Climbers joining this team need to realize that, despite our best efforts to provide air-tight logistics and climbing, that this is a true adventure off the beaten path so there will be hiccups and climbers need to be willing to, and comfortable, rolling with the punches. Not everything will go as planned and that is the norm not the exception. Since these regions are not tourism destinations the journey will be rugged and the climbing obstacles somewhat unknown.

This is exactly what we are after but it is also why you need to have complete trust in your expedition company.

More than on any other expedition on a First Ascent demands superior guidance, safety and logistics across the board.

Your safety and success are the top priorities, in that order.

A First Ascent while different in its pioneering nature still follows all of the same extremely high safety protocols that we employ on all of our expeditions.

For instance, we will send scouting parties ahead of the main team to assess the peak, identify and map hazards and mitigate risks as much as possible. Wherever the terrain is steep with fall potential our Sherpa will setup fixed lines to make the new route more approachable and safe and while we are in a remote area we still have generous redundancies, medical and communications equipment to cover any eventuality.

On expedition our Guides will give you daily briefings on the route, weather, plan of attack and schedule. In line with our other expeditions we will make conservative calls when it comes to risks, conditions and acclimatisation schedules.

Your guides, leaders and Sherpa team will be seasoned experts with proven track records. Their strategy will be patient, conservative and well planned which will give you the best opportunity for success. Remember that the mountain is always there so your safety must come first.

All of our Nepal First Ascent expeditions are organized and overseen by CTSS owner Mike Hamill and led by legendary Nepali guide, Tendi Sherpa.

Tendi’s leadership and experience in remote regions of Nepal are both unequalled and indispensable. He is one of most highly sought-after Guides from Everest to Aconcagua and beyond, and you will love having him at the helm for this experience.

Although this is an intermediate level climbing expedition and we expect climbers to be strong and capable on steeper terrain, we will still run comprehensive training clinics while on expedition to shake out and refresh our skills making sure our entire team is ready to ascend the peak.

Don’t worry if you haven’t done extensive amounts of ice or rock climbing and haven’t been on exposed alpine terrain in a while as you can expect your Guides to take you through all of the techniques you will use on the climb ahead s well as some of the often overlooked, more intrinsic climbing skills like the rest step, pressure breathing and pacing.

Have you heard of the “Marginal Gains” philosophy?

The idea is that by capitalising on every little hidden advantage, 1% here, 1% there, gains quickly compound into a huge overall improvement.

CTSS prides itself on this kind of innovation across all of our expeditions including our First Ascent Program. We optimize both the big details like guide staff, schedules etc, all the way through to the tiny comfort details. For instance we employ our own chef to serve us hearty, nutritious food which is delicious vs. eating dehydrated or basic camp meals because we know well fed climbers are happy, healthy climbers with more energy on summit day. People may dismiss these little luxuries as ‘soft’ but in fact we invest in them because they are highly strategic. It’s also why we invest in the best Guides & equipment.

This is sometimes a little harder to identify as it’s more a feeling than a sales pitch, but you should get a feel for a company through their little interactions, their care factor, their attention to detail, their corporate social responsibility, their response to you.

Mountaineering can be high risk and stressful so pick an operator who has strong core values and a team mentality that aligns with yours so that when things get challenging you can rely on open lines of communication, knowing they will do what they can to support you and keep you safe.

It is this team cohesiveness that flows through to each individual climber and helps them stand on top.

Expedition Meets in: Kathmandu, Nepal
Continent: Asia
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
Population: 28million
Official Language: Nepali
Seasons to climb: March to May = Spring | September to December = Fall

You will need to fly into Kathmandu on, or before, the official arrival day of your expedition. A CTSS representative will pick you up at the airport so please advise us well in advance your arrival time and flight number. If you experience a delay travelling let us know immediately.

In Kathmandu there is good access to ATMs and credit card facilities at most shops and restaurants but you should still have adequate Nepalese rupees and carry small denominations. Once you are in the Khumbu access to ATMs is very limited and while they can be found in the bigger hubs like Lukla and Namche, outages can be common so best not to rely exclusively on being able to access cash as you go. Responsibly carry adequate amounts of local currency for your needs and reserves for emergencies. We advise our clients in our team emails as to how much cash they should bring. USD is also selectively accepted.

