Spring Pre Trip Newsletter

Spring Pre Trip Newsletter

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Dear Friends, Climbers and Trekkers,

This is the pre-trip newsletter for our 2021 expeditions and walks.

Please read down all of the way to the bottom of this newsletter so you do not miss anything important. Thank you very much and welcome to our team!

A)    Introduction
B)    Covid guidelines
C)    Organizing your Nepal Visa
D)    Preparation - what to bring
E)    In Kathmandu (KTM) - arrival and departure
F)    Equipment and supplies for walking and climbing
G)    Sherpas, Staff, and Leaders Tips and Gifts
H)    Communication
I)    Additional information for climbers
J)    Donations of medical and educational supplies, clothing, etcetera for the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development
K)    Conclusion

A: INTRODUCTION

We offer a number of exciting trips this year and next, which you may review on our website at www.SummitClimb.com and www.SummitTrek.com . Please ask as many questions as possible, so that we may understand one another's expectations. Informed team members achieve their goals with greater satisfaction and are better and safer "team players". We love discussing our favourite subject, MOUNTAINS, so please ask us anything.

NOW IS THE TIME TO JOIN OUR 2021 TRIPS if you have not already.

All climbs now feature western leaders, excellent food, the best Sherpas, and some of the finest equipment on the mountain.If you consider joining (we hope you will) please be sure to read this newsletter to the end and understand it fully. Thank you.

The three goals for our expeditions and walks are:

1. Safety;
2. Fun, Friendship, and Teamwork;
3. Achieving our goals, reaching the summit, basecamp, or your service project, and returning safely.

B) COVID GUIDELINES – you will need the following:

  1. PCR test (negative report) less than 72 hours before boarding flight from your home country to Kathmandu. You must carry a very original certificate showing your negative PCR test report. Please bring photocopies also.
  2. 7 days quarantine in Kathmandu (Ktm) hotel before trek or expedition (we are trying to shorten this). At your expense, around $450-$1190. Price includes 3 meals per day. We will book the hotel for you, our normal standard hotel or the luxury 5-star hotel. Generally we advise members to come to Ktm on the normal beginning date of the trip, and then the trip will run as per normal schedule, just it will be 7 days longer at the end, due to the quarantine at the beginning. So you could be flying home 7 days later. We will try to make the quarantine shorter. Note: Everest and Lhotse SummitClimb will not be 7 days longer.
  3. Required: Obtain Travel medical insurance which covers Covid-19 ( minimum $5000). You will need a Covid letter from your insurer specifically stating at least $5000medical coverage for Covid-19 whilst you are in Nepal. (Many of our members are now using a company called Global  Rescue, they provide advisory and transport services in connection with COVID-19 in the same manner as any other infectious condition. Optional: For protecting non-refundable trip costs Global Rescue are partnered with International Medical Group to offer travel insurance, and are highly recommending the upgrade to ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ which must be purchased within 20 days of making their first non-refundable deposit for a trip and requires them to insure 100% of any non-refundable trip costs)
  4. Required: Helicopter rescue insurance covering you during trek and mountain climb. (We can recommend Global rescue: Global Rescue )
  5. On 5th day of quarantine in the KTM hotel, you will need another negative PCR test report ( if PCR positive report then quarantine until PCR negative). This will be at your expense, cost will be approximately $20-$50 for PCR test. After 2 more days in the hotel, your trek/climb will begin. We will try to make the quarantine shorter.
  6. All leaders, staff and Sherpas will be taking complete Covid-19 precautions, wearing masks and social distancing
  7. Another PCR test, at your expense, (negative report) is required less than 72 hours before boarding flight from Kathmandu back to your home country. PCR tests and results in Nepal are easily obtained on short notice, within 12 hours. So you can get tested in the afternoon, and the following morning, you have your results.
  8. Please check if your country may require special procedures when you return from Nepal.
  9. If you want to do all of the above, then we will get you a visa letter. It can take a week for us to obtain the visa letter, so the sooner you agree to the above the better. We will email you the visa letter.
  10. The letter from the Nepal Government will say you can get your visa on arrival at the Kathmandu Airport. Please bring the letter and extra photocopies with you.
  11. Further covid-19 guidelines can be found on our website here: Covid-19-Guidelines

