Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Outfitter recommendations requested (Himalayas)

High on the bucket list: Everest Base Camp/Kalar Pattar Trek with possible Island Peak add-on. Penciled it in for April/May a while ago, but as the months pass, I still don't have an outfitter.

So, folks who have done this, what are your recommendations?

Trekking outfitters that you loved? Hated?

Tea houses or tents?

Plastic shell boots for Island Peak? Or Nepal EVOs? Or something else entirely?

Other advice?

Happy holidays, and thanks!

Tea Houses...
You'll need to camp at Island Peak base camp...
Go to Gokyo...
(because in my opinion) EBC isn't worth the effort.
Gokyo Ri...

From Gokyo, you can head up to 7 Lakes / Knobby View and have a much better time staring up at the south face of Cho Oyu... and the view of the peaks around Everest isn't bad either.

You also have a fun pass to cross to get to the Khumbu from there.

The Chukung area (which is where you'll stage for Island Peak is also a very nice area to explore. Awesome views of the north side of Ama Dablam.

I used Nature Trails Trekking for all of my trips, but none of the Sherpa Guides I trekked/climbed with work there anymore.


BTW (in an attempt to draw more criticism), I never climbed below 6000m in anything but leather. My double-boots stayed with the Porter's load until much higher.

Great tips, thanks! (So you did use plastic shell boots on the upper reaches, it sounds like.)

Just took a look at Nature Trail Trekking...Richard, I may owe you one ... some terrific options there. Okay, I guess you really do exist.

Bishnu S. is the owner. Very well educated and worth spending time with if you can tolerate KTM. Mention my name if you make contact.

I have boots similar to those used on 8000m peaks. Nothing plastic about them, but yes I have worn them above 6300m many times.

Karin, OTT (Out There Trekking) group I went with is no longer in business. Long story/stories.
OTT

There is another "Out There" company now, but I do not know if it has any relationship.

Why not see what Kurt Wedberg's company recommends? He has been from Bishop to the Seven Summits
Sierra Mountaineering

There is an 11th annual Wilderness Medicine Everest Base Camp trek that I have looked at but never went with.
Wilderness Med Everest

I did meet some of their instructors at Pheriche and at the summit of nearby imjatse (Island peak) when I was there separately. The hours and fees for Medical Education hours while you are on the trail there is optional. I imagine most participants are medical, tho, so you might be odd-person out.. I don't know if Wilderness Med can arrange a separate side trip to Island like some of the other trekking groups do. As we discussed on Baldy, Island is considered the most commonly climbed trekking (non-permit) peak, but does require crampons and fixed ropes above the bergschrund, so it is not just trekking.

Thanks, Harvey! I did ask Kurt, but with all his continent-hopping, he has not (yet) been able to get back to me! Just back from Kili, I gather he is now on his way to Aconcongua!!!

I went last October for my honeymoon, and we used Adventure Geo Treks (www.adventuregeotreks.com) on the recommendation of another friend who went the previous year through them. The pricing was great for all that was included, and the guide was very nice, knowledgable and took great care of us (which included 2 route changes and then turning back early when I couldn't make it over the pass to head towards Gokyo). Even with our early return, they got us into a hotel early in Kathmandu, and helped us get to the airport a few days early - telling us to call if we couldn't get on a flight standby (luckily we did). From our guide to the gentlemen that ran the company we were treated with great respect, and they made every attempt to make us comforatable and happy.

I'd recommend tea houses - there's a certain community that you get, and while the 'beds' are just foam mats on a wood frame, I personally think it's better than having to sleep on the frozen ground.

My other piece of advice is bring a water filter. It was worth it's weight in gold to be able to filter water (and in one or two instances also treat with chlorine) than have to buy water the whole trip up. At the bottom of the trek it's a buck or so, but the higher up the valley you go, the more the water costs. We took our platypus gravity works and it was FANTASTIC.

