Himlung Expedition

Himlung is not a technically difficult mountain to climb but involves several days of high altitude climbing over mixed terrain. The high altitude reaching 7000m make this expedition a challenging climb. Climbers need to move freely on mixed terrain (rock, ice and snow) using crampons and ice-boot. You are also expected to carry your personal climbing gear which may weigh 10-15 kg. If you have conquered 6000m peaks and are comfortable with crampons and ice-axes then Himlung could be your new mountaineering adventure to take your altitude experience to new heights.

At least 6,000m of climbing experience is required to participate in Himlung climbing. Basic climbing experience with previous use of climbing equipment such as crampons and ice-axes is required as this climb involves crampon, ice-axes and rope work. The climb is not very technical but requires climbers to be in excellent physical shape. The base camp is at an altitude of 4850m and the summit is at 7126 meters. Climbing days are 6 to 7 hours on average and peak days will be 10 to 14 hours long. You should also be comfortable carrying the necessary personal equipment during your ascent and ascent. During the trekking period to and from the base camp, we provide porterage support to transfer your gears and equipment. Similarly, we offer a guided expedition to Himlung with a 1:1 Sherpa to client ratio but it is essential that you are fully prepared and trained. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable the experience will be.

The climbing route to Himlung proceeds through mixed terrain at a 30 degree gradient for most of the section. From base camp to camp 2, the route passes mostly through cliffs and moraines. From Camp 2 to the summit, the route goes through mostly snow vertical sections with some mixed ice climbing sections. The steepness on this hill does not exceed 40 degrees.

The Himlung climbing group will be provided with a satellite phone for emergency purposes throughout the climbing period. Cell phone network is available on the trekking section but service is not reliable and may depend on weather conditions. If you need to make a personal call, you can use a satellite phone for $3 per minute. Similarly, we also provide radio communication system for communication between camps.

We provide each climber with a personal tent at the base camp during the entire expedition. Each tent will have plenty of space, comfortable mattress, carpeted floors and more for your comfort. From base camp up, a high quality extreme weather tent will be provided for every 2 climbers.

We consider delicious and nutritious food to be the key ingredient for the overall success of our campaign. We pay a lot of attention to quality and hygienic preparation. Our high altitude chef will be with us for all meals at base camp. During the trek, your food will be served at the tea house/lodge where you will stay and lunch will be on the route we are walking.

Rescue insurance is a must before embarking on adventure activities like high altitude travel. We advise all our clients to obtain emergency helicopter evacuation insurance which may be required in the event of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) at high altitudes where other means of transport are not available. Medical expenses, lost luggage, delays and cancellations, death and repatriation are other important factors to include when purchasing your insurance. So it is advisable to carefully review the insurance and its coverages before making a final decision.

The gear listed below is essential for the expedition. We encourage you to get all the tools listed below and please check and try each tool. Can also be bought or rented in Kathmandu.

Head:

• A warm hat
• Baseball cap or other sun hat
• Thermal balaclava
• Buff X 3
• Sunglasses/glacier glasses (high quality, UV-blocking sunglasses with good all-around protection)
• Ski goggles (anti-fog and good ventilation)
• Headlight X 2 with extra batteries

Upper Body:

• Base layer top
• Long sleeve shirt
• T-shirts
• Warm jacket/sweater/pullover
• Primaloft or light down jacket
• Hardshell jacket with hood
• Down jacket with hood (800m fill)
• Down suit (light weight, comfortable fit and 800m fill) (for summit climb only)

Lower Body:

• Below the base layer
• Trekking trousers/pants
• Mid-weight trousers/pants
• Hardshell Gore-Tex pants (non-insulated and waterproof)
• Insulated down pants

Legs:

• Warm socks (4 pairs of thin socks and 4 pairs of thick socks)
• Trekking shoes (with padding to protect/support your knees)
• 8000m mountaineering boots (light weight and comfortable size)
• Camp shoes
• Low shoes

Hands:

• Liner gloves
• Medium weight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves (leather palm)
• Down Mittens / Summit Gloves

Climbing Equipment:

• Climbing helmet
• Harness
• Ascender/Jumar (large handle)
• Descender /Figure 8
• ATC Guide
• Carabiners (4 screw gates and 4 snap gates)
• Prussik Cord X 2
• Slings X 2
• Ice Ax
• 12-point steel crampons

Gear/Personal Equipment:

• Lightweight backpack (45-55 L) for both trekking and climbing
• Inflatable sleeping mattress
• Sleeping bag – 20C rated for base camp
• Sleeping bag – 40C rating for high camps
• Trekking pole
• Water bottle one (1) liter X 2 with insulated cover
• Thermos
• Multi-tool knife
• A bottle of urine
• Laundry bag to keep dirty clothes
• Large plastic bags to keep clothes dry
• Lock
• Binoculars
• Sewing kit
• Duct tape
• Reading materials, notebooks and pens
• Camera with charger or extra battery
• Snack Foods (Energy Gels for Summit Day)

Toilets and hygiene

• Quick drying towels
• Small face towel
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant, soap and shampoo (small bottle)
• Face and body moisturizer, sunscreen and lip balm
• Hand sanitizer/antiseptic wipes
• Hygiene products
• Basic first aid kit

Important Documents

• Passport with visa and 6 months validity from the end of your trip
• 4 copies of passport size photographs for permission and official formalities
• Travel insurance (please see general information page for more details on this)
• Flight tickets
• Credit cards in case of emergency
• Driving ID or any other ID if you lose your passport.