C: ORGANIZING YOUR NEPAL VISA

YOUR NEPAL VISA IS BEST PURCHASED WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE KATHMANDU AIRPORT

When you arrive in Kathmandu airport, you will fill out the arrival and visa forms available on the tables, you will present all of the necessary documents (please see above) and then the immigration officials will stamp your Nepal visa into your passport at the immigration counter. You will provide your passport sized photo of your face on a white background (please carry extra copies of your passport sized photo of your face), and pay cash (dollars, pounds, or euros) for the visa at that time. The cost for a 60 day visa is around $100. There may be a “visa machine” which helps you fill up the forms and takes your photo electronically. Please obtain a single entry visa for the total number of days you will be in Nepal. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the END of the expedition and contain at least 2 blank pages.  

D: Preparation - what to remember. Please read the section below carefully. Thank you.

  1. Purchase your flight ticket now. Flights are still available. Return flights from UK-Kathmandu-UK are around 550 pounds. Return flights from USA-Kathmandu-USA are around $1100. Please let us know if you need assistance in booking your ticket. We are here to help.  
  2.  Application paperwork and payment - what we need in your file, which we encourage you to send us by email. Now is the time for the completion of registration formalities, if you have not done so already.

Delay in receipt of the following items listed below may result in an inability to get you onto the permit and perhaps even a delay of your departure from Kathmandu.
Here is a checklist of what we need to have in your file immediately. If you have not already sent these, please do. We encourage you to send an electronic scan of all of the below documents, please be sure they are signed. Thank you:

[ ] Completed Payment. Please restate payments you made and what those payments were for, ie full vs basic, sherpas, oxygen, etc.
[ ] Make your Oxygen order (if any) crystal clear at this time, number of bottles, masks, payment, etc.
[ ] Make your Sherpa order (if any) crystal clear at this time, personal sherpa, quarter sherpa (equipment carriage service), payment, etc.
[ ] Signed and Scanned Trip Registration and Waiver Forms (part 4 page form)
[ ] Signed Medical Form (part of 4 page form),
[ ]1 close up photo scan of your face, on white background,
[ ] Scan of passport identification pages,
[ ] Complete flight itinerary,
[ ] Letter from your insurer stating at least $5000 medical cover in case of Covid-19.
[ ] Helicopter rescue insurance covering you during trek and mountain climb (cancellation and travel     insurance are advised).
[ ] Doctors letter for all climbs 6000m / 19,500ft and above. Please ask us for the “doctor’s letter template.”
[ ] Visa letter from the Nepal Government will say you can get your visa on arrival at the Kathmandu Airport. (SummitClimb will arrange this for you). Please bring extra copies.
[ ] PCR test (negative report) less than 72 hours before boarding flight from your home country to Kathmandu. Please bring extra copies.

Please do let us know what further questions you may have about the registration process, or anything else for that matter. Thank you.

3) Please bring all of your personal paperwork mentioned above, and please remember to carry at least two extra paper photos of your face in your pocket, etcetera.

4) Please make sure to budget enough cash and bring it along with you to Kathmandu. For Nepal walks and climbs, you will change money into rupees after arriving in Kathmandu city. Although it is a good idea to change a bit at the airport (maybe $20, 10 pounds, or 10 euros). Credit cards are of no use once you leave Kathmandu, and even in Kathmandu credit cards are still quite often not accepted by shops, hotels, and restaurants. You can use your bank ATM card in Kathmandu. You will only be able to withdraw Nepalese rupees and not dollars, euros, pounds, etc. Once you are away from Kathmandu out on the trek, you may not be able to obtain any cash from your card and sometimes it’s hard to change money other than US dollars, or the outside –KTM exchange rate can be quite unfavourable, etcetera. In Kathmandu you can change many kinds of money. We've found it's better to be prepared and bring too much cash than not enough. Note on traveller's cheques: They are not useful. Please do not bring them. Regarding the size of the foreign currency bills. Large bills are good. Please don’t bring too many small bills, as you will get a worse exchange rate. A few small bills are ok. Please bring enough cash to cover your expenses for the following:

A. Hotels in Kathmandu (KTM);
B. Restaurants in KTM;
C. Shopping in KTM;
D. Visas;
E. Emergency cash for rescue, on the spot negations for helicopter flights. Please add $500 to the cash numbers below if you think you might want to take a helicopter.
F. Tips for staff, sherpas, summit bonuses, etc;
G. Shopping and drinks (cappuccino, chocolate cake, pizza, coke, beer, etcetera) during trek.
H. Phone calls and internet charges.

