Antarctica is truly the last frontier. This continent, a mass of rock and ice covering 5,405,400 square miles (14 million sq km) of area, including the South Pole, is larger than Europe. Antarctica has no government, no permanent population, is not ruled by any one country, and is the only continent without an indigenous population. The landmass is controlled under the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and in force as of 1962. Antarctica is a desert that mainly consists of ice. It also has the distinction of being the highest continent, as defined by overall average height of the surface, due to the thick ice layer covering all land except for the tallest mountain ranges. It, of course, is the coldest continent on Earth.

We begin our expedition in the small Chilean city of Punta Arenas where we do final gear checks before flying to Antarctica. Here we will transfer to a smaller plane for the flight to base camp before ascending the peak. Our route consists of low angle glacier walking down low with some moderately steep fixed rope and ridge walking up high. Overall the climbing is incredibly enjoyable, albeit cold, and very “do-able.”

Climbing the Seven Summits is committed to providing the highest quality Vinson expedition.  You can be assured that it will be both challenging and fun, a true once in a lifetime. Rest assured that our professional priorities are first and foremost “Safety” and “Success” which we achieve by outfitting our teams with the best logistics and the most capable, qualified and seasoned guides in the world.

CTSS is pleased to boast a 100% expedition success rate on Vinson of the expeditions. Who you choose as the outfitter of your Vinson expedition will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Sound leadership is the difference between a great expedition and a miserable experience. Vinson is a potentially dangerous mountain and climbing at such extreme temperatures is very serious.

This expedition will be organized by Mike Hamill, Owner of Climbing the Seven Summits. Mike has personally guided nearly 20 Vinson expeditions, 11 Mt. Everest expeditions, 24 X 8,000m expeditions, has 6 Everest summits, currently holds the record for most non-Sherpa summits of Cho Oyu, and has written the guide book to “Climbing the Seven Summits,” making him one of the most experienced guides on the mountain. Well over 100 summits have been notched on Vinson under Mike’s direct leadership. Climbing the Seven Summits expeditions are meticulously organized with the best logistics.

We feel that our guides are an incredibly important to our success. CTSS employs only world-class leaders who are known for their focus on client care and experience.

Vinson is a serious undertaking meant for climbers with prior experience in the cold and some climbing skills. Guides will work with clients throughout the expedition to provide safety, advice, logistics, technical guidance, and information to best ensure the clients’ summit success.

Vinson Climb Difficulty: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate

Climbing Vinson requires serious fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for 3 weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. Antarctica is a very remote and rugged place with few of the creature comforts we have come to expect. We try to give our climbers all of the creature comforts that we can but at the end of the day this is true adventure travel!

Climbers need solid cramponing skill and knowledge of self-arrest technique and ice axe use are valuable but not a pre-requisite. If you want to join this expedition but don’t have these skills we can work with you to get you up to speed prior to the climbs. Please let us know how we can help!

This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel meaning things rarely go as planned and this schedule will likely change. Climbers need to be adaptable and positive. We always recommend climbers arrive in Punta Arenas one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the clients responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for early arrivals or for a single rooming option.

This detailed gear list is provided for your reference. Each item has been selected over many expeditions to Vinson. Please follow these guidelines carefully. Every item on the list is mandatory and if you arrive in Punta Arenas missing some of them you will be required to track them down in town prior to the climb at your own expense, which can be difficult and costly. Please make sure you are fully prepared so that your trip and the trips of your teammates goes smoothly. If you have any questions about the gear, please give us a call and we can discuss it: we’re here to help!

Included:

Not Included:

Although we offer a variety of expedition options, our main guided teams will climb the mountain via a new variation on the False Polish route that CTSS Owner Mike Hamill helped develop. This route approaches the mountain through the Vacas and Relinchos Valleys and ties in higher on the mountain with the old upper Guanacos route. From here it uses one more camp then the typical False Polish climb. This route is less crowded and cleaner then the normal routes and we feel it is the best option on the mountain. Our climb finishes with a traverse and descent to Plaza de Mulas base camp. We chose this route as it offers a more direct descent from high camp and a shorter trek off the mountain.

