Ama Dablam - SW Ridge
Join Canada West Mountain School to climb Ama Dablam in the Everest region of Nepal. Our team will climb the 6,812m (22,350') peak via the Southwest ridge in the Khumbu region of the Himalayas.

Due to the nature of this climb we only run this as a private, small group expedition.

Dates
Specific dates TBA; the climbing season for Ama Dablam is generally in October and November.

Included:
• All accommodation in Kathmandu prior to the climb
• All guiding services with Everest-experienced IFMGA Mountain Guide on the mountain at all times
• High altitude Climbing Sherpa support
• 1:2 ratio of Guides and/or Climbing Sherpas to climbing team members above Base Camp
• Expedition cooks (Ama Dablam Base Camp), Base Camp Staff, Base Camp dining tent
• All expedition food - North American and Nepalese
• All Expedition high-altitude tents
• Emergency Oxygen
• All technical climbing equipment and fixed ropes services
• All accommodation and meals while on approach in Nepal
• All domestic flights and ground transportation as required
• All Porter support to Base Camp and return
• Peak permit fees, liaison officer and interpreter
• Use of Satellite Phone at all camps
  

Not Included:

• Meals during Kathmandu stay
• Personal clothing, footwear and equipment - see Gear List for details
• Medical travel and rescue insurance - Required (*)
• International air tickets
• Visa for Nepal
• international Airport departure tax
• Telephone charges
• Alcoholic beverages and items of a purely personal nature
• Any excess baggage fees
• Any fees or charges as a result of delays or changes to the itinerary
• Costs associated with early departure before expedition ends
• Accommodations in Kathmandu after the climb is over
• Gratuities for porters and staff
  
  * Emergency Travel Insurance
  All participants are required to obtain Emergency Travel, Medical and Trip Cancellation insurance. We recommend Ingle International Insurance, for details please visit their site here.
  

Prerequisites
Climbers considering this climb of Ama Dablam should be in very good to excellent physical condition; have had previous experience climbing to over 6,000 meters (Aconcagua, Mount Logan, Cho Oyu, Denali, etc); have considerable mountaineering experience, including technical rock and ice climbing; and, be prepared to commit to traveling and living in a challenging environment for a prolonged period of time.

If you are interested in joining our team on this climb, please contact our office directly to discuss the climb and the prerequisites with our Guiding staff.

Location
Ama Dablam is located in the Khumbu Valley, on the standard approach to Mt Everest Base Camp. Our climb follows the first-ascent route of the SW Ridge, a moderately technical climb on rock, snow and ice. Our meeting point will be in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Guiding Staff
Our Ama Dablam expedition will be lead by IFMGA Mountain Guides Brian Jones or John furneaux, along with our highly experienced local climbing Sherpas.

A certified IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide guiding for over 23 years, Brian has successfully lead our Everest 2008 Expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. Brian has also lead successful expeditions to the world's "Seven Summits" - Mount Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Carstensz Pyramid and Denali, as well as many other high peaks around the world such as the Matterhorn, Mount Logan and Mt. Kenya.

In addition, we are partnered with one of the premier logistics and support organizations in Nepal, offering high altitude support and logistics to international teams and expeditions for over 20 years in Nepal and Tibet, including numerous successful ascents of Everest, Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu.

Itinerary
The total length of the Expedition will be 30 days return from Kathmandu. We will fly from Kathmandu to Lukla in Nepal, before trekking into Ama Dablam base camp, using the time to acclimatize.

The following itinerary allows enough time for proper acclimatization, extra rest days and opportunities to return to base camp, where you can rest at a lower altitude, eat well and replenish your strength. The weather at this time of year is normally fairly good and stable, though as with any mountain of this size we will come prepared for any possible weather.

On the first day of the Expedition you will meet with your Guides and team-mates in Kathmandu. We spend a few days in Kathmandu checking over gear and arranging all the final details before departing for the mountain.

From Kathmandu we will fly to the Himalayan town of Lukla, at 2,860 meters (9,000'). Here we start our 10-day trek into Ama Dablam Base Camp. The trek in is an excellent trip in itself, passing through the small villages of Namche, Tengboche, Pheriche and Lobuche. This is a critical time of acclimatization so we will be taking our time and enjoying the sights, visiting monasteries and getting to know the local peoples and culture.

Once at Base Camp at 4,575 m (15,000') we will be acclimated and ready for the upper mountain. Our expedition Base Camp will be well established with cook tent and communal eating area. Base Camp staff will be on hand at all times to ensure that whenever you are in Base Camp you will be well fed, and be able to truly rest and conserve your strength for the upper mountain. Each team member will have their own private tent for sleeping at Base Camp.

We will establish 4 camps above Base Camp before being positioned for the summit bid. Our IFMGA Guide and High Altitude Sherpas will be part of the climbing teams at all times on the upper mountain, as well as setting up the camps and establishing the lines.

Advanced Base Camp at 5,400m (17,000') will be established up the moraines above BC, positioned to allow quick and easy access to the upper mountain. Camp I at 5,760m (18,900') is reached via easy and low-angled slopes above ABC. Beyond C1 we will enter into the technical climbing terrain as we climb to set up C2 at 5,943m (19,500'). From C2 we continue on with some of the finest and most exhilarating climbing in the mountain to gain C3 at 6,400m (21,000'). The final push to the summit at 6,812 meters will leave from C3. The following day everyone will head down to C2, and then onwards down to Base Camp.

Equipment
The equipment and clothing chosen for a trip of this nature will have a large impact on your chance of success as well as your comfort level. Ensure that you know your equipment, have a chance to test it before the expedition and choose the highest quality gear. Call or email our office to discuss your personal gear options well in advance to make sure you are properly equipped.

Please download a .PDF file of the Ama Dablam Expedition Gear List here. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to open this file.

Logistics
The team will meet in Kathmandu, Nepal on the first day of the expedition. All team members are responsible for getting to/from Katmandu - once there though, we will take care of all travel and logistical details.

Participants should contact the local Nepalese embassy to enquire about visa requirements for travel in Nepal; or, you can visit the official website of Tourism Nepal here; and, the Nepalese Department of Immigration site has more helpful information as well. Visa's can be obtained on entry at most international entry points into Nepal.