If you feel uncomfortable carrying such currency on your trip, you can give it to our leader for safe keeping. Here are the recommended amounts of cash to have on hand for each trip:

  • Everest Nepal members: please bring at least $1800 cash with you for the expedition.
  • Lhotse members: please bring at least $1800 cash with you for the expedition.
  • Everest Nepal Training Climb members: please bring at least $1000 cash with you for the trip.
  • Everest Glacier School members: please bring at least $700 cash with you for the trip.
  • Everest Basecamp Nepal walkers: please bring at least $400 cash with you for the trip.
  • Be sure to bring extra cash to Nepal basecamp for tipping the Sherpas and staff as many of them will not be returning to KTM.

5) We need the name and contact details of an emergency contact person who is available 24 hours a day, speaks English, and is able to wire funds to Nepal on your behalf. This is in case you are injured and require emergency services. Thank you.

E: In Kathmandu (KTM) - arrival and departure

1) Arriving in KTM, meeting your flight, and going to your hotel.

Use hand sanitiser regularly, when entering any building, before starting an activity and as often as possible throughout the activity

Social distance as much as possible and where not possible wear a mask.

It is the member’s responsibility to comply with Covid-19 precautions

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, medical staff will check to see if you have a fever, if your temperature is high then you will have to self-isolate or be admitted to the hospital. Other medical tests/procedures may be required.

Note: Our staff will meet you at the airport holding a "SummitClimb" sign.

Our staff try to personally meet your flight at the Kathmandu airport and bring you to the hotel. We were able to meet all of our team members last season. Do we have your exact arrival (and departure) information, including: airline, flight number, arrival date, arrival time, coming from where? If you have sent the above, thank you very much. Before leaving the airport please change a little money (maybe $20, 10 pounds, or 10 euros) into rupees at the exchange counter. You will get a better rate once you are inside Kathmandu, so please don’t change too much. When you walk out of the airport terminal, please walk slowly and carefully and look for the sign bearing your name (usually your last, or surname, but occasionally your first, or given name). The sign may also simply say "Summit Climb or Summit Trek". In case we miss you, please take a 500 rupee taxi to the hotel. We did not miss anyone last year, but some members did not read the signs.

All members of all teams are urgently instructed to never tip more than $1 or 1 euro or 1 pound or 100 rupees at the airport in exchange for receiving help with your luggage. These airport people are becoming really persistent and expect that visitors will not know any better. Sometimes they ask for huge amounts of money and people give it to them, so please be aware and cautious when you arrive. Please also note that if 10 people try to carry your bag, they don’t all receive a tip. You just give the money to one of them and let them divide it among themselves.

2) Print out our KTM office details and carry with you at all times. Our Kathmandu office managers are: Climbing & Trekking Office -

  • Mr. Murari Sharma and Mr. Deha Shrestha
  • Everest Parivar Expedition (Infront of Armed Police Force Headquarter)
  • Halchok, Swayambhu, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Office: 977-1-4283382
  • Residence tel: 9771-4418210, 4428110
  • Mobile: (977) 985102-3985 or 985109-1456

PLEASE PRINT OUT ITEMS 2 AND 3 AND CARRY THEM WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES (ESPECIALLY ON ARRIVAL) IN CASE YOU BECOME LOST

3) KTM HOTEL. Your trip includes 2 free Kathmandu standard hotel nights at the end of the trip. If you prefer a 5 star hotel, we can offer the famous Yak and Yeti. WE HAVE BOOKED SINGLE ROOMS FOR EVERYONE DURING THE QUARANTINE. If you need extra nights, and/or a single supplement, we can book those in advance. You must stay in the hotel during the quarantine. You must not go out. 3 MEALS A DAY ARE INCLUDED DURING THE QUARANTINE, IN THE HOTEL.