This expedition will be organized and led by Mike Hamill, Owner of Climbing the Seven Summits. Mike has personally guided nearly 30 Aconcagua expeditions, 10 Mt. Everest expeditions, 23 X 8,000m expeditions, has 6 Everest summits, currently holds the record for most non-Sherpa summits of Cho Oyu, and has written the guide book to “Climbing the Seven Summits,” making him one of the most experienced guide on the mountain. Well over 150 summits have been notched on Aconcagua under Mike’s direct leadership. Climbing the Seven Summits expeditions are meticulously organized with the best logistics.

Climbing the Seven Summits is committed to providing the highest quality Aconcagua expedition.  You can be assured that it will be both challenging and fun, a true once in a lifetime experience. Rest assured that our professional priorities are first and foremost “Safety” and “Success” which we achieve by outfitting our teams with the best logistics and the most capable, qualified and seasoned guides in the world.

While this is a challenging peak, our Aconcagua program is designed to see you succeed. Expedition leader Mike has utilized his extensive knowledge and experience with over 30 expeditions on the mountain to achieve a 93% client success rate.

Welcome to “Climbing the Seven Summits” Aconcagua Expedition!

Climbing the Seven Summits is committed to providing the highest quality Aconcagua expedition.  You can be assured that it will be both challenging and fun, a true once in a lifetime experience. Our professional priorities are first and foremost “Safety” and “Success” which we achieve by outfitting our teams with the best logistics and the most capable, qualified and seasoned guides in the world.

Best regards,
Mike Hamill
Owner and Lead Guide, Climbing the Seven Summits

Aconcagua Climb Difficulty: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate

Climbing Aconcagua requires serious fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for 3 weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. The Andes are still a very remote and rugged place with few of the creature comforts we have come to expect. We try to give our climbers all of the creature comforts that we can but at the end of the day this is true adventure travel!

Climbers need solid cramponing skill and knowledge of self arrest technique and ice axe use are valuable but not a pre-requisite. If you want to join this expedition but don’t have these skills we can work with you to get you up to speed prior to the climbs. Please let us know how we can help!

Description of the Upper Vacas Valley route and Traverse:

Although we offer several expedition choices on Aconcagua, our main guided route is the Upper Vacas Valley and traverse. Our director, Mike Hamill, is perhaps the most experienced guide on this route and helped pioneer this route over a decade ago. It is our choice route because it offers us a wilderness experience while offering the easiest and safest climbing and the best chance of success. It is a breathtaking route with less traffic then the normal route, and great wild life (especially guanacos) viewing opportunities. The route one climbs in large part determines the experience and this route will give you by far the best climbing experience available on Aconcagua.

Despite being more pristine and less crowded then the normal route, it’s a relatively straight forward climb with few technical difficulties. There is some moderately steep, loose scree scrambling on our route as with all other routes but no technical climbing. We hike along well beaten mule paths all the way to Base Camp. From Base Camp to the summit our route varies between smooth hiking trails, loose scree, walking on snow and through “Penitentes”, and crossing small streams. This variety keeps our ascent interesting while never posing a real impediment to progress. Overall, this route is casual and enjoyable. Anyone with limited climbing experience should have little difficulty with the terrain.

All of our expeditions incorporate a slow acclimatization schedule to give you the best chance at continuing upwards without experiencing altitude illness. We employ the “carry high, sleep low”, principle of high altitude mountaineering by carrying up to our next camp and then returning to a lower altitude to sleep before moving to the higher camp the following day.

Although we offer a variety of expedition options, our main guided teams will climb the mountain via a new variation on the False Polish route that CTSS Owner Mike Hamill helped develop. Our route climbs the east side of the mountain through the Vacas and Relinchos valleys using Plaza Argentina. Historically this has been a less crowded way to ascend the mountain. After a summit bid we descend the west side of the mountain via the “Normal Route” through Plaza de Mulas camp. We chose this route as it offers a more direct descent from high camp and a shorter trek off the mountain.

