May 2008 Newsletter
May 2008 Newsletter
Greetings to you and yours. I hope all is well. This is Dan Mazur, SummitClimb and SummitTrek leader, writing to you from peaceful and beautiful Kathmandu. I am sitting in the fresh-air on the sunny rooftop of the hotel here in Nepal, listening to city sounds, watching birds fly around, and looking at the wonderful view of the mountains. There is a new dusting of snow on the tops, so they look particularly enticing next to the green backdrop of the lower hills. I am writing a picture postcard to everyone, and am about to drop these into the post, so you should have yours in a few weeks. Please do let us know when your card arives, as we are always curious how long these might take to reach you from Nepal.
In case we don’t have your postal address, there is still time to send it so we could post your colour Himalayan mountain card. If you have sent it, thanks very much.
Our Everest climbing and trekking season is well underway and the team has just reached camp 2 and are working toward camp 3. So far, its been an exciting year with helicopter rescues, and the closure of the Tibetan side of Everest due to the Chinese Olympic torch relay. Watch the news, updated daily: https://summitclimb.com . Our basecamp trekking group is having fun and seeing fantastic views. It snowed a bit in early April, but recently the weather has been stunning. This week we had some light snowfall in basecamp, making things very exciting and beatiful and white. Looks like Christmas! Our Island Peak team just came back to town and five people reached the summit of this easy introductory mountain. Along the way, our groups stopped to visit the Deboche Nunnery, where we have been working with the Mount Everest Foundation undertaking a rebuilding project on this 1925 convent together with 14 resident nuns, who are from Tibet and Nepal. All of the work is set to be completed next week, including the new bathroom, new windows, and a new wood-fired oven large enough to prepare meals for 20 hungry nuns.
I am writing to let you know we have a few fun, interesting and challenging trips coming up, beginning with our July 1-24 Mustagata climb. Just a few places are left in this introductory climb of a very high mountain which is commonly snowshoed, racquetted, skiied, and snowboarded, so if you wish to go please let us know very soon. Here is the slideshow: https://summitclimb.com (photo right by Brad Jackson: Mustagata seen from acclimatization camp at 3600 metres/11,800 feet with Karakul Lake reflecting the mountain).
You are invited to join our fun group of men and women from around the world for affordable, well-organized adventures. Most members participate as individuals and enjoy becoming part of the team. We also encourage groups of friends, family, and colleagues (discounts for groups of 2 or more). I look forward to trekking/climbing together soon. Please note. All prices below are for 'full-service'. We also offer 'basic' pricing for the budget minded. back to top
Welcome to our team and thanks for telling all of your friends about what we are trying to do.
Mustagata: 1-24 July. Introductory high-altitude snow climb on the world's easiest 7500m/24,000ft peak; Ski, snowboard, racquette and snowshoe to/from the summit. Ideal high-altitude introduction, just 24 days. Climbing Mustagata qualifies you for Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse. Leader: Jon Otto, fluent Chinese and English, 8 prior ascents. Full-Service: €2650, £2150, $4250. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Cho Oyu: 2 September - 9 October. Intermediate high-altitude snow climb of world's sixth highest and most accessible of the 8000m/26,000ft peaks. Considered easiest '8000er'. Leader: Dan Mazur, previous Cho-Oyu summiter. Our 9th expedition. Climbing Cho qualifies you for Everest and Lhotse. Special: optional ski-snowboard descent. Full-Service: €5650, £4550, $8950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Shishapangma: 18 September - 24 October. Intermediate high-altitude snow climb of one of the world's easiest 8000m/26,000ft peaks. The lowest of the world's fourteen '8000ers'. Combine with Cho Oyu and earn a 20% discount. Leader: Dan Mazur, previous Shisha summiter. Our 4th expedition. Climbing Shisha qualifies you for Everest and Lhotse. Full-Service: €5650, £4550, $8950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Ama Dablam: 1 October - 1 November. Intermediate, medium-altitude rock, ice and snow. Technical - climbable. Asia's most famous, excellent granite, fixed ropes to summit. Leader: Arnold Coster, technical expert and seniour leader. Our 11th expedition. Climbing Ama Dablam could qualify you for Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse. 6,812m/22,349ft. Full-Service: €3150, £2550, $4950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com . back to top
Everest Basecamp Nepal: 1-17 October. Easy-beautiful walk in footsteps of Hillary and Tenzing. Hike wide trails through green valleys. Explore basecamp and easy Kala-Pattar (5545m/18,150ft), fabulous views of Everest. Full-Service: €1050, £850, $1650. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Island Peak: 12-16 October. Easy 'light climbing'. 5 day climb of the most famous 'trekking-peak' in all of the Himalaya. Massif views. Combine with our Everest base camp trek for perfect acclimatization. 6189m/20,300ft. Full-Service: €450, £350, $790. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: www.ClimbIslandPeak.com.
