Cho-Oyu, meaning Turquoise God, is the sixth highest mountain in the world and is located West of Everest along the Nepal Tibet border. The first summit on this mountain was made in 1954 by a small Austrian/Tibetan expedition.
The easy access to this mountain, relatively safe climbing route and fewer technical difficulties makes Cho Oyu the most attainable of the world’s highest mountains, providing an excellent opportunity for climbers to extend their experience to extreme altitudes. The base of this mountain (Chinese Base Camp) is reached by four wheel vehicles, and a two day trek from here will bring you to Base Camp at 5600m.
Our expedition follows the West Ridge/West Face, which has two short technical sections. We will establish Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 5600 meters (19,024 feet), Camp I at 6500 meters, Camp II at 7100 meters (23,288 feet), and Camp III at 7400 meters (24,272 feet). The route to Camp 1 at 6,400 meters is basically a steep walk, often done in hiking boots. Above Camp 1, the climbing route has only a few short technical sections yet is direct, allowing climbers to gain altitude without covering a lot of distance.
Summit day begins early. A few rocky steps (4 meters high) and mixed snow climb at a 30-45 degree angle brings you to the wide summit plateau followed by a long traverse brings you to the summit, at 8,201 meters/27,000 feet. You know you are on the true summit when you see the inspiring views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, and the entire Khumbu valley, as well as great views across the Tibetan plateau to Shishapangma.
Our program allows enough time for proper acclimatization, rest days, and several returns to base camp. The weather at this time of year is normally quite good and stable. However, we have included extra days for summit attempt in case of bad weather not allowing us to attempt the summit.
Experience Required :
Cho Oyu expedition is suitable for experienced mountaineers. To join us on Cho Oyu, you need to be fully conversant with mountaineering techniques. Ideally, having completed Alpine climbs and have prior altitude experience of around 6,000m.