Making a Traverse of Aconcagua:

Mike has had incredible success making a traverse of the mountain and people really enjoy this option. Traversing Aconcagua allows us to see both sides of the mountain, makes for an easier descent, and cuts a day off the trek back to the trail head. Overall, it’s a huge advantage! However, there are logistics that need to be considered to make the traverse run smoothly. Since we have an 18 mile (30km) trek out the last day of the trip on the opposite side of the mountain we need to have a day pack and footwear for this last day. We recommend that you bring a light pair of sneakers up the mountain as camp booties that you can hike out in the final day. Do not attempt to hike 18 miles in your climbing boots: your feet will be destroyed! As for a day pack, many climber’s top pouch on their packs turn into a hip pack, or they may be able to dump the contents of your big pack into a duffel bag and trek out with your pack. Also, since we traverse the mountain we won’t cache gear at camps on our way up the mountain since we won’t be descending the same route to recover these items. This means that climbers need to make sure they bring only the essentials up the mountain. We will leave duffels at Plaza Argentina base camp before ascending the mountain and this gear will meet you back at Penitentes (not base camp on the other side), so if you have a few comfort items like a book or cotton T shirt on the trek, you won’t need to haul this up and over the mountain. Making sense? The traverse is a great option and you will love it once you experience it. Your guide will give you a more detailed description of the traverse at the team meeting in Mendoza.

“Great leaders like Mike inspire and lead people to take on challenges and achieve great things.” -Tim Igo

Aconcagua Team Expedition Climb Schedule: Upper Vacas Valley and Traverse

This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. This is adventure travel meaning things rarely go as planned and this schedule will likely change. Climbers need to be adaptable and positive.

We always recommend climbers arrive in Mendoza one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the clients responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for early arrivals or for a single rooming option.

Speed Ascent: Aconcagua Normal Route Via Horcones

The following is a tentative itinerary for the Normal Route Private Guide Speed Ascent. We use the Normal route on this ascent option because it is shorter and faster option; perfect for someone looking to shave time and is already acclimatized. This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. All climbers need to be adaptable and roll with the schedule if it changes.

We always recommend climbers arriving to town one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing/etc) of this extra day are the clients responsibility. Please let us know if you want us to arrange logistics for you arriving a day early or for a single room.

Don’t take our word for it – Our past Aconcagua clients share their CTSS experiences

US Climber Austin Weidler

SA Climber Remy Kloos joined us recently on Aconcagua
as part of  her quest to climb the Seven Summits,
watch as she shares her thoughts on the expedition…

Indian climbers Anuja & Aditi Vaidya share their thoughts on the CTSS Aconcagua guides…

At CTSS we offer these options to customize your experience to your climbing style:

• Strong hiking fitness (you are expected to be able to snow shoe in snow for 6-7kms)
• Ability carry a 15- 20kg pack for up to 6 hours
• An appetite for adventure travel and the ability to spend several days in the back-country snow camping

Please do not underestimate this alpine environment, while it may seem like ‘mild terrain’ it can be challenging with zero visibility white outs, ferocious wind, blizzards and extreme cold.

Included:

• Fully qualified world class Mountain Guides
• Education and Comprehensive Training Seminars
• 3x nights camping in Kosciuszko National Park
• Camping equipment (tents, toilet facilities)
• Group equipment (stoves, gas, group technical gear including snow & ice anchors, ropes, rock, ice & snow protection, sleds, snow shovels)
• Mountain Meals
• Emergency equipment, first aid, satellite phone/GPS

Not Included:

• All costs incurred by you prior to the start date of the trip and after the end date, including accommodation in Jindabyne the night before (Day Zero) or the night the course completes
• Personal clothing and personal climbing gear (including snow shoes, helmet, harness, carabiners, mountaineering boots, ice axe – many of these items can be rented in advance)
• In town meals in Jindabyne
• Transportation
• Personal National Park entry fees
• Expenses while on expedition that are above and beyond the normal scope of the trip such as medical treatment, evacuation, trip interruption, snacks, flight changes, alcohol, gifts for friends and family, specialty coffees, and bottled water among others.
• Expenses incurred due to events out of the control of CTSS such as delays or interruptions, political events, natural events of disasters, events outside of our control will not be covered by CTSS. These may include circumstances such as extra hotel nights due to delays.
• Trip Insurance including personal climbing, medical, rescue, evacuation, trip interruption, and trip cancellation insurance
• Guide tips (customary but optional)

