That Time Of Year Again: Climbing Everest in Style

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Every year, as March heralds the beginning of Everest season, thousands of adventurers set their sights on conquering the world’s highest peak. Mount Everest, a name synonymous with extreme adventure, danger, and the ultimate mountaineering achievement, now offers a paradoxical blend of luxury amidst the perilous climb. For those willing to pay a hefty price, this challenging expedition can be transformed into a lavish experience, complete with high-end amenities that rival those of five-star hotels.

 

Climbing Everest has never been cheap. The cost of an expedition can vary dramatically, ranging from $30,000 to over $500,000. This steep price tag includes several major expenses: permits, guide services, gear, and, for those who seek it, luxury accommodations and services. Alan Arnette, a mountaineering coach who successfully summited Everest in 2011, notes that some high-end packages include extravagant perks. “There was an [Everest guide] company last year that offered a masseur from Kathmandu, who stayed the whole season,” Arnette told The Daily Beast. “If you’re paying $100,000, you can expect cappuccinos and sushi up there. Even a three-star chef.”

 

 

The luxury experience begins at the base camps, where the level of opulence can vary significantly based on how much a climber is willing to spend. Some of the most opulent adventurers arrive at Everest’s base camps with hired porters carrying their gear, before being shown to glamping-style tents equipped with amenities that rival any five-star hotel. Arnette explains, “There is a market for the high-end experience at Basecamp. It’s like an airplane. The experience is totally different the more you spend.”

 

 

Among the most luxurious offerings is the $98,000 per person Mount Everest North Side Rapid Ascent Expedition by Alpenglow Expeditions. This 36-day trip on the north side of Everest in Tibet is designed for advanced explorers and includes small group sizes, an on-call doctor, nine bottles of oxygen, and a western-trained cook staff. At Alpenglow’s 26,000-foot base camp, travelers have access to dining tents, Wi-Fi, cell service, and a fully stocked kitchen.

 

Furtenbach Adventures, another company catering to high-end clients, aims to provide a true “glamping” experience at a cost of $75,000. “Every climber has a two-room stand-up tent with a bed, desk, electricity, and Wi-Fi, and large lounge tents with a bar, movie screening, library, and hot showers,” founder Lukas Furtenbach told The Times of London in 2020. “Last year we even had a sauna and infrared cabin powered with a clean fuel cell,” he added. Wherever possible, clients can even fly in and out from base camp by helicopter, further enhancing the convenience and luxury of the experience.

 

 

Preparation for such a luxurious climb often begins long before reaching the base camp. Some climbers invest in altitude tents, which simulate high-altitude conditions and allow climbers to begin the acclimatization process from the comfort of their own homes. This can significantly reduce the traditional eight-week trip to as little as two weeks. “There is essentially a plastic bubble that simulates high altitude at home so you can start the acclimatization process at home,” Arnette explained. “You sleep in them two months before you go on your trip.”

 

Despite the luxurious options available, climbing Everest remains a dangerous endeavor. Over 300 people have died attempting the climb, with 17 fatalities recorded last year alone. This year, eight climbers have already lost their lives. The high cost of luxury expeditions often includes essential safety measures, which are crucial given the mountain’s deadly nature. Ryan Waters, a professional climber and owner of a guide company, warns that trips priced under $40,000 might compromise on safety. “While normal ranges for trips vary quite a lot,” he explained, “anything with less than a $40,000 price tag would raise red flags since it may be sacrificing some essential safety measures.”

 

 

Waters’ company, Mountain Professionals, offers a sherpa-led general expedition for about $49,500, which increases to $65,000 with a western or American mountain guide leading the small team. For $100,000, climbers can enjoy a privately guided trip. Regardless of the tier, all Mountain Professional climbers enjoy amenities such as personal large box tents with carpet, a bed mattress, pillow, storage area, charging facilities, and Wi-Fi. The company’s base camp features a dining dome and a hangout dome equipped with heat, carpets, Wi-Fi, couches, and “lots of great food and coffee.”

 

Waters emphasizes the importance of these amenities, saying, “Plus personal very large box tents for each climber while at base camp that have carpet, a bed mattress, pillow, storage area, charging, wifi, etc. In addition a propane heated shower, lots of toilet tents, and then staff domes and kitchen for our staff.” Mark Synnott, a professional climber who summited Everest in 2019, recalls enjoying the perks of high-end accommodations. “You hang out with the people that are staying at the highest-end spots,” he said. “They had this big dome tent and when you go inside, you immediately see an espresso machine. And then in their glamping tents, they have a foyer, a desk, and even a bedroom with a little bed.” Synnott would enjoy their “fizzy water” and coffee at the luxury digs before returning to his “regular tents.”

 

 

Another significant advantage of more expensive guide packages is access to more high-flow rate oxygen during the actual summit. “A higher flow rate allows for an easier time climbing,” Synnott explained. This advantage can make a substantial difference in the climber’s experience and success rate. However, the luxury campsites and high-end amenities might not last forever. Nepalese officials are considering limiting the number of climbers and restricting luxury sites to preserve the mountain’s environment. The Telegraph reported in March that local officials aim to balance the increasing commercialization with environmental protection and the safety of climbers.

 

Despite the opulent options, luxury climbing appeals to only a small portion of Everest mountaineers. Most climbers are not wealthy thrill-seekers but passionate adventurers who save for years to afford the trip. Alan Arnette estimates, “I would say you get about 10 percent of people at Everest that are just rich and doing it for bragging rights, about another 10 percent that don’t know what they are doing, and everyone else there works hard and spends a long time saving the money and has experience climbing.” This diverse mix of climbers adds to the unique atmosphere at Everest, where individuals from all walks of life come together to pursue a common goal.

 

In the end, climbing Everest remains a profound and transformative experience. The mountain's allure endures, drawing adventurers with its promise of challenge, beauty, and the ultimate test of endurance. Whether in luxury or simplicity, the journey to the top of the world is a testament to human determination and the desire to conquer one of nature's most formidable giants. As Arnette aptly puts it, “It’s certainly one of the most experienced Instagram photos, but also so in owning a horse or sailing around the world.” The experience of Everest, with its blend of danger, beauty, and now, luxury, continues to captivate and inspire adventurers from around the globe.

 

Credit: The Daily Beast 2024-05-27

 

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