Everest

Hi everyone

I am Madhav and I want to get to the top of Mount Everest. I am 22 years old and I've done two treks till now. (Har Ki Dun and Youth hostel Dalhouise trek). I guess it would take me another 7-8 years to achieve that but I want to do it somehow. Can experienced climbers tell me how I need to plan for that. What are the kind of treks I need to do in the future which will make me eligible for the Everest climb . I also need to know how I need to train my body to be able to do that. It might sound a bit over ambitious but it is my aim and I want to achieve it . Can trekkers and mountaineers tell me what it takes to do it. I also need information on the kind of money involved in the Everest climb as I need to save from now itself. Please help

Wow , that's really pretty much ambitious . But I like your determination.

I can provide some tips as one of my brother is an Everest climber, though not successful. All he told me, I'm telling you.

1. Be very focused about what you want to do and carry it on with determination despite of whatever happens.

2. Regular basis breathing exercise (Pranayam), Yoga, Jogging, free hand PT, stretching, light Gym, balanced diet.

3. Trek at least once/twice a year, go from easy - moderate - hard.

4. Do at least 2-3 rock climbing courses from local club.

5. Undertake the Basic Mountaineering Course and must have to get A grade.

6. Undertake Advanced Mountaineering Course.

7. Always read journals, news, blogs about mountains and several expedition. Read books of some renounced climbers like Martine Moran etc. Make mountain a study subject of your life.

8. Join a renounced club like "Himalayan Club".

9. Try to get qualified in their selection and attempt some Summit expedition. Satopanth, Nandaghunti, Tenzingkhan etc. are in their common list.

After all these, there should have some scope of joint expedition to Mt. Everest with Indian Navy or Army or IAF.

You have to get selected by Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).

Also there involves some political and economical issues too, normally club handles those.

After all these, there are many blah blah blah. But as I said, keep focused, who can tell, you may make it till the top of the world.

Best of luck buddy .

thanks a lot Roy. Thank you so much for the information you have given. Will do my best

Read Harish Kapadia . . . High Himalaya Unknown Valleys its a gem of a book . . . it'll help broaden your understanding of the mountains as well Definitely do the course too, NIM Uttarkashi is a good bet, HMI Darjeeling is also supposed to be very good . . . You might also want to read Boukreev's chilling account of the 1996 tragedy on Everest! As a retort to Krauker's Into thin air . . .

You really want to climb Everest? I've heard its a bit chilly up there

The people I know who have been to the summit of Mt. Everest (one I know personally, the others only from reading their books, etc.) have been serious mountaineers for quite a few years, have climbed many (40, 70, 100.... not sure) mountains of 4000m+, have climbed mountains of 5000 and 6000m before attempting Mt. Everest. I'm not sure if rock climbing is necessary at all. There will be just ice, no bare rocks.

As far as money is concerned - I think one can nowadays do it for about 50,000 USD - depending on the size of the group (expedition). If you pay more, they'll carry you up there. It's not as difficult as it used to be, with fixed ladders and ropes and stationary camps nowadays. But anybody who is not serious and who thinks that money will take him up will be doomed.

You may want to read Reinhold Messner's account of his two climbs: He and an Austrian named Peter Habeler were the first to reach the summit "by fair means", without artificial oxygen, in 1978. Two years later, Reinhold Messner was the first to reach the summit SOLO! Again without artificial oxygen. R.M. is the most successful mountaineer ever and has written a number of books on all his trips. He has also walked across the Antarctic in 1989 and across the Gobi desert.

Looks like there is a lot of reading to do first. Will definitely try to read all the books mentioned. Thank you so much.

madhav,
hkd to direct everest...lots of people already climb the summit of everest ... do something new bro....climb the summit of swargarohini. ..you will be the first person to climb that & it will be a great achievement itself... ...think about it...

Hi Madhav,
I think your first target should be to complete the basic and advanced mountaineering courses from any of the Indian Institutes. That is the most important step for any aspiring mountaineer.
Everest climb has been commercialized a lot nowadays and throwing in a lot of dollars to some guide agencies can easily land you at the top, with some luck.
You can read a few books to realise what it is really like. I would recommend "Into Thin Air" by John Krauker.A gem of a book. "The Crystal Horizon" by Reinhold Messner is also a great read.

Nope, it is not necessary, but it is just a process.

Rock Climbing Course -> Basic Mountaineering Course -> Advanced Mountaineering Course.

Hi Madhav,

I know of a team from Krishnagar Mounaineering Association (West Bengal) planning to climb Mt. Everest as a celebration to their Association's Silver Jubilee, provided they can get the finance together (their budget is Rs. 40 lakhs for a team of 5 persons). They're planning to start on 3rd April, 2010 and the expedition is expected to be completed in 65 days if all goes well. The team will be led by Mr. Basanta Singha Roy who has summitted peaks like Shivling, Thalaysagar and many many others and have been climbing these peaks since 1987. If all goes well, you can get in touch with them to get the hang of things to achieve your ambition. But first and foremost, pay heed to roy_Supratim05's advice which are absolutely necessary.

Mountaineering Association of Krishnagar site http://www.mak.org.in

It's already been done.

yeah, Swargarohini climb was done. Thanks a lot for the information provided.

Madhav, I'm impressed by your zeal. It's a very ambitious goal, and you've already got some nice advice. I'll throw my two-cents, though I'm no mountaineer (yet):

What about seeing you rival up-close? Go for an EBC (Everest Base Camp) trek. When you see Mt. Everest from Kalapatthar, you'll know what you're up against... it would also be a nice chance to meet and talk to experienced mountaineers, if expeditions are camped at EBC.

Do it yourself, not through travel agencies. Take the classic route, that will give you a lot of experience, and opportunity to meet local people. Just yesterday I read a very good blog by our fellow IM member KS on his EBC trek.

Part1 - Jiri to Namche
Part2 - Namche-EBC-Kalapatthar-Namche

My advise: If you are really serious, contact this guy "Babu Malli Mastan". And ask him.

He is an Indian from Andhra, who has done Mt. Everest ... and is the World's Fastest 7-Summiteer!

I think he too, just woke up one day and said "I must climb Mt Everest"

His email-id will be in his website below:

http://www.1stindian7summits.com/default.html
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