• Best expedition at a great value: CTSS believes in providing our clients with the highest quality service in the industry at a great value. Climbing and trekking is our passion, and our goal is to share these unique places and experiences with you. We want you to feel good about your experience because we believe word-of-mouth is the best advertising, and that begins with satisfied customers. There is a difference between our expeditions and those of our competitors, especially local cut-rate options. In choosing us, you are hiring the finest guides and logistical support in the industry. Benefiting from well over 100 high altitude expeditions, and drawing on decades of first-hand guiding experience, we have worked hard to refine our logistics in order to offer you the highest chance of success at an exceptional value.
• We are a modestly sized guide service with highly personalized service: We maintain a moderate size so that we can tailor our Carstensz Pyramid experience to you. Not all climbers are the same, which is why Mike Hamill will work with you directly to make sure you choose only the programs that are right for you.
• The best route: CTSS climbs Carstensz by the beautiful normal route. By using this route, we provide you with the highest chance of success and give you the best climbing experience available on the mountain. We also provide you will more than ample time to acclimatize to the altitude so you feel good on summit day. Many climbing companies, especially local ones, race you up and down the mountain not allowing time to get used to the rarefied air. This is not only not advantageous to you but it is dangerous. We also fly you both in and out of the mountain in a helicopter. It is dangerous and incredibly time to consume to take the trekking approach and takes the focus off the climbing route and summit. Using the helicopter is a huge advantage that improves safety, success and fun- are our three main objectives. You will see when you’re on the mountain that there’s no better way to climb the peak than the way we have organized it.
• Leadership: As the expedition organizer, Mike’s almost unparalleled experience base at high altitude can make the difference between success and failure. From start to finish, he will work with you to make sure you’re as prepared as possible to reach your goal of standing on top of Oceania. Often being able to troubleshoot problems before they occur can make all the difference and this is where Mike’s vast experience becomes crucial. Please visit our Success Rates page for more information.
• The Seven Summits specialist! Climbing the Seven Summits is THE Seven Summits specialist. We focus primarily on the mountains of the Seven Summits, and Carstensz is one of our signature climbs. With hundreds of high altitude expeditions under our belts, we are well prepared to create the perfect climbing experience for you. We love the diversity of the “Seven Summits,” and the challenge of climbing them all which is why we focus on these climbs in particular.
• Best guides: The quality of an expedition is, in large part, dictated by the individual guide(s) leading the trip. CTSS hires only the finest guides operating at the highest standards for client care who are highly trained, well respected in the industry, and close friends that we trust. They have excellent personalities and are some of the most experienced professionals in the world. Mike and the rest of our guides are strong leaders who maintain high standards. Our guides make our company what it is and have extensive resumes of personal climbs, high altitude guiding, and certifications. All our lead guides maintain at least a Wilderness First Responder medical standard or equivalent. Our local guides around the world are the best in the industry and do an amazing job helping you attain your goals and navigating local obstacles.
• Safety: Our primary goal at CTSS is safety. We have an unparalleled safety record and our clientele’s well-being factors into every decision we make while on expeditions. Although we like to stand on the top of mountains more than anyone, we believe that climbing is a round trip endeavour and getting you back to your loved ones safely is paramount. We take many safety precautions including bringing multiple communication devices, high altitude safety equipment, medical kits, and the highest quality gear to ensure a safe environment in which to climb.
• Success: Success rates on expeditions under Mike’s leadership are among the best in the business. Mike has maintained a 91% expedition success rate for expeditions under his direct guidance. This is a testament to our quality of service and attention to detail. Mike and our team of guides are incredibly proud of their summit success and work hard to get their clients to the top. As Mike says, “You can’t buy a summit, but you can buy better odds.” With our expertise, experience and infrastructure, you can stack those odds in your favor. We offer a longer acclimatization progression for proper acclimatization to mitigate the risks of altitude sickness. Many guide services race their clients up the mountain, especially local companies, to cut corners on costs. We are highly invested in our reputation for safety and success and are always striving to improve our programs to maintain our hard-earned status. Decision making in the mountains is supremely important, and our guides are the best in the business, have a hunger to summit whenever it’s safe to do so, and have a proven track record. All of our programs acclimatize conservatively to mitigate the risk of having altitude issues and to give them the highest chance of success.
• You!: Why choose us? Because of you! We consistently attract the best clients and believe this is because we offer the highest quality expedition at a great value. Our clientele takes the time to educate themselves about their options and choose us because of this. We feel that surrounding yourself with the right people will make you successful, and that goes for guide service owners, guides, and even those with whom you climb. Having a team with the right attitude and camaraderie is a key factor in making you successful.
• Logistics: We have led countless high altitude expeditions and have perfected the logistics, allowing you to focus on climbing, safety and success. We eat well and live well on expedition. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible while on your climb or safari to not be distracted from the task at hand. We feel that these creature-comforts go a long way to making your time in the backcountry enjoyable. We strive to work with the best local outfitters and provide the best local logistics hands down.
• Updates: In today’s connected world people want to know how things are going on the expedition. CTSS maintains regular updates on our blog to keep friends and families informed. This can relieve a lot of the stress loved ones have when you’re away on climbing. We want to make the climb as stress-free for both the climber and the folks back home.
• Professional Business Practices: Running a professional guide service that you feel comfortable putting your trust in, is important to us. We comply with all local, state, federal and international laws. We hope that this makes you feel more confident about choosing us and our programs.
• Enjoyment: This is your vacation, and you’re here to have a good time. Our goal is to give you the experience of a lifetime, inspire you in the mountains, and to have a great time doing it. This, again, comes back to our guides; they all have great personalities, and their love for the mountain is contagious.
• Low client to guide ratio: We operate all of our trips at a low client to guide ratio which offers you a better, safer, and more personalized experience.

