Cho Oyu Expedition
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world and, even though it is regarded as a technically straight forward 8000m peak, its altitude is a serious undertaking and requires careful preparation and a high level of fitness. It is said that Cho Oyu means ‘Goddess of Turquoise’, as its stark shadows appear this colour in the light of the setting sun when viewed fromTibet. This mountain is a vast bulk of sweeping snow slopes and clean glaciated lines; a most noble and impressive first 8000m peak.
The elegant North West face of Cho Oyu brings us up fairly easy angled 30 degree snow slopes. There is one steep serac barrier to negotiate at 6800m. Where necessary, fixed lines will be placed to aid us on steeper sections. Following our acclimatisation walks in Nylam and Tingri, we will arrive at the Chinese Base Camp where we begin our exciting preparations to move up to Base Camp at 5700m via an Intermediate Camp at around 5400m, to aid acclimatisation.
Camp 1 (6400m) is reached in 4-6 hours via an initial walk up the Gyabrag Glacier, up a steep scree to a broad snow shoulder and our first high camp.
Camp 2 (7100m) we follow the snow ridge out of Camp 1 to a steep 50 metre ice wall, which provides us with our most challenging climbing on this route. To make this ascent safe we use fixed ropes.
Camp 3 (7500m) we are now on easier ground and we reach our third camp in around four hours. At this altitude there is a tremendous sense of effort to gain further height.
Summit Day It takes 6-9 hours to attain Cho Oyu’s grand summit plateau. The route takes us over moderately easy snow and rock; it is now only the weather and altitude that can stand in our way of conquering this grand 8000m peak.
Itinerary
| Day 1-2 | Fly to Kathmandu |
| Day 3 | Final preparations |
| Day 4 | Drive to Friendship Bridge, enter Tibet overnight in Zhangmu |
| Day 5-6 | Drive to Nyalam, acclimatisation walks |
| Day 7-8 | Drive to Tingri, acclimatisation walks |
| Day 9 | Drive to Chinese Base Camp 4900m |
| Day 10 | Preparations |
| Day 11-13 | Trek to Base Camp via intermediate camps |
| Day 14-39 | Ascent of Cho Oyu |
| Day 40-41 | Return to Kathmandu |
| Day 42 | At leisure, evening flight |
| Day 43 | Return flight |
Cost includes:
• All airport-hotel – airport transport
• Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu
• 4 (four) nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on BB basis
• Domestic flight including all taxes
• Excess baggage charge
• Climbing permit fee.
• Necessary number of porters/yak to carry load to & from base camp
• Equipment allowance and insurance of Liaison officer
• Personal climbing Sherpa with wages/equipment allowance/ insurance/high camps load ferry bonus
• Cook and cook boys with their equipment allowance, wages and insurance
• Best quality tents at Base camp with sleeping mattresses
• Best quality dinning tent (Carpeting inside) with heater at Base Camp
• All necessary kitchen & camping equipment at base camp and camp 2 along with table/chairs.
• Shower facility at base camp
• Fresh and organic food and beverages at Base Camp and imported quality high altitude food (individual packet)
• Enough numbers of EPI gases with burner for high camps
• Walkie-talkie and permit fee
• Satellite phone for the emergency purpose (Personal call $ 3 per minutes)
• Solar panel/Generator with accessories at base camp for recharging & power supply
• Necessary climbing hardware gears with fixed ropes except the personal gears
• Required Oxygen bottles with mask and regulator.
• Insurance of local team members
• Rope fixing fee
• Ice fall fee
• Accommodation and meal at tea house/guest house in/out to base camp
Cost does not include:
· Travel insurance (Should include the helicopter evacuation as well)
· International air tickets
· Nepal entry visa and Visa fee
· Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu
· Personal climbing equipment
· Cost of emergency evacuation
· Expenses of personal natures
· Summit bonus ( $ 1500)
· Tips
