fitting, China visa
22 April – Kathmandu; final preparation and packing
23 April – Fly to Lhasa, explore Lhasa
24 April – Lhasa sightseeing
25 April – Drive Shigatse (3800m)
26 April – Drive Tingri (4300m)
27 April – Rest day, acclimatization hike to 5000m
28 April – Drive Everest Base Camp (5182m)
29 April – 1 May – Acclimatization days at Base Camp
2 May – Trek interim camp (6187m)
3 May – Trek Advanced Base Camp (6492m)
4 – 27 May – Climbing days (refer to the detailed plan above)
28 May – Trek to Base Camp
29-30 May – Transfer back to Kathmandu
31 May 2025, Saturday – Depart Kathmandu for home
Dates
20 April-31 May 2025 (42 days)
Region
Tibet
Difficulty
Very Advanced
Price
Inquire - https://www.himalaya-alpine.com/contact/
Trip Deposit: US$15,000