“Great leaders like Mike inspire and lead people to take on challenges and achieve great things.” -Tim Igo

The climbing on Carstensz consists mainly of steep rock climbing. From base camp the route winds its way up a series of gulleys following fixed lines to the top of a ridge. The climbing is fun and positive with great friction even when it’s raining, albeit somewhat steep and exposed in sections. The steepest steps consist of moderate 5^th class climbing on fixed lines. Leather gloves are highly recommended due to the extremely rough texture of the rock.

Once on the ridge the route traverses the ridge and undulates up and down following the path of least resistance. After crossing the famous cable bridge it’s a short scramble to the summit. The descent consists mainly of rappelling on steep fixed lines reversing course from the ascent.

 Climbing Carstensz requires serious fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for several weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. The Sudirman Range is still a very remote and rugged place with few of the amenities we have come to expect. We try to give our climbers all of the creature comforts that we can but at the end of the day this is true adventure travel!

Climbers need to have experience rock climbing and using fixedlines and ascenders. Also, cramponing skill, knowledge of self-arrest technique and ice axe use are valuable but not a pre-requisite. If you want to join this expedition but don’t have these skills we can work with you to get you up to speed prior to the climb. Please let us know how we can help!

Day 1: Meet in Timika, Irian Jaya, Indonesia: Many of you will have been traveling for a long time to reach Timika. If the team feels up to it we will meet for an informal dinner before turning in for the night.

Day 2: Gear checks and team meeting: We will meet at breakfast and set a plan for the day. We will organize a team meeting that will get everyone up to speed on the details of the trip before diving into gear checks. Once gear checks are done we will have free time to get any last-minute supplies. We will have a team dinner before heading to bed early.

Day 3: Fly to Carstensz base camp: We will transfer to the airport in the morning for our helicopter ride to base camp, weather permitting. It’s about a 45 minute ride to base camp. Once there, we will set up camp and have time to relax and acclimatize.

Day 4: Acclimatization day: We spend today getting used to the altitude and acclimatizing with a short hike around base camp.

Day 5: Acclimatization day: Again, we spend the day acclimatizing in and around base camp to make sure our bodies are used to the altitude before heading higher. Since the following day is our first potential summit day we will spend most of the day training, discussing the climb, and packing for the climb before heading to bed early.

Day 6: Summit day!: Weather permitting, we climb Carstensz, and return to base camp.

Day 7: Fly to Timika: Weather permitting, we return to Timika on the helicopter and have a celebration dinner before heading on our separate ways the following day.

Day 8: Fly to Bali: Weather permitting, we begin our flights home, generally through either Bali or Jakarta.

