Dates
August 28 - October 4, 2010

Included:
• 5 nights of accommodation in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis
• All guiding services with IFMGA Mountain Guide on the mountain at all times
• High altitude sherpas (1:4 ratio of Sherpa's to climbers)
• Expedition cook and Base Camp/Advanced Base Camp Staff and Base camp dining tent
• All expedition food
• All Expedition high-altitude tents
• Oxygen and regulators for High Altitude use
• All technical climbing equipment and fixed ropes
• Hotel accommodation and meals while on approach in Nepal and Tibet
• All ground transportation return from Kathmandu
• Yak support from Chinese Base Camp to Advanced Base Camp
• Peak permit fees, liaison officer and interpreter
• Chinese visa
• Use of Satellite Phone at all camps (based on cost-per-minute)
  

Not Included:

• Meals during Kathmandu stay
• Personal clothing, footwear and equipment
• Medical and personal travel and rescue insurance (*)
• International air ticket
• Visa for Nepal (and re-entry visa fee for return trip)
• 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
• Gratuities are not included
  
  * Emergency Travel Insurance
  All participants are encouraged to obtain Emergency Travel and Trip Cancellation insurance. We recommend Ingle International Insurance, for details please visit their site here.
  

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

Cho Oyu is often labeled as an "easy" 8,000 meter peak, but do not be fooled by this description - there is no such thing as "easy" when climbing an 8,000 meter Himalayan mountain!

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
Cho Oyu (also known as Mt. Qowowuyag) rises to an elevation of 8,201 m above sea level. The peak is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet at 86.9 degrees East and 28 degrees North. This region forms the central section of the Himalayas, with the north side lying in the Tingri County of Tibet.

Cho Oyu lies just a few kilometers to the West of Mount Everest, and beginning on the approach, as well as throughout the climb, you will have fantastic views of Everest, Lohtse and many other of the high mountains of the Kingdom of Nepal, and of Tibet.

This Expedition to Cho Oyu will be approaching from the Tibet side, though we will travel overland from Kathmandu to begin with, so the start and finish of the Expedition will be in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Guiding Staff
This season our Cho Oyu Expedition will be led by CWMS Mountain Guide John Furneaux, leader of our 2007 Cho Oyu Expedition and Lead Guide on our 2008 Everest Expedition. John is a certified ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide and has had extensive experience in the big mountains of the world, including first ascents in the Himalayas of Nepal, ascents of Denali, Mount Logan, technical routes on Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, plus other ascents in the Himalayas as well as many other alpine first ascents across North America.

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 successfull ascents of Cho Oyu.

Itinerary
The total length of the Expedition will be 35 to 40 days return from Kathmandu. We will travel overland from Kathmandu, through Nepal to Tibet, using the time to acclimatize as we approach the Tibetan Base Camp.

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 quite good and stable, though as with any mountain of this size you should come prepared for any possible weather.

• Day 1 (August 28, 2010) - Arrive in Kathmandu and meet with the team and Guiding staff
• Days 2 & 3 -Two days are spent in Kathmandu preparing for the climb, sorting gear and exploring this fascinating city
• Day 4 - The team will leave Kathmandu and drive to Kodari, the final town in Nepal. From here you will cross the Bota Kosi River on the Friendship Bridge, to Zhangmu, the border town in Tibet. You will spend the night in a hotel here
• Day 5 - Your first day in Tibet you will continue driving to Nyalam at 3,750 meters, where you will spend another night in a hotel. At this level you will start to feel the affects of the altitude and will appreciate the slow ascent and rest days to follow!
• Day 6 - Out into the Tibetan plateau in the final approach to Tingri where you will spend a couple of days acclimatizing at 4,300 meters. From near this small town in Tibet there are great views of Shishapangma, Cho-Oyu, and Everest
• Day 7 - You will spend a 2nd day resting and acclimatizing in Tingri where there are ample opportunities to go for short hikes and take in the spectacular views and local scenery
• Day 08 - The final day of driving will get you to the Chinese Base Camp at 5,000 meters, where the actual climbing will begin. The Chinese Base Camp is set up below the Jabula glacier (also called the Kyetrag or Gyabrag glacier)
• Day 9 & 10 - You will begin the climb with a 2-day trek to Advanced Base Camp at 5,700m
• Day 11 to 29 - This 20-day period will be when you are engaged in the actual climb of Cho Oyu. The time is spent establishing camps, acclimatizing, resting and allowing for weather delays. The typical climbing schedule will be to carry loads up to our higher camps, then descend and sleep lower on the mountain, with regular rest days in between for acclimatization. Camp 1 will be established at 6,400m, Camp 2 at 7,000m and the final camp, Camp III will be at 7,500m on the northwest face. The summit attempt will be made from Camp III. Summit day is long and arduous, requiring an extra push to reach the true summit on the far end of the high snowfield.
• Day 30 - Drive from Advanced BC to Chinese BC
• Day 31 - Drive from Base Camp to Tingri and stay in the final camp of the expedition
• Day 32 - Drive to Zhangmu and back to a hotel
• Day 33 - Drive to Kathmandu
• Day 34 - Final day in Kathmandu
• Day 35 - Final departure back home or continue on for more adventures in Nepal!

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 Cho Oyu 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 (August 28th, 2010). 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.

After a couple of days in Kathmandu preparing gear, food and permits, the team will travel overland by vehicle for 6 days across Nepal and Tibet on the approach to the Chinese Base Camp at 5,000 meters. This will allow ample time to acclimatize en route, with extra rest days built into this schedule. We will arrange all required permits and Visa's for China - everyone will need a valid passport and valid Nepalese Tourist Visa.

Once in Base Camp, the trekking will begin, though team members will have the support of Yaks and porters for the trek to Advanced Base Camp. For the actual climb there will be porters to assist, but climbers should each be prepared to carry their own personal gear and possibly some group gear between camps.

The descent will re-trace the same overland route and will have you back into Kathmandu in the fist week of October. As will any big mountain of this nature, it will be best to plan your international flight departures to be changeable in case there are weather delays on the mountain and the team does not arrive back in Kathmandu by October 4th.