Paperwork
Please take the time to read the entire Logistics section in full. If you have questions, feel free to call or email the Alpine Ascents office.
Make sure you submit the following paperwork to Alpine Ascents as soon as possible after registering for your climb.
⎕ Passport copy
⎕ Two passport photos
⎕ Flight itinerary
⎕ Bio Data Form (we will reach out if this becomes necessary)
⎕ Trip Evacuation Insurance Confirmation (required)
Trip Insurance & Evacuation Coverage
We highly recommend trip insurance as there are many unforeseen circumstances that can occur leading up to a trip. Evacuation coverage, however, is required for this trip. Evacuation insurance is not ‘insurance,’ as one must usually contact the insurance company prior to evacuation, and the insurance agency will make payment to directly to those conducting the evacuation.
Please click the link below for more information. Note: you can also get trip cancellation insurance through this provider.
Getting There
Note that trip dates include travel time from your home country. A day-to-day itinerary can be found with your confirmation letter. Flight reservations for your expedition should be made as soon as possible.
Flying to Kathmandu, Nepal
This climb begins and ends in Kathmandu, Nepal. For those arriving early or departing after the scheduled itinerary, we are happy to make hotel and airport transfer arrangements.
Getting to Kathmandu, Nepal
You will arrive and depart from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Your day-to-day itinerary will have the exact arrival date for your expedition and is emailed separately. Flight reservations for your expedition should be made as soon as possible. If you would like the assistance of a travel agency, we can recommend our friends at Exito Travel. We are happy to review your itinerary before you purchase your flight. Please e-mail or mail a copy of your flight itinerary to our offices.
Arrival: We will meet all climbers at the airport unless other arrangements have been made. Please look for the Alpine Ascents sign once you depart from the main terminal. You can call our Seattle office M–F, 8–4 PST. (206) 378-1927 After hours you can contact Gordon Janow on his cell: (206) 419-0097. (texting is ok)
Early Arrival/Late Departure: For those arriving early or departing after the scheduled itinerary, we are happy to make hotel and transport arrangements. Please contact our office in advance of your departure if you would like us to make additional reservations for you at an additional cost.
Missed Flights: If you miss your flight, please leave a message for Gordon Janow, Director of Programs at: (206) 419-0097 (cell) or email [email protected]. Or best to call our local agent (see hotel and local agent info) Jiban Ghimire at: 977.985.103.5161 Please inform us of your new arrival information as soon as possible.
Getting a Visa
For those who can, we recommend getting a visa from the Embassy before the trip.
For those who will obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport, you will need to have 2 passport photos ready. It is recommended that you expedite the visa process by arriving at the airport with forms already completed using the online visa application process: http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa
Online Visa Instructions:
Only complete 15 days or less before departure
Select 30 day visa
Hotel: Yak and Yeti
Street number:1016
Street: Durbar Marg
Municipality: KTM
Ward: 1
District: 3
“Local address” is the same as hotel address
Please be advised that you must have a valid US passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from date of entry for most countries and have blank pages available in your passport.
We will assist in obtaining a visa to enter Tibet/China. Details will be provided prior to the climb.
Gear List
Please refer to your Gear List:
You are required to bring every item on this list as described, so be as precise as possible when packing. We are happy to work closely with you on finding the proper gear.
If you plan to rent gear, your rental form must be submitted at least a month prior to expedition start date. Gear is also available for online purchase at the Alpine Ascents Equipment Store where climbers on an Alpine Ascents expedition will receive a discount. Please call our office or e-mail [email protected] with any questions.
Other Resources
Below are articles written by veteran Alpine Ascents guides that you may find helpful in preparing and packing for your expedition.
Medications & Prescriptions for Mountain Climbing
Not on the Gear List, but in our Backpacks
Packing Tips
People generally take too much “stuff” rather than too little. Study each item before you pack it. Eliminate redundant items, extra changes of clothing, and excessive “nice to have” luxuries. You will benefit from traveling light because of the costs of excess baggage and because of the frequent loading and unloading of bags. Remember to review your airline’s weight limits and pack accordingly. Traveling light may be your key to summit success. Take everything on the required equipment list and little else.
Expenses
We recommend using a combination of cash and credit cards for purchases, meals in the city, and extra expenses.
Credit cards are accepted at our hotel and in most restaurants. Smaller establishments do often accept credit cards, but charge a fee. Most climbers bring around $2,000 US dollars. It is best to change money at the Yak & Yeti hotel or an authorized exchange house in Kathmandu. Changing money at the airport is not recommended. We will organize this with our guide staff. Local Nepalese currency can also be obtained at the local ATM.
We will also work with you to change money once we have arrived in Tibet.
Tipping
We will send tipping guidelines prior to departure.
Early Departure/Evacuation
If you need to leave the expedition early, you are responsible for all incurred expenses (evacuation fees, transport, extra hotel nights, etc). A comprehensive trip insurance plan is strongly recommended, which can cover these costs in the event that they occur.
On the Mountain
Physiology Of Mountaineering
Dehydration, hypothermia, frostbite, and altitude illness are all important health conditions to be aware of while climbing. Please read our overview of these physical factors:
Food & Water
We are aware of the potential monotony of expedition food and Alpine Ascents makes every effort to make meals a positive part of the climb. Our pre-planned meals use a large shipment of food from the US along with food purchased locally in Kathmandu. We take great care in our meal preparation, understanding the importance staying healthy, fueling effectively, and overall enjoyment.
Alpine Ascents prepares all water by boiling. Climbers will fill water bottles at all meals.
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Before your climb, please become familiar with Leave No Trace:
7 Principles of Leave No Trace
I can only say the best about the work of Michael and Lhakpa and the whole team. I became pretty sick during the expedition. But even with that weakness I could make it to the top, very much due to the help of Michael and Lhakpa