Day 9 – 11: Contingency days: Since the weather is such a huge factor in most Carstensz climbs we need to factor in several extra contingency days.

Note: Weather is a huge factor in this expedition! Teams have waited for weeks to get in and out of base camp and some teams haven’t even made it in. This is a real possibility. EXPECT weather delays and if there aren’t any then that will be the exception, not the rule. We will do our best to get you in and out on time but this likely won’t happen. This is true adventure travel so you need to relax, roll with the punches, bring a good book and music, and expect delays.

Note: We highly recommend you make your return flight for several days after the final departure date as we can get delayed and want to have plenty of time to climb the mountain before needing to change your flight. We plan to move our flights forward at the end of the climb when we know for sure when we are getting off the mountain.

What’s included/not included in your Carstensz Pyramid Team Guided Climb

1)    Customization: We firmly believe that Himalayan climbing should not be a cookie-cutter “one-size-fits-all” approach or even a “two-sizes-fits-all” approach. We offer the largest variety of expedition options (see “expedition options”) and have created new and novel approaches to climbing Cho Oyu so that you can have the expedition that fits your needs and your budget. Please look closely at out expedition options and contact us directly for more information. We want you to have the best complete Cho Oyu experience from start to finish. As a smaller team, we can fully customize your expedition to you, and in fact we encourage you to customize your program. Our personalization and client care are second to none. DON’T get lost in the numbers and join a large team where quality and personal attention suffer. You and your Cho Oyu climb are too important.

2)    Best Value: We guarantee you the best expedition at the best price. We implore you to do your homework and look closely at what others offer in terms of customization, base camp accommodations, quality of food, guide experience, logistics, hotels, acclimatization schedule, Sherpa expertise, personal service and professionalism. We firmly believe that comfortable, well-nourished, healthy climbers are strong and successful climbers on the mountain. A Cho Oyu climb is too important to not look closely at the details and we are here to answer your questions. We want you feel 100% confident in joining our expedition. We have created an expedition that incorporates everything that will make you successful and have stripped it of every aspect that could hinder your success. We have spared no expense and yet still offer you the best rates in the industry. You will NOT find a better value.

3)    CTSS Owner Mike Hamill oversees the expedition: Mike Hamill, 6 times Everest summiteer, 8 x Cho Oyu summiteer and leader of 25 x 8000m expeditions has custom designed and oversees all the logistics and execution of our Himalayan programs. 

4)    The best guides: This is hugely important- please research the quality and experience of your guides thoroughly. All of our guides have stood on top of Himalayan peaks, most of them many times, and have proven themselves at altitude time and again. Don’t pay top dollar for inexperienced guides.

5)    “Cho Oyu Executive”: With the roll-out of our “Cho Oyu Executive” add on option this year we are redefining what the Himalayan climbing experience is, from start to finish. Some climbers will choose our traditional service option and will no doubt live in excellent style and comfort. Those that choose our ‘Cho Oyu Executive” option will live in unparalleled comfort and luxury- the best Cho Oyu has to offer. This extra can be added on to any of our climbing options. (Please see our “Cho Oyu Executive” option for more info) Don’t go with another outfitter and be left wanting. We firmly believe that comfortable, well-fed climbers perform much better at altitude and are more successful.

6)    Highest paid Sherpa: We purposely pay our Sherpa more than anyone on the mountain so that they are happy and take care of our clients, and so we can attract the best talent. Our world-class team of Sherpa are hand-picked by Sirdar Tendi Sherpa and CTSS owner Mike Hamill to ensure we have the cream of the crop. They are all close friends who we have complete confidence in. Because they are paid well they go the extra mile to make sure base camp is exceptional and that our clients are extremely well taken care of. Once they’ve been selected for the team, they go through intensive training and a 5-day review process which includes mountain medicine, client care, technical rescue, and guiding principles before being ok’ed to work. We believe in our Sherpa and know that they will do a great job for you and become friends for life.

7)    The Best Food: CTSS has the best chefs and food, hands down. Our teams are consistently blown away by the quality of food and hygiene at base camp. Our head chef trains at 5 star restaurants during the off season. Think lemon crepes, cheese omelets, chicken cordon bleu, pizza, fresh fruit almost daily, fresh salads, steaks, apple pie, fresh croissants and cinnamon rolls, and moist chocolate cake. We can keep quality high because we are a smaller team- in a larger team, quality suffers.