7 days quarantine in Kathmandu (KTM) hotel before your trek or expedition (we are trying to shorten this) at your expense. We will book the hotel for you, a normal standard hotel or the luxury 5-star hotel. Generally we advise members to come to KTM on the normal beginning date of the trip, and then the trip will run as per normal schedule, just it will be 7 days longer at the end, due to the quarantine at the beginning. So you could be flying home 7 days later. We will try to make the quarantine shorter. Please Note: however, in the case of the Everest and/or Lhotse summit climb, the quarantine will NOT make the trip 7 days longer.

HOTEL OPTIONS FOR QUARANTINE (we will book one of the following hotels for you):

5 Star Hotel (famous Yak and Yeti Hotel with amazing lobby, large garden, beautiful rooms, delicious food, health club, etc) quarantine 7 days (3 meals per day): $1190,
Yak and Yeti Hotel for 2 nights at end of trip: $340.

OR Standard hotel in Kathmandu quarantine 7 days (3 meals per day): $450.

We are able to book extra nights if you wish to arrive earlier than the trip start date or stay later then the trip end date.

Here is the information for the standard hotel we are using this year:

  • Harati Manor Inn
  • 569 Gangalal Marg,
  • Chhetrapati, Thamel
  • Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Tel: 4263429, 4261067
  • Cell: 9841230040

Here is the information for the 5 star hotel:

  • Yak and Yeti Hotel
  • Durbar Marg,
  • Kathmandu
  • +977 1-42489994

4) Arrive in KTM on the first day of our itinerary for the team orientation. All members must be present on the first day of our scheduled itinerary in Kathmandu unless you have made special arrangements. We need your passports on that day so that we can obtain the permit for you to go to the mountains. We will do an intensive orientation, training, and shopping before setting off for the mountains. This will be done while you are in quarantine, using social distancing and wearing masks. Below are the dates we require you to arrive in Kathmandu (of course it is no problem to arrive earlier).

  • Everest Nepal: 6 April.
  • Lhotse: 6 April.
  • Everest Nepal Training Climb: 6 April
  • Everest Glacier School: 6 April
  • Island Peak: 6 April

Everest Base Camp Trek Nepal (and optional Island Peak): 6 April.

5) Please don’t plan on leaving before the last day of our itinerary. Please note that you cannot leave before the end date of the trip unless you have the leaders permission. Below are the dates for your return flight home at the end of each expedition. Of course its fine if you want to stay on after the expedition ends. There are lots of fun things to do in Nepal like wild game viewing safaris in Chitwan, rafting the many amazing rivers of Nepal, visit lakeside resorts and restaurants in beautiful Pokhara, etcetera.  

  • Everest: 4 June
  • Lhotse: 4 June
  • Everest Nepal Training Climb: 13 May (Includes extra 7 days to allow for quarantine)
  • Everest Glacier School: 30 April (Includes extra 7 days to allow for quarantine)
  • Island Peak 4 May (Includes extra 7 days to allow for quarantine)
  • Everest Base Camp Trek Nepal: 29 April (Includes extra 7 days to allow for quarantine)

F: Equipment -

1) For an equipment list for climbing, walking and group equipment, please go to 'equipment' link on the web page of the trip you wish to join on the SummitClimb and SummitTrek website. NOTE: all equipment MUST be in a locked kit-duffle-holdall bag with your name in LARGE LETTERS. Unlocked rucksacks and unlocked bags of any kind are not advised.

