Island Peak (6189) Climbing

The Island Peak is also known as Imja Tse climb takes one to the foothills of the mightiest of the mountains in the world. En-route, traverse through rhododendron and pine forests, rivers, Sherpa villages and Buddhist Monasteries from temperate to snow line regions. The Himalayas are best seen on this trek as one traces the main route through the Khumbu region from the Sherpa town of Namche Bazaar. Trekkers get a close view of the world’s greatest mountains, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Tawache and others. This is a moderately tough trek. To climb the Island Peak requires skill in rock climbing. This small scale Himalayan Climb demands full camping equipment.

Eric Shipton’s Party who were on their way to explore the Barun Gorge gave the name of Island Peak to this Mountain in 1952. Seen from Dingboche the mountain does indeed resemble an Island in a sea of ice. In 1983 it was renamed Imja Tse, although for most people the descriptive name of Island Peak seems to have been retained. The mountain was first climbed in 1953 by a very prestigious team in preparation for the ascent of Everest. They were Charles Evans, Alf Gregory, Charles Wylie and Tenzing Norgay, with seven Sherpas who were trying out the newfangled oxygen sets; as practice, of course, for loftier things. Fortunately this didn’t set a precedent and most people seem able to climb it without bottled air, although a Sherpa once reached the summit with called the cigarette he was smoking, ‘Sherpa Oxygen’.

Itinerary

Day 01:    Arrival in Kathmandu.
Day 02:    Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 03:    Fly to Lukla – 40 minutes & trek to Phakding (2,652m) -3 hours.
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,447 m) – 5 hours.
Day 05: Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar.
Day 06: Trek to Thyangboche (3,863 m) – 5 hours.
Day 07: Trek to Dingboche (4,350 m) – 5 hours.
Day 08: Dingboche – acclimatization day.
Day 09: Trek to Lobuche (4391m) – 4~5 hours.
Day 10: Trek to GorakShep (5,180m) & Climb Kala Pattar (5,445m) – 8 hours.
Day 11: Trek back to Dingboche (4,350 m) – 5 hours.
Day 12:    Trek to Chukung – 2 hours.
Day 13:    Trek to Paresaya Gyab Base Camp (5,000m) – 3 hours.
Day 14:    Rest for acclimatization.
Day 15: Attack Camp / High Camp (5,600m)-3~4 hours.
Day 16: Summit Island Peak (6,189m) & back to Base Camp.
Day 17: Back track to Pangboche (3,985 m) – 5 hours.
Day 18: Trek back to Namche Bazaar – 6 hours.
Day 19: Back track to Lukla – 6 hours.
Day 20: Fly back to Kathmandu – 30 minutes.
Day 21: Free day in Kathmandu.
Day 22:    Free till final departure from Kathmandu.