9)    We believe in Team: Part of what makes us so successful at CTSS is our team mentality. We strongly believe working together, supporting each other, and climbing as a cohesive group, both climbers and Sherpa, helps each individual stand on top. 

“The 2018 Cho Oyu expedition was the most organised I’ve ever been on… The transporting of tonnes of kit and provisions across two countries and several landslides was logistical genius. The camp facilities were first rate, with amazing food (plenty of it). Our chefs and kitchen boys ensured there was an endless supply of hot drinks and water.

Our team of Sherpas worked tirelessly. The amount of carrying they did was immense, not to mention effectively leading the line fixing. Their contribution was huge and I can’t thank them enough. Thank you Tendi, and to you Mike. See you on the next one –  Everest hopefully.” -Richard W (UK), 2018 Cho Oyu Client and Summiteer

CTSS prides itself on offering the best expedition at the best price. Because of this we offer many amenities that other companies don’t. We have carefully worked through all of the details of our expedition to offer you every nuance that can help you be successful and comfortable and stripped our program of anything that could hinder you.

“The 2018 Cho Oyu expedition was the most organized I’ve ever been on… The transporting of tonnes of kit and provisions across two countries and several landslides was logistical genius. The camp facilities were first rate, with amazing food (plenty of it). Our chefs and kitchen boys ensured there was an endless supply of hot drinks and water.

Our team of Sherpas worked tirelessly. The amount of carrying they did was immense, not to mention effectively leading the line fixing. Their contribution was huge and I can’t thank them enough. Thank you Tendi, and to you Mike. See you on the next one –  Everest hopefully.” -Richard W (UK), 2018 Cho Oyu Client and Summiteer

Some of the many amenities in just our base model climbs include:

• Accommodations at a premium hotel in Kathmandu
• Team jackets and hats for all Cho Oyu climbers
• The best food on Cho Oyu AND all-you-can-drink fresh coffee from Himalayan Java coffee roasters. Think lemon crepes, fresh bakes goods like croissants and cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat weekly, hearty soups, chicken cordon blue, burgers, fresh salads, chocolate cake and puddings for desert, etc
• A light weight, state-of-the-art oxygen systems to maximize your summit chances. Our oxygen system weight 4.5kg total as opposed to the much larger American oxygen system that weigh 8.5kg that some companies use. This 4kg/9lb difference make a HUGE difference on summit day when every ounce counts.
• The best weather forecasts money can buy sent to us daily to make sure you get the right weather window.
• A solar array with backup generator for charging devices on international plug adapters
• The most well-trained and highest paid Sherpa on the mountain
• Large single sleeping tents with lush 4” thick sleeping pads that insulate from the cold and a liner on the bottom of the tent to keep out dampness. And of course, a pillow
• Hand wash stations with mirrors in both the foyer of the bathroom and the foyer of the dining room
• Accommodations at some of the nicest hotels in Tibet
• A communications tent with ample charging stations
• A wide array of healthy and nutritious upper mountain food to suit a wide variety of palates.
• A very well-appointed dining tent and hang-out tent with comfortable chairs and blow-up couches
• A movie projector and speaker system to watch movies in either the hang out tent or the dining tent.
• A two-room toilet tent (one room for hand washing) and sit down toilet
• A hot shower with two rooms: one for changing and one for showering
• Comfort food brought directly from the USA including real Maple Syrup, Nutella, BBQ Sauce, salt and pepper grinders, Cholula Hot Sauce, snack food for the mountain, a selection of decaf and caffeinated teas, ranch dressing, to name a few
• Choose our Cho Oyu Executive option for many more creature comforts… (see “Cho Oyu Executive” option for more information)These are just a few of the many amenities included in your expedition.
  

Climbing Cho Oyu requires serious fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for 6 weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. Out Tibetan Cultural Trek also requires solid fitness but participants can choose to do as much or as little of the trekking as they like. Tibet is still a very remote and rugged place with few of the creature comforts we have come to expect in the west so don’t plan on being pampered with smooth roads, 5 star hotels, and blazing fast internet. We try to give our climbers all of the creature comforts that we can but at the end of the day this is Tibet, and true adventure travel!

