One of the biggest barriers to expedition climbing isn’t training or gear, it’s time. Speed Ascents are CTSS’s answer to that problem, and they’re more nuanced than the name suggests. CTSS founder Mike Hamill sat down with Hypoxico CEO Brian Oestrike and Senior Performance Specialist Nick Hart from The Altitude Centre to break down how climbers can safely compress their time on the mountain without skipping acclimatization. The short version: Speed Ascents don’t eliminate acclimatization, they move part of it to the weeks before you leave home, using tools like altitude tents and mask-based hypoxic training to begin building adaptation before the expedition starts.

The approach can be applied across a wide range of CTSS programs, including Everest, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Manaslu. But it requires consistency and discipline in the lead-up, and every plan is built around the individual climber’s schedule, experience, and goals. If you’re curious whether a Speed Ascent could work for your next objective, watch the full webinar recording for the complete breakdown, or visit the Speed Ascents page to start a conversation with the team.