How fit and healthy do I need to be to join an expedition?

 

To get the most out of your climbing experience with us, you will need to be fit and healthy. You do not need to be an athlete, but a good level of overall fitness is important. As an indication, you should be able to walk 8km / 5 miles with a height gain of 600m / 2,000ft with a 10kg rucksack in 2 1/2 hours or less. This assumes a reasonable trail is followed at low altitude, e.g. below 3,000m.

Being fit will certainly improve your chances of reaching your chosen summit. In our experience, men tend to overestimate their fitness, while women more often underestimate their fitness. If you would like to discuss which trip to do, your personal fitness or a suitable training regime, you are always welcome to contact us for straightforward advice.

 

What kind of food can I expect?

 

The quality of expedition food has a surprising effect on a climber's morale and this goes on to affect performance. So what can you expect to eat on an expedition? On all expeditions, meals on trek and at base camp are prepared by our staff from food purchased locally.

 

What about acclimatization?

 

We are very aware of the effect that a rarefied atmosphere can have on the human body, so every expedition we operate includes a realistic acclimatization programme. Acclimatizing takes time and there are no shortcuts. The length of an expedition is usually determined by the time necessary for adaptation to the altitude. This could involve an acclimatization trek before the climb, or climbing a lower peak prior to the main objective. Such preparation is one of the main reasons why our expeditions achieve a higher success rate than average.

 

What if I prefer single room accommodation?

 

If you are joining an expedition on your own, you will usually share a room with another team member of the same sex while staying in hotels. If you would prefer to have a room to yourself, this can usually be arranged for an additional fee.

 

When do I have to pay the balance for the expedition?

 

Please read the booking conditions in full prior to making your booking. The balance is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Bookings accepted less than 60 days prior to departure can be secured with the appropriate deposit and full payment must then reach us within 7 days of us confirming your booking. 

Will the expedition run?

 

The vast majority of our expeditions go ahead as planned. However, if an expedition receives less than 4 bookings, it will usually be cancelled. This decision will be taken no later than 4 weeks prior to the trip's departure and members will be informed immediately. You will be given the opportunity to transfer, without charge, to another expedition, or given a full refund if you prefer.

 

 

Are Plastic/Leather combination boots suitable?

 

We recommend Plastic boots for high altitude mountaineering (e.g. Scarpa Vega). There are an increasing number of 'Hybrid' boots on the market which are becoming popular when combined with a neoprene gaiter for added insulation. If you have used these before under similar conditions to those that you expect to experience on your forthcoming expedition and are happy with them, then that's fine. However, Plastic boots have the track record and it would be unfortunate to gamble your chances of summit success because of cold feet experienced in less than perfect conditions. If you need to invest in new boots, Plastics are the safe bet.

Can I leave my stuff in the hotel when I'm on the mountain?

 

Yes you can. There are secure lockers in all the hotels we use, so you can leave a fresh change of clothing and any little luxuries that you might fancy once you've returned from the climb.

 

Do you also arrange private trips?

 

Yes we do. If you are thinking of organizing your own expedition, you can call upon our many years of expertise and our reliable overseas operators to make it happen. Your expedition could be a carbon copy of one of those described on our brochures or website (www.adventuremania.com), arranged to suit your available holiday period, or we could make the arrangements for your own unique trip.