2) Shopping in KTM. We provide an equipment purchase and rent/hire service for free ideas of where to find the best climbing equipment, clothing, shoes, sleeping bags, etcetera for your expedition. Give us a call or email and we will be glad to help. Equipment purchase and hire/renting is simple, easy and affordable here in Kathmandu! We have access to the finest brands and the best quality gear at rock bottom prices. Also, we provide personal gear checking of all of your equipment in Kathmandu. Please bring the gear you have and we will check it and help you find any missing pieces, make sure it fits correctly, and is the best quality for you. Even if you have no gear, please just let us know and we will find every single piece for you. With more than 100 high quality and affordable equipment shops here in Kathmandu, we can find any item you might need. Please just let us know your sizes in advance and we will give you a list of options, and assure you of availability.

3) Storing excess baggage and personal possessions - valuables in KTM. We provide secure facilities in Kathmandu in which to store your extra personal items such as luggage, extra money, credit cards, passports, jewelry, expensive watches, etcetera. These facilities are kept locked and are extremely safe. All bags left in storage must be locked and have your name clearly written in large letters.

4) Climbers and walkers-bring, buy or rent a thick hooded duvet-down jacket. Climbers also need duvet down pants –trousers and/or a down-duvet one-piece suit for 8000 metre peaks. Good quality down/duvet gear is available in Kathmandu inexpensively and is a crucial part of your equipment.

5) Food during the expedition -

Snack Food: Bring your own snack food. All basecamp and walk meals and high meals (3 per day) are included in our full-service expeditions. We provide more than enough food and cooking fuel for three meals per day on the high mountain (and also on trek and in basecamp). We do not provide any daily snack energy food, you need to provide your own. Please remember to bring your daily snack-energy mountain food for each day we are climbing above basecamp on the mountain. This food would consist of chocolate bars, power bars, energy gel, rehydration drinking powder, sweets, nuts, sausage, cheese, etc.. More and more items are available in Kathmandu, but choice may be limited. A wide variety of imported sweets, snacks, and chocolates are available, with quality brands such as Cadbury, Snickers, Lindt and Cafe d'Or in abundance. The prices are not bad. There are many kinds of local snacks and local granola bars available, but they still do not import hi-tech foreign power bars, energy gels, energy or electrolyte drinks, etcetera.

If you like imported cheeses, tinned meats, and other specialty foods, please bring them.

Here is the list of food we suggest you bring for yourself:

  • Everest: 3-6 kilos - 7 to 13 pounds of snacks and 5 freeze-dried dinners
  • Lhotse: 3-6 kilos - 7 to 13 pounds of snacks and 5 freeze-dried dinners
  • Everest Training Climbs: 2-4 kilos - 4 to 8 pounds of snacks and 2 freeze-dried dinners
  • Everest Glacier School & Island Peak: 1-2 kilos - 2 to 4 pounds of snacks
  • Everest Basecamp Trek: 1-2 kilos - 2 to 4 pounds of snacks

6) Boots and shoes for your climb - walk. Regarding shoes, please wear the following:

  • Everest: "One-Sport Everest Millet" style boots high on the mountain and sturdy leather boots (crampon compatible) for walking to camp 1. Plus trekking shoes mentioned below.
  • Lhotse: "One-Sport Everest Millet" stlye boots high on the mountain and sturdy leather boots (crampon compatible) for walking to camp 1. Plus trekking shoes mentioned below.
  • Everest Training Climbs: Plastic double boots, super warm specialty insulated single boots, or "One-Sport Everest Millet" boots. Sturdy leather boots (crampon compatible) for walking to camp 1. Plus trekking shoes mentioned below.
  • Everest Glacier School & Island Peak: Sturdy double plastic climbing boots that are made for crampons, in addition to comfortable lightweight trekking shoes with good ankle support that are water repellent and well “broken-in.”.
  • Everest Basecamp Treks: Comfortable lightweight trekking shoes with good ankle support that are water repellent and well “broken-in.”

Please note: Members who have tried to wear leather single boots or “6000 metre” boots) to the summit of our 7000 metre / 23,000 foot plus climbing peaks have suffered frostbite. Single boots are not recommended, and may disqualify you from climbing 7000 metre / 23,000 foot plus climbing peaks. Frostbite is not an option on our expeditions.

