# I want to climb Everest. Where do I start? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003 "2003-10-01T22:21:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flapcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@flapcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flapcats)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/1 "2003-10-01T22:21:47Z")
Please don’t say ‘at the bottom’. Seriously, what’s entailed? Have any dopers been there or know anyone who’s been? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/2 "2003-10-01T22:24:06Z")
Here’s a good place to start: [http://www.everestnews.com/](http://www.everestnews.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/3 "2003-10-01T22:32:24Z")
You’re right – much better to start at the top! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/4 "2003-10-01T23:35:56Z")
You might want to read Into Thin Air as a starting point. You also need a lot of money for the climbing permits and/or guides. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/5 "2003-10-01T23:38:27Z")
Read [Into Thin Air](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385494785/qid=1065052045/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/102-2935195-6658564) by Jon Krakauer. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/6 "2003-10-01T23:54:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\*You might want to read Into Thin Air as a starting point. You also need a lot of money for the climbing permits and/or guides. \*\* Yeah, money. Lots. Don’t forget equipment. I heard the cost on tv once, but I don’t remember what it was. Tens of thousands, I think. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/7 "2003-10-02T00:48:22Z")
My high-school math prof once climbed to one of the lower base camps with a dozen students. I think one of them had to stay lower down as a result of the low air oxygen content, despite the slow rate of climb. Also, they were careful to avoid milk, but one guy bought an ice-cream sandwich on the way back (it’s mass produced and wrapped, right?) and caught something for a year or so. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/8 "2003-10-03T00:18:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nanoda \* > \*\*My high-school math prof once climbed to one of the lower base camps with a dozen students. I think one of them had to stay lower down as a result of the low air oxygen content, despite the slow rate of climb. Also, they were careful to avoid milk, but one guy bought an ice-cream sandwich on the way back (it’s mass produced and wrapped, right?) and caught something for a year or so. \*\* I do not understand your post. Milk? Ice cream? ---
**Author:** ![zoltar7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b38774/32.png) [@zoltar7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoltar7)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/9 "2003-10-03T01:29:17Z")
Since everyone’s mentioning _Into Thin Air_, why not check with one of the guide operators mentioned in the book, like [Mountain Madness](http://www.mountainmadness.com/intl/asia/nepal/everest.htm) or [Alpine Ascents](http://www.alpineascents.com/everest.asp), to see what they require in terms of climbing experience and conditioning. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/10 "2003-10-03T02:27:17Z")
1. Determination. Do you really want to so this? 2. Mountain training. Losts of it. Then a lot more for stamina. 3. Money, again lots of it and then more of it. 4. You won’t likely find pastuerized milk/ice cream in Nepal or Tibet or other Asian countries. Did a smart alec mention that you should start where you are? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/11 "2003-10-03T04:50:16Z")
Yeah, I think it was due to non-pasturization. But probably good to know! I mean, it’s all good to have proper climbing gear, but if nobody tells you the milk is incompatible, you won’t be having a very good time. 😉 I think their trip must have only cost a few thousand each max… 'course like I said, they didn’t go all the way up. OH! I just remembered that the May 2003 National Geographic has a bunch of stuff on Everest… apparently one reason Sir Edmund Hillary was so good was that he was a bee keeper, and the only time he could do any climbing was in the winter on the nearby Alps in New Zealand. I think this goes under “Training”, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/12 "2003-10-03T07:30:35Z")
What **spingears** said. Seriously, climbing Mt Everest is literally the summit of a long, accomplished climbing career. To even attempt it requires years of experience climbing high mountains, the (enormous) financial resources to do it, and the drive to actually accomplish it. And if you want to test your climbing skills, there are many mountains that are much more technically challenging climbs. I don’t want to sound flippant, but try climbing K2 first and see if your desire to summit Everest remains. You will find that your enthusiasm for the sport can change rapidly. When I first started SCUBA diving I thought: “This is great! I’ll be a night-certified, deep-water diver in no time!” What I discovered was that I enjoyed trolling along coral reefs at 30 feet in unlimited visibility…there was no need for anything else. You may find the same thing in your climbing career. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/13 "2003-10-03T12:54:08Z")
I would have to disagree about climbing K2 first. From what I’ve heard, it’s much more of a “technical climb”, and while the summit is not as high as Everest, it’s much more difficult to reach, especially for those with limited climbing experience. If you have enough money ($50,000+) almost anyone can reach the summit of Everest. Just look at Sandy Pittman. They’ll simply strap you to a Sherpa, and have them drag you up there. This would probably not allow for the same feeling of accomplishment, but at least you could say you stood on top of the world. ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/14 "2003-10-03T13:02:57Z")
Many apologies **pilot141**. After rereading your post, I realized that you stated that K2 was a more technical climb. My morning coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, and I misread it. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/15 "2003-10-03T13:36:27Z")
check out Mount Rainier National Park, near Seattle Washington. They have a mountaineering school that offers tours and lessons at many different levels of difficulty/danger. ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/16 "2003-10-03T14:56:02Z")
Very simplified, but here goes: First, unless you have some experienced climber friends, pony up the money to take a real, 6 day or more, intro to mountain climbing course from a reputable guiding company (we used American Alpine Institute, and can highly recommend them). This will do 2 things: First, you’ll get to climb an honest to god mountain with glaciers, crevasses, and the works to see if you really enjoy prolonged suffering and second, you’ll learn some essential skills that will probably reduce your chances of killing yourself if you don’t have the money to climb with a instructor/guide all the time. Second, test out your new skills on something easy… say some of the Colorado 14ners or maybe Mt. Shasta. Work your way up to Mt. Rainier next. This is will require you to have a team of competent people that know how to navigate through glaciers (Soloing across glaciers is a verrry bad idea.) Once you’ve dialed in Rainier, you may be ready for some higher altitudes. Climb some of the Mexican volcanoes to see if you can handle the thinned air. Rainier tops out just over 14k feet. Orizaba will get you over 18k (and don’t do the easy route up… you’ll be looking for the more technical areas to hone your skills). While you’re down south, perhaps try some of the peaks in Ecuador. Cayambe, Cotopaxi & Chimborazo get you progressively closer to 20k. Now you’re getting ready for a for a real expedition type climb where you may be required to sit on the mountain for days and possibly weeks at a time, acclimatizing and waiting for the weather to cooperate. For this you can head to Alaska’s Mt. McKinley and an early spring ascent. Weather conditions will be brutal, just like they can be on Everest (-10 f will feel balmy). From there, pick any peak you want to keep sharp and in shape while you amass the roughly $60,000 it will require for an Everest climb. This cost includes a guiding company. You may be able to do it cheaper on your own, but it’ll require connections and the ability to navigate through a maze of bureaucracies to obtain the required permits and support. Best to leave this to the pros that do it repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/17 "2003-10-03T17:19:26Z")
One in six people die on Everest, I think. Might as well play Russian Roulette. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/18 "2003-10-03T18:37:30Z")
If you have the experience, [these guys](http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/exp/itinerary/everest.html) will take you for $49,000… (That doesn’t even include your flight to Kathmandu!) ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-climb-everest-where-do-i-start/205003/19 "2003-10-03T19:29:46Z")
Above all, sign up now as the waiting list goes on for years, if not a decade.