Himalayan Experience has traditionally been working on the Tibet (North) side of Everest. However, due to the unreliability of access, we have decided to operate from the Nepal (South) side. Russell Brice, the founder of Himalayan Experience, first climbed on the West Ridge from the Western Cwm in 1981. Although this expedition is relatively new to our clients, Himalayan Experience is very familiar with this route. All of our Sherpa Staff come from the Khumbu region, just a few days’ walk from Base Camp.

When Himalayan Experience first started operating on the North Side, there were few teams and very little infrastructure. Over the years, Himalayan Experience has continuously been innovative with new ideas, methods and standards, leading to our unparalleled level of success and safety. Himalayan Experience brings this same experience and knowledge to the South Side. 

Himalayan Experience is concerned by the unstable nature of the Khumbu Icefall - we intend to have  our climbing team (members and Sherpa's)  travel through this area as little as possible. You will spend more time on Lobuche and other surrounding peaks during the acclimatisation period, thus avoiding at least one trip through the Icefall, and several trips for the Sherpa Staff.

The traditional Everest Base Camp is crowded and is located on active ice that moves and melts around the camp during the course of the expedition. The Himalayan Experience  camp is located  further down the valley, closer to Pumori, where there is more sun and the ice does not move. This results in a less crowded camp.

Members will be encouraged to use both the Everest and Lobuche Base Camps in order to do long strenuous day and camping trips on surrounding peaks before the first acclimatisation trip through the icefall. 

The first trip into the Western Cwm will be directly to Camp 2 (6,400m) where members will spend 2 nights before continuing up to Camp 3 (7,200m) on the Lhotse Face. We will spend one night here before descending back down to Camp 2 for one more night. The following day we  return to Base Camp.

There will be practice ladders at Base Camp so that Members have the chance to become familiar with how to walk across these before travelling through the Icefall for the first time.

Himalayan Experience will place an emergency tent and  spare equipment at Camp 1 at the top of the Icefall. However this camp has an inherent avalanche danger - members are not encouraged to stay in this camp.

The summit program will be dependent upon weather and snow conditions, but will usually be a single push on 7 consecutive days from Base Camp:

Base Camp  – Camp 2: 6400 m

Camp 2  – Camp 3: 7400 m

Camp 3  – Camp 4: 7,900m (South Col)

Camp 4  – Summit  : Return Camp 4:

Camp 4 – Camp 2

Camp 2 – Base Camp.

There is a danger in landing helicopters, however now with better quality equipment operating in Nepal it is possible to fly directly from Base Camp to Lukla, or even directly to Kathmandu. Himalayan Experience will pay for the normal trekking trip to Lukla and flight out. Those wanting to use helicopters will need to pay for this themselves.
 

• 29 March    Arrive Kathmandu (1,317m)
• 30 March    Kathmandu
• 31 March    Kathmandu – Lukla (2,840m) – Phakding (2,610m)
• 01 April       Phakding – Namche Bazar (3,440m)
• 02 April       Namche Bazar – Khumjung (3,780m)
• 03 April       Khumjung 
• 04 April       Khumjung – Phortse (3,810m)
• 05 April       Phortse – Pheriche(4,240)
• 06 April       Pheriche
• 07 April       Pheriche – Lobuche
• 08 April       Lobuche BC
• 09 April       Lobuche BC – Everest BC (5,267m)
• 10 April       Everest BC
• 11 April       Everest BC
• 12 April       Everest BC
• 13 April       Everest BC
• 14 April       Everest BC – Lobuche BC
• 15 April       Lobuche BC – Camp (1,5290m)
• 16 April       Camp 1 – East Summit (6119m) – Lobuche BC
• 17 April       Lobuche BC
• 18 April       Lobuche BC – Summit Camp
• 19 April       Summit Camp – Central Summit (6135m) – Lobuche BC
• 20 April       Lobuche BC – Everest BC
• 21 April       Everest BC
• 22 April       Start Everest climbing
• 31 May        Finish Everest Climbing
• 01 June      Everest BC
• 02 June       Everest BC – Pheriche (3,930m)
• 03 June       Pheriche – Namche Bazar
• 04 June       Namche Bazar – Lukla
• 05 June       Lukla – Kathmandu
• 06 June       Kathmandu
• 07 June       Depart Kathmandu