Tipping has become more common in Nepal in recent times due to increased tourism.
It is customary for your guides, porters and Sherpa staff. To make this process easier CTSS will collect and distribute fairly a ‘Sherpa Tip Pool’ and advise you on current amounts. In major tourist areas, hotels and restaurants you will often see a ‘service charge’ of 10% – this usually equals a tip. In smaller, local eateries it’s rare to see this and then it is up to your discretion.

Nepal actually uses three plug types – C (two round pins) D (three round pins in a triangular pattern) & M (three round pins) so consider purchasing a reliable universal adapter that gives you all the options. Also it’s VERY important to note that Nepal operates on 230V supply and a supply voltage of 50HZ. If this differs from your home, buy a voltage converter to avoid frying your devices! For instance the standard voltage in the US is 120V and some older devices won’t handle a 230V supply.

The tap water and river water in Nepal is unsafe to drink so please use bottled water, purification tablets, or boiled water for drinking and brushing your teeth. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Your body requires more at altitude.

Despite perceptions, Nepal is a relatively safe destination for travellers and there is a low rate of serious crime however you should still take sensible precautions.
Watch out for pick-pockets and bag-snatching, particularly in airports, on buses and in popular tourist areas like Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu. Avoid walking on your own and don’t carry or flaunt large sums of cash. Keep valuables in a hotel safe if possible. Behave in Nepal as you would at home, err on the conservative side in terms of dress and behaviour. Be respectful and always let your Guide know if you’re going to venture out and what your plan is. In general, we prefer to travel and stick together as a team.

Consult your doctor or travel clinic in your home country for updated information on immunizations for Nepal and China. The usual recommended vaccinations are Diphtheria-tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, meningitis, hepatitis A & B, cholera, typhoid & rabies. Malaria shouldn’t be a problem in Kathmandu or on the climb. If you plan to travel to lower-elevation areas before or after the climb you should consider a malaria chemoprophylaxsis.

The 3 Peaks Expedition is a great intermediate expedition which is well suited to climbers who are fit and have basic mountaineering skills and a good sense of adventure. (It’s ok to be a little rusty on your skill set as we will do a comprehensive refresher as part of your climb with skills clinics at both Lobuche & Everest Base Camp to get you up to speed)

Ideally you are already confident and familiar with your harness, crampon and ice axe techniques and cold management.

If you’re not sure if you have the experience for this climb, please ask us as we can help recommend other training to get prepared for the 3 Peaks Expedition.

It is important that you are very physically fit and healthy and you can dedicate time to ‘climbing specific training’ in the lead up to your expedition. You will be required to climb up to 8-10hrs per day. Being in top shape will also ensure you enjoy your climb, feel good throughout and get the most out of the experience.

It is vital that your training closely simulates what you will be doing on the mountain. Traditional gym workouts or general fitness plans aren’t targeted enough. Instead you need to emulate long physical days (8hrs +) in the mountains.

We recommend that you:

• Start specific mountaineering training at least 3 months in advance
• Train at least 5 days a week for an hour or more
• Focus on high volume but low intensity training
• A good goal is to be able to comfortably climb 1,500 vertical ft per hour with 6-8kg, 15lbs day pack
• Schedule a few weekends where you can do two or more full days back to back. Multi day hikes with good elevation are ideal.

Mindset and mental preparation are integral to your success on any peak.

You should be prepared:

• To be away from home/work for 3 weeks with long periods of being out of range
• Have a desire for rugged adventure travel
• Be open to receiving and deferring to guidance, support and advice from your guides/expedition leaders (even if you are an experienced mountaineer)
• Be comfortable having open conversations with your guides
• Be able to work well in a team environment by being supportive and respectful of fellow team mates
• Be humble, respectful and considerate even under pressure

Nepal is one of the world’s most popular destinations. With incredible landscapes and rich culture, once there, it is truly worth seeing as much of the country as you can. We can seamlessly organize a variety of fantastic customised excursions and extensions for you, either prior to or after your expedition.

Contact us for any requests you have, so we can plan them seamlessly for you.