Climbers need solid cramponing skill and familiarity with glacier climbing and fixed line climbing. Trekkers need to be fit and able to carry a pack of around 10 pounds for 4-5 hours. If you want to join this expedition but don’t have these skills, we can work with you to get you up to speed prior to the climbs. Please let us know how we can help!

Our base camp is first rate. We spare little expense making you feel as comfortable as possible. Our top notch cooks make you the healthiest food possible with strong hygiene standards. Each of our climbers has their own tent at base camp where they can feel at home when not socializing in the group dining and hangout tents. We have a state-of-the-art communications tent and make internet available to our guests. We receive up-to-date weather reports and have satellite phones for group use.

In between acclimatization rotations up the mountain we spend time strategizing our weather windows, skills training and troubleshooting to make sure you’re fully prepared for the climb ahead. We find much of the stress of a summit bid can be alleviated by early preparation.

Tentative Itinerary: (Day 1 is the day the team meets in KTM) This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and acclimatization. All climbers need to be adaptable and roll with the schedule if it changes for the benefit of the team. This is adventure travel at it’s best and things never go exactly according to plan! We recommend climbers arriving to town one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses of this extra day (hotels, food, sightseeing, etc) are the clients responsibility. Please let us know if we need to organize logistics for your early arrival or a single rooming option.

As with all of our programs we strongly recommend you have travel insurance for your Cho Oyu departure that includes trip cancellation as program fees are non-refundable in the instance of your cancellation, unforeseen events beyond our control, including but not limited to, illness, injury, strike, natural disasters, civil unrest, terrorism, flight cancellation, lost or stolen passports, a rejected or denied visa application or climbing permit. 

Our expeditions are fully inclusive except for items/services of a personal nature. Please take note that the following is not included:

One cannot underestimate the importance of having the right team of Sherpas to support a Cho Oyu bid.

Sherpas are integral to almost any aspect of a Cho Oyu expedition and perform crucial roles as climbing partners such as carrying loads and fixing ropes on the mountain, organizing gear and building camps amongst many other jobs. You will quickly notice not only their importance but also their many other positive traits: hard work, humility, friendliness, gregariousness, not to mention strength.

Our team of Sherpa is simply the cream of the crop and are lead by our sirdar Tendi Sherpa. Tendi has notched a dozen Everest summits on both the south and north sides of the mountain beyond many other summits worldwide. Tendi is an internationally certified guide, co-owns a logistics company based in Kathmandu and is among the best in the business.

“Tendi Sherpa – a truly amazing person and an inspirational leader… It is plain to see that the leaders of the other guiding companies hold him in the highest regard. As a client that gives you great confidence in your leader’s decision making. It was that decision making that made it such a successful trip. Thank you Tendi.” -Richard W

He holds his team of Sherpa to the same high standard to which he holds himself and hand picks only the strongest, most skilled and trusted Sherpa friends. Tendi and his team will work hard to make your climb of Cho Oyu a success, and they are likely to become friends for life.

Our Sherpa Team in the eyes of our clients

“Our team of Sherpas worked tirelessly. The amount of carrying they did was immense, not to mention effectively leading the line fixing. Their contribution was huge and I can’t thank them enough.” Richard W, Cho Oyu Client and Summiteer

“I have been on many expeditions, and Tendi was by far the best, most knowledgeable and experienced guide I have ever had. He was personable, interesting, had great attention to details and most of all inspirational. Although I didn’t summit Cho Oyu due to ongoing health issues (the rest of the team made it up), I had an amazing time under his leadership and would recommend him to anyone. As a whole, our CTSS team had the best chance on the mountain by a mile. We had the strongest support, a great deal of experience behind us and a leader with a whole lot of heart.” -Ross V

“Tendi is a true superstar of the Himalayas. 

Under his ever watchful eye, he allowed me to build confidence, learn new skills and gain faith in myself. Seemingly everywhere at once, Tendi was always there ready and willing to assist me on how to climb smarter and safer. 

Kind, inspiring, courteous, strong and always smiling. There are truly no words I can write that do him justice. I look forward to more climbs with Tendi in the future.” – Peter W