Good shoes and all types of climbing boots are available for purchase and hire inexpensively in Kathmandu. Our planned schedule allows plenty of time for equipment shopping in Kathmandu. Let us know your size and we are glad to check for you! IF YOU HAVE VERY SMALL OR VERY LARGE FEET, PLEASE TELL US BEFORE, AND WE WILL CHECK THE KATHMANDU SHOPS FOR AVAILABILITY.

G: Sherpas, Staff, and Leaders Tips and Gifts

 Tipping your leaders, sherpas, and staff. Regarding gratuities (tips). Our leaders, sherpas, and staff are among the best, because we can count on receiving gratuities for a job well done at the end of each expedition. You will be impressed when you see just how hard we do work. It is a matter of pride for all of us. Besides individual tips, we  also ask you to pay an additional “group” tip and we will "pool" these tips together and then, as a group, we will vote on the distribution of the gratuities to the individual staff.

This method has seemed to be the fairest and has worked very well in the past. In addition there will be a high-altitude bonus.

  • Everest Group Tip: $350
  • Lhotse Group Tip: $350
  • Everest Nepal Training Climb Group Tip: $200
  • Everest Glacier School & Island Peak Group Tip: $100
  • Everest Basecamp Treks & Remote Nepal Service Trek Group Tip: $150

Expect to pay the above tip no matter what.

Tipping Climbing Sherpas on our peak climbs: for a Sherpa who helps you to climb above the high camp or up to the summit and back down, expect to pay a summit-attempt bonus as follows:

  • Everest Summit Attempt Bonus: $600, Summit Success: $1000.
  • Lhotse Summit Attempt Bonus: $500, Summit Success: $800.
  • Everest Nepal Training Climb Summit Attempt Bonus: $150, Summit Success: $250.
  • Everest Glacier School & Island Peak: Summit Attempt Bonus: $100, Summit Success: $150

The summit bonus may be split between climbers who were in the summit party. If you have a personal Sherpa, your tip will be at least 20% more. We request you to bring this money with you to basecamp in cash, and be ready to pay it there, as many of our staff are local and will not be returning to Kathmandu with us. Credit cards may be of use in Kathmandu, but they will not work in basecamp.

Tips for your leader/guide are encouraged!

Bring gifts for sherpas and staff. Regarding other gifts you may wish to provide, please bring as many as possible. These equipment donations are quite important to our staff and their families as they are often handed down to needy relatives and Sherpas who are learning to climb and need some assistance. Most, if not all sherpas got their start on "hand-me-down" kit.

SHERPA TRAINING SCHOOL: Sherpa Climbing School . Working together with the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development (MEFSD), we need new and used good-quality climbing and walking equipment and clothing, as well as funds for office expense. The MEFSD is building a new school for training 30 aspiring young sherpas, both men and women. Safety, technique, communication, education, health, environmental and cultural preservation and economic opportunities will be the goals for this new training course so that we can provide education, training and help local people in Nepal to earn a good living from sustainable tourism in their beautiful country for many years to come.

Do you have extra mountain equipment, clothing, and shoes/boots? Older equipment, shoes, and clothing are fine. We encourage you to bring any extras for our staff. Please remember that Sherpa people come in all sizes (from extra small to extra large), and would appreciate any rucksacks, old harnesses, helmets, ice-axes, old ice and rock gear, warm clothing, goretex and fleece, pile, down, and duvet clothing, windproof clothing, and any kind of out-of-door shoes and boots, including walking, climbing, running, etc. Children’s and Women’s clothing is also needed. Thanks for helping and being so very thoughtful.