Everest-View Glacier-School: 1-22 October, Introductory medium-altitude snow climb. Learn essential skills, ropes, ice-climbing, anchor-placement, glacier-travel, climb a high peak, explore beautiful valleys on good trails. Leader: Raj Thapa; qualified NMA/British mountain leader, and skills trainer with 15 years experience. 6119m/20,070ft. Full-Service: €1550, £1250, $2450. www.EverestViewGlacierSchool.com
Service Trek: 2-13 November. Walk green hills and valleys near Mt. Everest where tourists are rare. Help Everest Foundation deliver medicine and education to remote villages. See the last ancient forests. (low altitude). Full-Service: €550, £450, $950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Tibet treks to Cho Oyu and Shishapangma basecamp. September and October. Full-Service: €1550, £1250, $2450. back to top
Aconcagua: 5-24 January or 1-19 February. Introductory medium-altitude climb. Highest peak in the Americas. Test yourself at altitude on an easy mountain. Trail to the high-camp is wide and snow-free, occasional patches of snow may be found at the summit. Climbing Aconcagua could qualify you for Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse. 6962m/22,841ft. Full-Service: €2050, £1650, $3250. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Everest Tibet: 29 March - 5 June. Advanced high-altitude climb. The 'less-traveled' side of Everest in exotic Tibet. Leader Arnold Coster has climbed it 4 times. Expert sherpas, superb tents, rope, equipment, food. Full-Service: €12,550, £10,050, $19,950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Everest Nepal: 29 March - 5 June. Advanced high-altitude climb. The original first-ascent route with leader Dan Mazur (his 8th Everest Expedition) and our team of top-notch sherpas.Considered to be the 'easiest' way to the top of our world's highest peak. Well-organized with best tents, rope, equipment, food, and cooks. 8,848m/ 29,035ft. Full-Service: €15,250, £12,350, $24,350. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com.
Cho Oyu: 23 April-30 May. Intermediate high-altitude snow climb of world's sixth highest and most accessible of the world's fourteen 8000m/26,000ft peaks. Considered to be the world's 'easiest' 8000er due to its lack of technicality. Leader: Sam Mansikka, previous Cho-Oyu summiter. Our 10th expedition. Climbing Cho-Oyu qualifies you for Everest and Lhotse. Full-Service: €5650, £4550, $8950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Lhakpa Ri / North Col: 1-28 March or 29 March-25 April or 30 April-27 May. Introductory medium-altitude climb. Discover 7000m/23,000ft. H igh trek followed by a quick ascent to the top. New option: Feel well and immediately join our Everest expedition, on the spot. Climbing Lhakpa-Ri/North-col could qualify you for Cho Oyu, Everest, and Lhotse. Full-Service: €3750, £3050, $5950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: www.ClimbNorthCol.com. back to top
Everest Basecamp Tibet: 29 March-17 April or 30 April-19 May. Walk to high altitude (6400m/21,000ft) on the famous route of Mallory and Irvine. See medieval Tibet, the plateau, meet nomadic families and their yak herds. Full-Service: €1550, £1250, $2450. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Everest Basecamp Nepal: 29 March-15 April, 1-18 May. Enjoy this easy and beautiful walk in footsteps of Hillary and Tenzing. Stroll along wide trails through green valleys. Explore basecamp and take an easy walk to the top of Kala-Pattar (5545m/18,150ft), where you can see fabulous views of Everest and her sister peaks: Lhotse and Nuptse. Full-Service: €1050, £850, $1650. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Island Peak: 9-13 April or 12-16 May. Easy 'light climbing'. 5 day climb of the most famous 'trekking-peak' in all of the Himalaya. Massif views. Combine with our Everest base camp trek for perfect acclimatization. 6189m/20,300ft. Full-Service: €450, £350, $790. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: www.ClimbIslandPeak.com
Here are some photos from our recently returned Everest Basecamp Trek and Island Peak expedition. Click one of the thumb nails below to view a bigger version of each image.
Everest-View Glacier-School: 29 March-19 April or 1-22 May. Introductory medium-altitude snow climb. Learn essential skill, ropes, ice-climb, glacier-travel, climb a high peak, trek to basecamp via beautiful valleys on good trails. Leader: Raj Thapa; qualified NMA/British mountain leader and skills trainer with 15 years experience. 6119m/20,070ft. Full-Service: €1550, £1250, $2450. www.EverestViewGlacierSchool.com
Service Trek: 6-17 June. Walk green hills and valleys near Mt. Everest where tourists rarely tread. Help Everest Foundation deliver medicine and education to remote villages. See the last ancient forests. (low altitude). Full-Service: €550, £450, $950. Here is the website and the updated slideshow: https://summitclimb.com .
Please remember: 
Become a leader-guide. Men and women of all ages aspiring to an Himalayan mountain career: Enroll in our 'Leader-in-Training' programme. We pay all accommodation expense and provide a 15% discount from our full-service price. Ask Us! back to top
Discounts: We provide reduced prices for groups of 2 or more, medical professionals, mountain-guides and returning members.
Commissions: We pay cash for referrals from individuals, mountain-shops, travel-agencies and tour-operators. Tell your friends (Photo right by Tunc Findik: Slightly above ABC, one of our Everest climbing expedition members is heading up to ascend the North Col, where camp 1 is located at 7000 metres/23,000 feet).
Lectures: to raise awareness and funds for Mount Everest Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Nepal and Tibet.
Become a Part of the Team ! SummitClimb.com & SummitTrek.com
Email: info@SummitClimb.com, info@SummitTrek.com,
UK Address: 184 Bishop Road, Bristol, BS7 8NB, England. UK Phone: ++44 (0) 7810 375 400
USA Address: POB 123, Lakebay, WA, 98349, USA. USA Phone: 360-570-0715
Ps. Congratulations, you have made it to the bottom of this email. You must have what it takes to be an Himalayan climber/trekker! back to top