EVEREST: THE FORMULA
One Year. One Summit. One Unmatched Path to the Top of the World.
The Proven Path to Summit Success.
A precision-crafted journey for those who want complete confidence preparing for and climbing the world’s highest mountain.
When the correct elements combine, the summit becomes inevitable.
After 20 years of guiding on Everest, CTSS founder and co-owner Mike Hamill has learned one simple truth:
Summit success depends on two core factors: a climber’s preparation and readiness, coupled with world-class expedition execution.
The Formula is both an all-inclusive year of total preparation—combining world-class physical and mental conditioning, high-altitude readiness, private coaching, bespoke gear, and luxury travel support—culminating in the most powerful Everest expedition on the planet. The finest guides, flawless logistics, unlimited oxygen, and every advantage stacked in your favor to reach the summit, safely and successfully.
Because, you only want to climb Everest once and you want to get it right.
Yet, most climbers arrive underprepared. Physically, mentally, and logistically.
They roll the dice on the world’s highest mountain, and it costs them.
They spend months, even years, second-guessing their training, neglecting their nutrition, questioning their schedule, doubting their gear, and agonizing over which experts to trust. All while battling to get the support of those they love.
They search for answers in books, forums, and endless conversations—chasing advice, patching it together, and hoping it will be enough.
The Formula eliminates the guesswork.
It’s your recipe, your blueprint, your step-by-step framework to exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.
This is not another climb. It’s the most complete Everest experience ever designed.
The seamless fusion of world-class preparation and the premier Everest expedition on the planet.
- Custom Physical Training
World-class 1:1 mountaineering coaching and physical performance planning.
- 1:1 Summit Coaching & Mentorship
Mike Hamill and his team of experts will coach you, advise you, and answer all your questions.
- Personalized Nutritionist and Dietary Plans
Developed by top-tier mountain-specific experts who understand the challenges of and the body’s needs at altitude.
- Breathwork & High-Altitude Adaptation Tools
Tune your body before it gets to high altitude, including Altitude Training Systems and proven breathwork training to simulate elevation at home.
- Sports Psychology with Olympic-Level Support
1:1 & family sessions, as well as on-expedition touchpoint and debrief.
- Medical Prep with an Expedition Physician
Private expedition doctor consults to optimize your health and prepare your body for what’s ahead.
- Gear Concierge & Travel Planning
Expert gear advice + luxury advisor for all logistics.
- Everest Prep Pre-Expedition Climb in Ecuador
3x high-altitude summits with your Everest guide before the Everest expedition.
- Luxury Everest Expedition
First choice of our Everest Private Guides. Unlimited oxygen. Helicopter exit. Luxury Base Camp. Cinematographer. You.
The Formula is designed to be fully inclusive, not only for your Everest expedition but also for all your training, support, and coaching along the way. Some services and personal items, like flights, gear, and insurance, are not included. Here’s a detailed list of what is included at each stage of your journey, so you know what to expect.
High-Performance Preparation:
- Personalized 1:1 mountaineering training
- Summit coaching and mentorship
- Nutrition optimization
- Breathwork + altitude adaptation system
- Expedition medical prep
- Olympic-level sports psychology
- Spousal and family support
Expert Support Team:
- Private consults with your expedition leader
- Personalized gear concierge
- Luxury travel planning and insurance guidance
- Exclusive dinner for you and your family with Mike Hamill in Lake Tahoe, CA
Pre-Expedition Simulation:
- Custom Everest simulation expedition on Ecuador’s volcanoes
- 3 high-altitude summits with your Everest guide
- Full gear, performance, and systems evaluation
2026 Everest Expedition:
- 1:1 private Western guide
- Unlimited supplemental oxygen
- Signature Base Camp Residence
- 5-star accommodations
- Mid-expedition recovery drop-back
- Helicopter returns to Kathmandu
- Professional imagery package
| Month | Milestone |
| Month 1 | Onboarding + personal introductions |
| Months 2–5 | Training, private coaching + gear consults, nutrition, altitude systems in place |
| Month 6 | Psychology, mindset & medical consults |
| Month 7 | High altitude systems, breathwork & continued private coaching |
| Months 8–10 | Pre-Everest prep expedition + private coaching |
| Month 11 | Everest expedition begins |
| Month 12 | Post-expedition reflection + legacy integration |
The Formula is not for everyone. This precision-built experience is limited to just three climbers per year to preserve the program’s quality, privacy, and purpose. Applications are required for all who are interested.
Investment starts at $399,000 USD
Remember, it’s not luck.
It’s preparation. Precision. Mindset. Execution.
Click below to start your journey to the Roof of the World. During your initial Discovery Call, we will walk you through the program, the people behind it, and what success on Everest looks like when nothing is left to chance.
6x Reasons to Choose CTSS
Safety
Your safety and success are our priorities in that order. We make conservative decisions, plan redundancies and all our guides have wilderness medical training, safety & rescue plans & access to doctors 24/7 to help keep you safe.
Value for $
We keep our overheads low to pass savings on to you. We are proud to offer the best service for the most competitive price, without skimping on safety or taking shortcuts with logistics, staffing and infrastructure.
Holistic Approach
Our service goes far beyond the mountain. Think of us as your climbing coach, we’ll be there from start to finish to prepare, debrief and plan your progression as a mountaineer, whether your goal is a single summit or the Seven.
Guides & Team
Guides can make or break your climb. We hand pick the most qualified, tenured, tested and personable guides and Sherpa in the world. Owner and mountaineer Mike Hamill personally oversees the management of each expedition.
Our Values
We care about you, our people and the planet and we walk our talk by donating a percentage of every expedition to Tiger of the Snows fund which supports outdoor tourism workers all over the world and following strict Leave No Trace principles amongst other initiatives.
Success
We have an unparalleled summit success rate. How? We do it in a myriad of ways; like a great chef’s secret sauce, we've fine tuned the recipe over decades but most importantly, we believe in you & your ability to achieve your goals and are invested in putting you on top.