H: Communication

  1. Telephone. We have a mobile phone in basecamp. The cost is around $1 - $2 per minute, depending on which country you are ringing andit’s free of cost to receive incoming calls and texts on the mobile phone. We plan to have access to mobile and satellite telephone during the walk too. Those wishing to use our sets are required to post a $100 deposit, prior to departure from Kathmandu. The cost for satellite phones is $4 per minute. Incoming calls are not possible. If your usage exceeds the deposit amount, you will be required to pay more cash in basecamp, or stop using the phone. Be sure to bring enough $, £, or €. While unable to receive satellite telephone calls, at times members can receive short satellite text/SMS for $4 a message from their friends and family. However, some countries block sms/text from/to our sat phones.
  2. Website where your friends, family, and colleagues, can read about your expedition. We often have a website where your family, friends, colleagues, and sponsors can watch the progress of our climbs and walks. This website is a public service from www.summitclimb.com/news and Trekking News . We have traditionally asked all members to become involved and to write blogs - "dispatches" or reports about the progress of our expedition and also to post photos for the folks at home to see, during the expedition.We also have https://www.instagram.com/summitclimb_summittrek and www.facebook.com/summitclimbers and www.Twitter.com/SummitClimbInc .
  3. Battery charging: mobile phone, laptop, ipad, and/or digital camera. In the Khumbu Valley and in Kathmandu, be sure to bring your wall charger compatible to Kathmandu's 220 volt current (when its working). Also, we encourage you to bring your own smaller solar panel, as these seem to work very well. Note: Laptops work well up to about 4000 metres/13,000 feet. Altitude can destroy or wipe hard drives bigger than 7 - 10 GB above this altitude, or hard drives that have a moving disk. There are several options out on the market for laptops with solid state non moving hard drives that work well in altitude.
  4. Wifi is often available in Kathmandu and sometimes wifi cards are available in the Khumbu. It is sometimes possible to purchase wificards in the basecamp as well.
  5. Digital cameras work well. We recommend that you keep them in your jacket during the day and in your sleeping bag at night.
  6. Mobile phones may or may not work and are difficult to keep charged. Good idea to bring your own small solar panel w/charge bank.

Please note: Drones are not allowed in Nepal without a special permit and a special government officer.

I: Additional information for climbers:

  1. Bring or buy warm mittens. Mittens are much better than gloves. Special warm high-altitude mittens are necessary for all of our climbs, for example, the Outdoor Research Alti-Mitt. Nowadays, we can find many warm mitten choices in Kathmandu. You won't need to wear any liner gloves inside these mitts (they already have their own integral liner) so fit is very important. This company ships around the world. Be sure to discuss the size of your hand and what size mitt you might need with the person at the shop. Please don’t buy mitts which are too large. You won’t be able to grip the ropes and your ice axe, and they won’t keep you any warmer than properly fitting mitts.
  2. Bring or buy a figure 8. Climbers, please be sure to bring a "figure 8" for rappelling/abseiling. Modern rock climbing descenders ie: "atc’s" do not work well on fixed line, and are a liability because they slow you and the team down considerably. It is hard for some people to believe until they witness this personally, but we are asking you to believe it now. Please go out and purchase a figure 8. You may also purchase a figure 8 in Kathmandu.
  3. Bring spoon and cup. Please remember to bring your own personal cup and spoon for altitude. Bring it from home or purchase it in Kathmandu.

J. Donations of medical and educational supplies, clothing, etcetera for the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development:

Please consider donating supplies, clothing, funds, building materials, solar equipment, etcetera, as well as your own time and efforts to the Mount Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development (MEFSD). Your donation will be used wisely by the Foundation which is involved in several projects, including the Mount Everest Biogas Project and the Sherpa First Responder Project. Additionally, MEFSD exists to help poor mountain Nepali families to help themselves. These families live in Nepal near Everest, but far from the tourist trail where life is very primitive, making Nepal the 12th poorest country in the world and the poorest country in all Asia. The foundation builds schools and hospitals and protects fragile environments. Please see what we have been doing with recent donations at www.MountEverestFoundation.org . We encourage you to become involved and we conduct service treks and volunteer projects you might wish to join.

Thank you so much for all of your kind compassion and wonderful help to the people of Nepal!!

K: Conclusion

What have we forgotten? Please express yourself now, and communicate all of your thoughts, questions, and ideas. It is very important that we build another top team this year by working together, beginning today. We always enjoy discussing our favorite subject: MOUNTAINS. Also, this kind of conversation will help us to understand one another's expectations.

We are looking forward to further discussion, to meeting, to climbing and walking together, and to seeing you feeling well on the trek, in basecamp, the upper camps, on the summit, and on the way back down.

Thank you very much. Best Regards, from Dan Mazur and all of us at www.SummitClimb.com and www.SummitTrek.com

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