About Cho Oyu Expedition
Expedition begins from Kathmandu where Tibet formalities have to be arranged. The drive leads along the Friendship - Highway to Zhangmu at the Nepal-Tibet frontier town. Our Chinese liaison officer and transport will met us at the border. Travel by bus or jeep with all the equipment, spending a day in Nylam for acclimatisation before driving over the Langnna La to Old Tingri. The mountain stands high above the Tibetan plains and base camp is reached in a couple of hours from Tingri.
Cho Oyu ExpeditionThe great peak of Cho Oyu stands astride the Nepal-Tibet border to the west of Everest. It was first climbed by an Austrian Expedition in 1954 by the North West Face. This is technically straightforward climb with minimum danger that is why Cho Oyu has offered an excellent choice for mountaineers wishing to climb their first 8000 meter peak.
From the village of Tingri trucks drives off the tarmac road and bump up a grassy plain leading up to the Nangpa La. With couple of options for base camp but will probably place it on flat moraine at the foot of the Gyabrag glacier. A good path leads in about two days to Advanced Base Camp. Staying here throughout the trip and do not plan to descend until the end of the trip.
From ABC it is three miles to the start of the mountain proper. A vague path leads through the easy moraine covered glacier. Camp I is situated at 6400 metres. If there is no snow there is a steep path up an interminable scree slope which improves the higher you climb. The camp is located on a broad snow field at the foot of the ridge leading up to a serac barrier which is the only real technical section on the route.
Above Camp II broad snow slopes lead more easily to Camp III at 7500 metres. This is the highest camp and we make our summit attempts from here. Summit day as always involves an early start. Depending on snow conditions we may or may not encounter some easy scrambling as we make our way up and across the low angled west face.
The summit plateau is very large and unfortunately the highest point is a long way back. However if we are lucky with the weather the views are magnificent. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, Ama Dablam and other peaks of the Khumbu are spread out before us. We should also see the Menlungtse and Gaurishankar massifs.
Normally it is possible to descend from the summit all the way to advance base camp on the same day. This will depend on snow conditions and members fitness.