Island Peak Climbing 21 Days

Grading: 7-8 (stiff), Alpine PD+

The Island Peak climb is considered strenuous due to the long duration of trekking/climbing in remote and isolated areas that go above 5500m. You need to sleep at an altitude of 5000m+ for several days. Mountaineers require a great physical level with fierce determination. Daily walking hours consist of 6-7 hours on average and peak days can be 10-14 hours long.

This grade includes the use of climbing equipment (harness, ice axe, crampons, mountaineering boots, climbing). Previous experience is required and we also offer a climbing course at base camp before the actual climb where your guides will teach you the proper way to use the equipment

To participate in the Island Peak Climb, an excellent physical level is required as the trip involves a long trek/climb. Previous experience in high altitude trekking and climbing smaller peaks is very beneficial when climbing a 6000m peak like Island Peak.

While previous experience of high altitude trekking is required, our carefully planned itineraries allow people with no previous experience to join. Before heading to the top of the island, we will climb to Everest base camp at 5,364m/17,600ft and Kalapathar at 5,545m/18,200ft. When this is done, we go to the island summit for climbing. We allow enough time for acclimatization and contingency in our itinerary and there will also be a climbing course at the base camp where your guide will teach you the proper way to use the equipment.

You should also be prepared both mentally and physically for this journey. A fierce determination, burning desire and teamwork are required.

High altitude treks and climbs, especially in the Himalayas, are challenging and require you to be in top physical, emotional and psychological condition. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable your trip will be.

Advance training is highly recommended and after you sign up for the trip, we will send you our training manual which will provide you with the necessary information on how to prepare.

While on the trip before your actual climb, we will conduct a climbing clinic at the base camp where our guides will teach you essential mountaineering skills.

Our island hopping itineraries are designed keeping every important aspect in mind. Our itinerary includes customized treks to Everest Base Camp, Kalapathar and Khongma La Pass. Instead of going straight from Lukla to the tip of the island, we allowed enough time for acclimatization and contingency. Our unique approach to climbing island peaks not only provides good adaptability but also an effective adventure that encompasses the best terrain of the Everest region. With this approach, we have seen a huge increase in the success ratio of people climbing Island Peak.

Kathmandu:
In Kathmandu, we stay at Kathmandu 3 star, breakfast will be provided at the hotel and your accommodation will be on twin sharing basis.

On the trek:
Trekking in (Everest region) does not require heavy logistics in accommodation as there are many clean and friendly lodges along the trail. Rooms are basic, usually just a bed with pillows and blankets.

Island Peak Base Camp:
At Island Peak Base Camp, your accommodation will be fully tented camping. A tent will be arranged between every 2 climbers. If in case of single by default, we will provide single tent at no extra charge.

All meals are included in the trek and are offered from 03 to 18 days. We will provide three meals a day (B, L, D) during the trek. Teahouses have a varied menu from traditional Nepali dal bhat, momos (dumplings) to pizza and apple pie. During the trek, breakfast and dinner will be served at the tea house/lodge where you will stay and lunch will be en route.

For Island Peak Base Camp, it will be completely camping style. Our team will prepare food for us at the base camp.

If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know in advance and we will be sure to send your message to your guide. For a gluten-free diet, we recommend you bring extra food, especially for breakfast, as your options for breakfast will be limited. Meals worth USD 600-650 are included in this trip.

Yes, we provide boiled water for drinking on all our treks and climbs. During the meal, you can ask the boys to fill the hot water for you. We strongly discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles such as mineral water on all our trips. Carrying a hot water bottle is highly recommended.

Safety is always a priority when traveling with AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions. Our itineraries for island hopping are carefully crafted to ensure safety and success. Our Island Peak Climbing Itineraries combine the Everest Base Camp trek as part of the optimization process to maximize our Everest potential. Each group will be led by qualified guides and we provide a high staff to client ratio on our summit climbs. journey.

Once we have completed our acclimatization, a climbing clinic will be conducted to impart knowledge on the climbing skills required to reach the island summit.

Training will be conducted by your guide and will include the use of all the gear used for actual climbing. Route briefing, use of Zamir while climbing fixed ropes, use of ATC guide or Figure 8 when descending fixed ropes, how to clip/unclip safety cords on safety ropes and more will be taught at the climbing clinic. The guide will be with you during the training and you are encouraged to ask any questions related to climbing skills.

You will only carry your day pack with the essentials you will need during the walk (water, camera, extra fleece, rain jacket, sunscreen, snacks, valuables etc.). The porter will carry the rest of your gear. We provide 1 porter for every 2 participants and we also provide a duffel bag to keep your trekking and climbing gear.

During the summit push, you will carry only the essential items required during the climb. Since we will start our summit push from base camp and return to base camp on the same day, you will leave everything else at base camp and carry only essential items. There will also be 1 guide for every 3 climbers, who will be happy to assist you if needed.