I didn't do Island Peak - so can't speak to the boots - but can say that I wore my all leather Keens all the way to base camp with no real issues.

=) tif

Great advice, thanks!!! I'll check out this trekking outfitter, too.

Re water treatment, was planning on bringing my Steripen, which has seen me through a lot so far, but may toss in a Sawyer squeeze filter as backup....

Really appreciate folks taking the time to share their experience!

Tif brings up a good point, which is that unless you love being on somebody else's schedule, you're (much) better off going with your own Guide and Porter. You then control the schedule, so that if you're feeling bad, don't like the weather, or just don't feel like moving on yet, you're set.

Which brings up another topic, which is the amount of time you have available. I wouldn't head over on less than three weeks of vacation, and personally, won't go for less than four to six weeks.

If the sawyer was around when we went, that is what we likely would have taken (though the gravity filter is much less work... not that the sawyer is much). If you have both - I'd treat the water with both. Better to be safe than sorry. We had no issue with water (my husband and I drank all the same water) but he did end up with e.coli (i think he had yak meat too high on the mountain myself) so definitely have some antibiotics with ya on the mountain.

Richard, I hear you on time, and that's about what I have in mind. A bad thing about working for the State is furloughs. However, when vacation comes up, a good thing about working for the State is furloughs.

TIF, Sawyer filter can be rigged as a gravity filter!!!! And double-check mark on the antibiotics!

I'm kinda hoping my job falls off the Fiscal Cliff in about two months...

You might see me over there...

I used Intrepid Travel to book my trip in 2009. I believe Intepid then has Himalayan something... to guide the trek. (Maybe Himalyan Adventures?) Was 4 nepalese guides, 5 porters, and 13 clients. I thought they were professional and had their act together.

We slept in tea houses which I though was great. You get a little more of the culture I think and get to sit inside and kick back every night.

I did not climb Island Peak.

Best two weeks of my life.

Throwing one more out there...
This is my Sherpa friend's company...

http://www.peaknepal.com/

Thanks, I'll check them out.

Heard from Bishnu. He doesn't have any group departures going out on the routes that interest me. Would have to go solo. So either I find some more folks to join, or I go with a different outfitter. I really like his itineraries.

Did you talk to him about a custom itinerary?

He could probably get you a woman guide.

As a (near) dirtbag, I never choked on his prices.

I have asked for pricing on two itineraries, so nothing for me to choke on yet... Soon!

I've done a fair amount of solo traveling. Yeah, has its plusses and minuses. Kind of in a social mood these days. Finding compatible folks who can take off the necessary time can be a challenge though. I hear what you and others are saying about the tea houses...definitely sold on that. (Though how much dahl baat can a westerner eat? Joking! Sort of.)

If you go in the High Season, make sure you have a fast Porter that can go ahead and get you space in that evening's Tea House. You'll be amazed at how many SRO places you'll come across. And, I can only image that that has gotten "worse" in the last decade+ because of the increase in people who are interested in adventure vacations.

Seriously, you will never be alone and that IS part of the charm of going to visit these high mountains... It's so "civilized," with so many interesting people to meet.

You probably already know that you don't accept the initial price. Asians expect to haggle.

Again, great tips!!! I'll ask about a fast porter. I suspect the answer will be "all the porters we hire are fast...."!

The prices quoted by Bishnu for both (1) a high passes itinerary, and (2) a high passes itinerary plus Island Peak, are excellent. He's very clear about what is, and is not, included.

May go with Bishnu and perhaps put out some feelers for a travel buddy or two, go solo if unsuccessful. Last big question I have for myself is whether to try for Island Peak if I go solo...would love to climb a 20k and get the views...but adds to expense, logistics, and risk.....

Island Peak truly is a classic... A bit of (nowhere near "dangerous") glacier travel, "steep" ice headwall, AMAZING views.

I'd get Bisnu to hook you up with another group ( there are always people on Island) to hold your expenses down a bit.