UNLIKE THE NORTH SIDE OF K2, THERE IS NO SINGLE SET ITINERARY FOR TIBET, BUT AFTER YEARS OF EXPERIMENTATION WE HAVE A FUNCTIONAL TEMPLATE WE BASE MOST TRIPS OFF. THIS IS A BASIC SCHEDULE FOR A TRIP TO A 6000m ALPINE PEAK, POSSIBLY A FIRST ASCENT.
DAY 1 & 2
ARRIVE CHENGDU, LAST MINUTE SUPPLIES
DAYS 3 – 5
TRANSIT TO STEP-OFF TOWN, VIA OVERNIGHTS AT PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER ALTITUDES ENROUTE
DAYS 6 & 7
TOWN-BASED ACCLIMATION DAYS (USUALLY AROUND 4000m), DAILY HIGH HIKES AS ACCESS RECCE, LAST MINUTE SUPPLIES
DAY 8
TRANSIT TO TRAILHEAD, BEGINE APPROACH
DAYS 9 – 11
APPROACH DAYS TO BASECAMP
DAYS 11 – 17
ON-MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
DAYS 19 & 19
RETURN TO ROADHEAD & TRANSIT TO TOWN
DAY 20
DECOMPRESSION & REORGANIZATION AROUND TOWN
DAYS 21
TRANSIT TO CHENGDU, FINAL NIGHT IN TIBET
DAY 22
FINALIZE TRIP
THIS SCHEDULE CAN BE EASILY ADAPTED, DOUBLED-UP OR EVEN TRIPLED-UP TOWARDS A WIDE VARIETY OF TRIPS, WITH ELEMENTS LIKE REST TIME IN TOWNS OR ACCOUNTING FOR EXISTING ACCLIMATION WORKED IN.
ALL OUR TRIPS BEGIN WITH A GENEROUS ACCLIMATION SCHEDULE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHINAS INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACHIEVE A LARGE PROPORTION OF ACCLIMATION IN TOWNS BEFORE HITTING THE APPROACH.