Researching and choosing the right expedition company to support you and help guide you through all logistics, as well as be there for you on the mountain, is essential. You want to do your homework so you feel 100% confident in your choice and can focus on the climb.
We encourage you to look closely at both the big picture and the small details. Consider a company’s priority on safety, the quality and experience of its guides, its reputation, and the level of care they provide.
Safety & Success
Your safety and success are the top priorities, in that order.
A climbing company should invest heavily and plan extensively for your safety.
We have an unparalleled safety record, and the well-being of our clients factors into every decision we make during expeditions. Although we like to stand on the top of mountains more than anyone, we believe that climbing is a round-trip endeavor, 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.
At CTSS, we prioritize the safety of our climbers by employing guides with extensive experience on Manaslu and around the world. By using the Northeast Face, we give you the highest chance of success and the best climbing experience available on the mountain.
With our expertise, experience, and infrastructure, you can stack those odds in your favor. We offer a longer acclimatization progression to ensure proper acclimatization and mitigate the risks of altitude sickness. Many guide services, especially local companies, rush their clients up the mountain to cut costs. We are deeply committed to our reputation for safety and success, continually striving to enhance our programs and maintain our hard-earned status.
Decision-making in the mountains is crucial, and our guides are among the best in the business. They have a hunger to summit whenever it’s safe to do so and have a proven track record. All of our programs acclimate conservatively to mitigate the risk of altitude issues and to give participants the highest chance of success.
Leadership
Look for guides who are seasoned experts with a patient, conservative, and well-planned strategy to give you the best opportunity for success. They should be adept at managing the team, able to draw on extensive experience, and able to “thread the needle” when it comes to picking the best summit window.
Our mountaineering guides and staff are second to none and will guide you through the many nuances of climbing Manaslu, which will allow you to be successful. From start to finish, we will work with you to make sure you’re as prepared as possible to reach your goal of standing on top of the 8th-tallest mountain in the world. Often, being able to troubleshoot problems before they occur can make the difference, and this is where CTSS’s vast experience becomes crucial.
Seven Summits Specialists
Climbing the Seven Summits is the world’s premier Seven Summits specialist. We focus primarily on the mountains of the Seven Summits, but Manaslu is one of our favorite peaks for preparing climbs on Everest. After decades of guiding in Nepal, 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 and climbs to prepare you for these types of objectives.
Values & Philosophy
Does an operator have strong values?
This can sometimes be a little harder to identify, as it’s more of a feeling than a sales pitch, but you should get a sense of a company through its small interactions, care factor, attention to detail, corporate social responsibility, and responses 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. When things get challenging, you can rely on open lines of communication, knowing they will do what they can to support you.
It is this team cohesiveness that flows through to each climber and helps them stand on top.
