Baruntse Expedition - Nepal Experience

Be prepared, flight to Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal: Latest Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. Material check and last purchases, otherwise the day is at leisure. We meet for dinner with the entire international expedition team. Hotel near Thamel ÜN/F.

Kathmandu, Nepal: Orientation day in Kathmandu and expedition briefing (further procedure). Hotel ÜN/F.

Salleri, Nepal: Drive to Salleri, 65 km south-southwest of Mount Everest, where the district administration for the Solokhumbu is located. The small town (with just under 10'000 inhabitants) is located in the Sunkoshi river valley and in the surrounding hills we can stretch our legs and acclimatize well. We stay overnight in a hotel with full board, sleeping height: 2600m.

Bung, Nepal: Drive to the larger village of Bung, where we enter the Barun Makalu National Park. Here we are deeper in the valley, but further into the Himalayas, 54km from Mount Everest. Overnight stay in hotel / VP, sleeping height: 1800m.

We hike through subtropical vegetation up to Khiraule, visit Chambalin Monastery. Overnight stay in simple lodge or camp at Khiraule, 2460m.

The surrounding mountains steepen and we reach the alpine vegetation zone. The beautiful farms and yak meadows around Cholemkharka is our destination, overnight in simple lodge or camp, 3580m.

Acclimatization: Rest day at Cholemkharka, acclimatization hike to 4000m, and overnight back to Cholemkarka.

Trek to Khola Kharka: Today we hike past the famous Panch Pokhari, the "five lakes". The lake in Janai Purnima is a popular destination for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. The lakes form one of the highest wetlands in the world at an altitude of over 4000 meters. We spend the night in Khola Kharka, 4250m.

Trek to Tangnag: We follow the valley up and down. Soon after a forest border, the alluvial plain of Tangnag is reached. The break of a moraine lake has taken everything with it years ago. Campground at a nice lodge in Tangnag (4356m), tent ÜN/VP.

Trek to Khare: The trail continues uphill. A short daily stage leads to Khare (4870 m), the last inhabited place before the Mera La just below the Mera glacier. Mera Peak and Kusum Kanguru line the view, tent ÜN/VP.

Whole 4 days are at our disposal for the ascent of Mera Peak:
- In Khare, we prepare the ascent, check the material, and plan the further ascent.
- A technically less difficult ascent leads over the partly glaciated Mera La (5415 m) to a protected plateau (5850m), both places are well suited for a high camp.
- From the high camp follows the Mera Peak (6500m) ascent.
- At sunrise, then already over 6000m, our view extends over the Mount Everest massif, the Makalu, the Baruntse, to name only a few of the mountains of the central Himalayas.

This stage leads to Baruntse Base Camp (5350m) at a sandy hollow near a small lake, tent ÜN/VP.

The Puga, the ceremony of the Sherpas, a tribute to the mountain, and our planned ascent, is held. Baruntse base camp: ÜN/VP.

We have 7 days to climb the peak:
- We climb to the high camp at 6140 m.a.s.l. (Camp I) at the West Col
- If necessary, we establish intermediate camp at 6420 m.a.s.l. (Camp II). 
- The final southwest ridge is exposed but is secured with fixed ropes.
- Via the break-off into the west face, the slope is longer passages 45° steep and is covered to the east.

Dismantling of the base camp. Trekking direction Amphu Laptsa pass, tent ÜN/VP.

For the round back through the Khumbu Valley, the technically demanding crossing of the 5850 m high Amphu Laptsa Pass and the descent to Chukkum (Chukkung) follows. We will ensure some places with fixed ropes. A wild and impressive trail with a view of the Lhotse south face ends at a beautiful campground called Chutanga (1 hour before Chitunga), tent ÜN/HP.

Waderung via Chukung (4900m) to Pangboche (3750m) at the foot of the Ama Dablam, tent or teahouse to Namche Bazar (3450m), tent or teahouse

Hike to Namche Bazar (3450m), camp, or overnight in lodge.

Hike to Lukla, overnight stay in Teahouse / Lodge.

Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Reserve day at leisure in Katmandu.

Kathmandu - return flight with arrival in Europe late in the evening or the next morning.