Travel insurance is mandatory and highly recommended before embarking on any adventure in Nepal. We advise all our clients to obtain travel insurance that covers emergency helicopter evacuation required for AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reason required at high altitudes where other means of transport are not available. It is advisable to carefully review the insurance and its coverages before making a final decision. Take your proof of insurance with you on holiday and leave a copy with your relative. You should ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

Daily wake up calls will be from 6.00 am to 7.00 am while on the trek. Wake up time and breakfast time will be decided one night before the briefing time. The schedule for each day will depend entirely on your walking duration for that particular day.

After breakfast we went on a day hike. Before breakfast, you need to pack your duffel bag as the porter will load it while you are having breakfast. After 3-4 hours of walking, we stop for mid-day lunch. Afternoon walks are usually short and we usually arrive at our destination for afternoon tea. The rest of the afternoon can be spent walking around the village, doing laundry or relaxing with a good book. On some days, we will arrive at our destination at lunch time and the afternoon will be completely free. After dinner, the evening is usually spent playing cards and reliving the day’s adventures, before retiring to bed for a well-earned sleep.

The best seasons for Island Peak Climb are autumn (October to late November) and spring (April to May). The temperature will drop significantly as you climb higher each day. Nights are cool (between 5C to -5C) and days are sunny and warm (between 10C to 20C). Mornings are usually clear, clouds build in the afternoon and disappear at night. Trekking and climbing is not recommended during monsoons and winters as visibility is poor and limited while the upper reaches and high passes may be covered with snow.

March, April, October and November are the favorite months.

Yes, you want to ride independently, or with your friends, family and colleagues, you are invited to choose any of the trips at your convenient time frame for any number of people.
If you want to make any changes or need to modify any part of our itinerary or service according to your interests, we are ready to tailor a trip to your exact needs.

In short, we will make every effort to get you on the trip you want, when you want it.

The gear listed below is recommended for these types of trips. We encourage you to get all the equipment listed below for the trip and please make sure you check out and try each equipment. You can also buy or rent them in Kathmandu as they are available in many trekking shops from branded to local manufacturers.

Important Notes:
1. Don’t cut corners on gear quality
2. Thoroughly understand the function of each gear
3. Get your gear in advance
4. Eliminate unnecessary luxuries
5. Seasonal fluctuations will affect gear requirements

Suggestions:
– If you are not willing to invest you can always rent gears
Especially check the size of the shoes before going to the mountains
Wear peak socks when trying on shoes

HEAD TO TOE EQUIPMENT LISTS FOR CLIMBING

1. Clothes
* Thermal base layers – top and bottom
* Heavy base layers
* Trekking pants
* Tight shell pants
* pant below
* T-shirts – short and long sleeve
* Middle layer top
* Insulated jacket
* Hard-shell jacket
* Down jacket/parka

2. Shoes:
* Double insulated mountaineering boots for climbing
* Hiking boots (complete and waterproof)
* A lightweight shoe for camping and around town
* Gaiters
* Flip-flops
* Wool/Synthetic Socks
* Liner socks
* Find the best climbing shoes for summit climbing in Nepal

3. Hardware:
* Liner gloves
* Medium weight gloves
* mittens below

4. Headwear:
* Hat/Fun hat
* Buff
* Balaclava
* Warm fleece/synthetic hat
* Eye wear (full coverage around eyes and nose)
* Ski goggles

5. Climbing gears
* Helmet
* Ice Ax with waist strap
* Mountaineering crampons
* Lightweight mountaineering harness
* Carabiners (2 Screwgate and 2 Snap gate)
* Belay Device (ATC Guide or Figure 8)
* Ascender/Zumar
* Prussik / auxiliary cord

6. Backpacking
* Small pack (35-40 liters)
* Waterproof duffel bag
* Padlocks for duffel bags
* Pack cover

7. Accessories
* Water bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each with insulation cover
* Trekking pole
* Headlamp: 200-300 lumens with extra batteries
* Camera
* Power Bank / Solar Charger
* Universal adapter
* Notebook/Diary
* Pocket knife

8. Hygiene and first aid
* Skin care (maximum SPF sunscreen and lip balm)
* Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, moisturizer
* Hand sanitizer
* Toilet paper and wet wipes
* Personal first aid kit (include personal prescription, altitude medication, * pain relievers, first aid tape, band aids etc.)
* Water treatment

9. Others
* Comfort Foods (Bring snacks and meals you like to munch on)
* Travel to get dressed in Kathmandu
* Sleeping bag (-20 degree sleeping bag)
* Inflatable mattress

Other information such as (insurance, arrival instructions, visa and passport etc.) required for travel will be provided after your travel confirmation. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information about the trip.