| Here we examine what you need to do in order to | | | | expedition company is to make sure they provide a |
| successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest, and | | | | guide for you. Having a guide increases your chances |
| live to tell your friends and family about your | | | | of a successful summit attempt tremendously. One |
| adventure. The information presented here is more | | | | of the most well known expedition companies is |
| pragmatic and less philosophical. | | | | Himalayan Experience. |
| Here we will not discuss why some men and women | | | | Himalayan Experience is directed by Russell Brice, |
| have the need to climb the highest mountain in the | | | | who has been leading expeditions to the Himalayas |
| world. At this point in your search for information, | | | | since 1974. He has led clients to the summit of |
| you probably don't need this type of philosophical | | | | Everest, Cho Oyo, Himal Chuli, Shishapangma and |
| reasoning. Here you will find strictly the preparatory | | | | Ama Dablam. His expeditions have been presented on |
| steps you need to take in order to increase the | | | | the Discovery Channel. Brice has a reputation of tight |
| probability of a successful ascent and descent of | | | | control so be prepared to follow his rules strictly. |
| Mount Everest. As in all worthwhile endeavors, | | | | The Russell Brice team is not cheap. There 2007 |
| preparation is the key to success. Lets take a look at | | | | price was $40,000. So do your shopping around in |
| the necessary preparatory steps. | | | | finding the right expedition company, one which fits |
| 1) Make sure that you are in the proper frame of | | | | your budget, and at the same time provides a level |
| mind for a summit. By this we mean ask yourself | | | | of safety you are comfortable with. But also be very |
| why you want to climb Mount Everest. You need to | | | | careful. We strongly suggest that you do not use an |
| have a very good reason to attempt a summit, at | | | | expedition company whose price sounds to low |
| least a very good reason for yourself. The reason | | | | (meaning below $25,000). David Sharp, the climber |
| for this is because your motivation level must be | | | | who died in 2006 and whose death was surrounded |
| very high, and needs to be deep seated within your | | | | by a media frenzy of inaccuracy and furor, had paid |
| own personal psychology. | | | | into one such bare-bones operation. |
| A perfunctory reason for climbing Everest will not | | | | 6) Buy at least $50,000 in emergency medical |
| work. If you are willing to do what ever it takes, and | | | | evacuation insurance in case you need to be |
| take yourself to the edge of your physical and | | | | evacuated due to a medical reason. And while your |
| mental performance envelope, then you should be | | | | at it, make sure your life insurance policy is in place |
| ready to go. This first psychological step is by far the | | | | and find out about if it covers risky activity. Many life |
| most important. If you can not take this first step, | | | | insurance companies simply will not provide a pay out |
| then you should stop reading right here and not | | | | if you die from risky activity. Fortunately, there are |
| continue with the other steps needed. | | | | some life insurance companies that specialize in such |
| 2) Make sure your are physically fit, and build up your | | | | high-risk situations and have underwriters equipped to |
| fitness to a high level during the steps which follow. | | | | provide you with the best quote for your individual |
| Your physical fitness should include running on both | | | | requirements. |
| flat terrain and hills, some weight lifting, some climbing | | | | The following is the fatality rates for a Mount |
| with a heavy backpack, and long periods of walking | | | | Everest summit: |
| with a heavy backpack. Build up your fitness over | | | | 1922-1989; 285/106 (37.19%) |
| time so that your fitness peak occurs around the | | | | 1990-1999; 882/59 (6.69%) |
| time of you summit attempt. Obviously, you must be | | | | 2000-2005; 1393/27 (1.94%) |
| physically and mentally ready to summit Mount | | | | 1922-2006; 3010/203 (6.74%) |
| Everest. | | | | As you can see, the fatality rate for a summit of |
| 3) Make sure you have the knowledge and technical | | | | Mount Everest has dropped dramatically since 1990. |
| skills needed in order to summit Everest. If you are | | | | But no matter how you slice it, there is a risk for loss |
| starting from square one, you need to take | | | | of life. |
| mountaineering courses and start to learn about | | | | The point is, if you have dreamed of climbing Mount |
| mountain climbing. Here we are talking about | | | | Everest, and you are unable to be covered by a life |
| mountain climbing, and not rock climbing, there is a | | | | insurance policy while attempting a summit, I would |
| difference. | | | | not let that stop you. Especially given the fact that |
| After you learn about the skills needed to climb | | | | the fatality rate has dropped dramatically. But it |
| mountains, start climbing and start out by climbing | | | | would be prudent to know what your policy does |
| peaks that are less then ultra prominent. An ultra | | | | and does not cover in terms of risky activity. |
| prominent peak is a mountain with a topographical | | | | 7) Plan your trip for the spring, because during the |
| prominence of 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) or more. | | | | months of March, April and May, this is when the |
| There are a total of roughly 1,524 such peaks in the | | | | optimal climbing weather exists in the Himalayas. You |
| world. The prominence of a peak is the height of the | | | | should also have some basic understanding about |
| peak's summit above the lowest contour line | | | | weather and the weather systems that frequently |
| encircling it. | | | | move through the Himalayas during the spring. While |
| 4) After successful summits of less then ultra | | | | your expedition leader will be making the weather |
| prominent mountains, start to climb ultra prominent | | | | decisions, the ultimate choice of whether you climb |
| peaks, and over a period of 3 to 4 years, build up | | | | comes down to you, and part of that decision |
| your climbing experience so that you able to climb | | | | making involves making sure you have a large enough |
| several mountains which are at least 18,000 feet | | | | weather window for a summit. |
| above mean sea level. Before an Everest summit | | | | 8) Be prepared for long periods of acclimatizing. |
| attempt, climb at least one mountain of 26,247 feet | | | | Usually several weeks or longer. You can not attempt |
| above mean sea level. It is also important to gain | | | | to summit Mount Everest unless you have the proper |
| some experience at expedition camping at higher | | | | number of red blood cells given the decrease level of |
| altitude, and gain experience on how to deal with the | | | | oxygen in the atmosphere. So a lot of time is spent |
| cold. Also, learn about how and when to use oxygen. | | | | waiting. |
| You should also learn how to pace yourself and how | | | | 9) Plan at least two months for the entire trip. |
| to expend as little energy as possible as you move | | | | We have provided you with a list of steps you need |
| up the mountain. | | | | to follow in order to successfully summit Mount |
| 5) During your physical training and climbing, select an | | | | Everest. As you can see, such an attempt should not |
| expedition company. It is very important that you | | | | be looked as an adventure vacation. To summit |
| use an expedition company which has many years of | | | | Mount Everest is serious business, and it should be |
| experience and has a successful track record of | | | | treated as such. The key to a successful summit is |
| putting people on the summit with a safe return | | | | preparation. If you are successful, you will experience |
| descent. There are number of companies out there. | | | | one of the highest levels of accomplishment that an |
| Their prices range anywhere from $25,000 to | | | | individual can achieve. And finally, Godspeed on your |
| $60,000. They are not cheap. | | | | attempt to summit the highest mountain in the world. |
| The most important element here in selecting an | | | | |