* Must I carry a heavy rucksack? No. Our expedition includes transport of all of your equipment from Kathmandu to basecamp or advanced basecamp, and returned to Kathmandu (but not in the case of Mustagata, which is in China). While climbing on the mountain, we DO NOT ask our full-service members to carry heavy group equipment (although it is an option if you really want to), such as tents, rope, fuel, food, etcetera. We employ climbing sherpas, and high-altitude porters, to carry group equipment and supplies. For a minimal expense, we can also provide personal sherpas, and climbing-guides, to individual members who wish to have their own private sherpa or personal climbing-guide. back

* What sort of training will I need to pursue? You should exercise regularly, with one hour or more of cardiovascular exercise three or four times each week. It is a good idea to do one long-session of training each week, for 2-3 hours. Also, you should be doing regular exercises designed to train your entire body, such as rock-climbing, situps, pullups, pressups, etcetera. You may wish to carry a light rucksack (less than 10 kilos) during some of your sessions. The best form of training is walking, running, and climbing up and down hills and crags carrying a light rucksack. If you live in a very flat place, you may wish to walk and run up and down stairs, viewing stands, bleachers, etcetera. Be sure to take at least one rest day each week. If you are climbing up and down large hills or many flights of stairs, we encourage you to carry water on the way up, then empty it before descending, in order to save your knees. Please be careful not to over-train, as each season, some members arrive with sprains and strains and injuries they acquired from training-related injuries. We need you to be 100 percent healthy and fit when you arrive, so please be careful, cautious, and very sensible as you prepare.

According to Ben Palmer, qulaified level III fitness trainer: In order to adequately train for your trip you should aim to work out 3 to 4 times a week for between 40 minutes and an hour and a half each time. You should expect to work hard, and try to keep your heart quite high and your breathing quite heavy. You should always consult
your doctor before starting a rigorous exercise plan.

Utilising both gym equipment and the great outdoors will also give you an advantage. You should try to get at least half of your workouts done outside. This could include running (Run up stairs and hills too!) and cycling, but above all should be fun! Hillwalking and climbing with a pack weighing 5-10Kilos is essential. Don't forget
to spend time directly working the muscles of the legs, back and shoulders, and remember that your own body weight can be just as effective as weights!

Adequate rest and a well balanced diet are also essential to avoid injury and illness before the expedition. You should aim to get at least 8 hours sleep per night, and eat a minimum of 3 nutritious meals a day. Don't forget that you will sweat a lot when you train, so try to drink at least 2 litres of water a day, in addition to other drinks like tea, juice, coffee, evening beverages, etcetera.

For more information on how to train for the expedition or for a detailed exercise regime contact Ben on +44 (0) 7974 305847 or email him at ben@benpalmerfitness.co.uk

Ben qualified through Premier Global. He is a Level III Personal Trainer (The highest currently available in the Uk) and has been running his own successful personal
training business for four years now.  back

* Will there be any training of the members and staff during the expedition? Yes, upon arrival in Kathmandu, all members are required to participate in a day of training and orientation. Once we reach basecamp or advanced basecamp, ALL full-service and basic-climb members are again required to participate in one to two days of training in the areas of climbing techniques, glacier travel, rope fixing, ascending, descending, safety techniques, rappels (abseils), belaying, medical equipment and procedures, communications equipment, camping techniques and high-altitude cooking. For the expert and beginner alike, it is important to review these techniques in order to enhance skills, ensure safety-awareness, and learn to work together as a team. Please make sure you have studied the standard books, such as "Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills", and are comfortable and familiar with the necessary climbing techniques, before joining our team. Thank you for being a well-prepared and safe team member! back

* How do we decide who we will be climbing and camping with during the expedition? We have been told that our members and groups get along extremely well, and members are pleased to learn how enjoyable our expeditions are, and often say how pleasantly surprised they are by how well our team members and staff and leaders function together. In Himalayan mountain climbing, it is common to use fixed lines, where groups of as many as 9 people ascend and descend together, or "roped travel" where groups of two, three, or four people move together. Each night, the groups will camp in an established campsite where there are multiple expedition tents. Throughout the climbing days and camping nights, our leaders and Sherpas will be climbing and camping together with you at all times to help set up tents and make sure you are staying healthy and safe and that things are going well. If you did not join together with your climbing partner (many members do not), you will have ample opportunity, during the training, approach/trekking, and first expedition days to determine who you would prefer to climb with. Depending upon the variable speed with which everyone is acclimatizing, these groups and partnerships can form and recombine several times throughout our expedition, where the pace is slow and careful, and there is enough time for multiple summit attempts. back

* Will I be sharing a room or tent with anyone? In basecamp and advanced basecamp, WE PROVIDE YOUR OWN PERSONAL TENT, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SHARED. Most members prefer a single room while in Kathmandu. Our trek-tents and high-altitude tents are based on sharing. back

* How can I meet the other members of the expedition? Quite often, during our lecture tours, we organize meets of our team-members. Please enquire as to the possibility of this in your area. Also, in our  GLACIER SCHOOLS past, present, future, and prospective members are able to meet and climb together. Additionally, we encourage you to contact members who have been with us before and will be going with us again. back

* How can I speak with people who have been previous members and may be joining again? Please refer to the following lists of prior members, and contact them. Please send our best regards when you do! Thank you very much.  "Click" here for: 

* Will there be Sherpas? Yes. All of our full-service expeditions include sherpas for the group. We hire Sherpas and high altitude porters in a support capacity, and now have 23 of these very experienced, friendly, strong, helpful, and loyal people on our staff, including some of Nepal and Tibet's best climbers and some of Nepal's only women Sherpas. Some of our Sherpas have been to the summit of Everest more than 7 times. One of our lady sherpas just became the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit of Ama Dablam, Pumori, and Cho Oyu. Many of our sherpas have personally assisted foreign climbers to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalaya, and Everest as many as six times. During our expedition they will be carrying group equipment such as tents, rope, food, and gas. They are also there to assist in any rescues, so the other team members do not have to give up their summit attempt to rescue a sick member. back

For those who do not wish to carry their own rucksack, or prepare their own meals and drinks above advanced basecamp, we offer personal-private Sherpas (or, you may wish to share one with another member), at minimal additional cost. WE NOW OFFER THE OPTION OF HIRING A "QUARTER-SHARE" OF A SHERPA, SO JUST DIVIDE THE FOLLOWING PRICES BY FOUR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE 10 KILOS OF YOUR PERSONAL EQUIPMENT CARRIED UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, BETWEEN CAMPS (you must give 48 hour advance notice to the 1/4 sherpa). The cost of hiring a top-quality sherpa is as follows. Please note: the price has been quoted in dollars, but you may pay in any currency.