30 Days Ama Dablam Expedition in Nepal

Ama dablam- Introduction

Ama dablam is one of the highest mountains in Nepal. The mountain stands 6170m from the sea level. The mountain is located at the center of the khumbu region at the eastern Nepal. Ama dablam translates to mothers’ necklace in English language. The long range of the mountain resemble a mother’s arm protecting her children. The long mountain range and the white glacier are thought as the dablam. Dablam are the type of bead necklace worn by the Sherpa women. Collectively the mountain is called as Ama dablam. The mountain is exceptionally beautiful in appearance and one of the major sights for the trekkers of the Khumbu region and the Everest valley trekking.

Ama dablam was first climbed in 1961 march 13 by four climbers. Mike gill and Wally Romanes were from New Zealand, Barry Bishop from USA, and Mike Ward from United Kingdom. They all climbed the mountain from the south west ridge. The mountain was climbed after eight years of summiting the Everest for the first time. At the time, there was some sort of trend in discovering the way to reach peaks and becoming the first one to reach its summit.

Arrival to Kathmandu

On their first day in Nepal, the travelers land in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is a city that is far from the mountains that the trekkers are going but they need to make a stop for various things. Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal is the economic center of the country. The large markets of Thamel, New Road that are in Kathmandu have everything available that a tourist may need to go to trekking or even mountaineering.

The market is vast, a range of goods is available, and the city is something that needs to be explored. Moreover, the city can enchant the peoples who are attracted to the culture or other peoples or unique cultures. The city has very ancient places that are sure to awe the visitors. Most of these ancient sites are either in the form of temples, palaces, or monuments. Kathmandu has monuments that are considered holiest in the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

Kathmandu to Lukla to Phakding

The second day of the Ama Dablam expedition begins at Kathmandu valley. After waking up in Kathmandu the travelers need to go to Tribhuvan International Airport to catch the flight to Lukla. Lukla is a small village in Solukhumbu district of Nepal. The airport is the closest airport to the Everest region. Lukla airport is considered as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Situated at a high altitude and with the difficult topography makes the airport one of the most challenging airports in the world. Lukla is 30 minutes flight from Kathmandu valley. To the way to Lukla airport, travelers can see the beautiful mountain ranges and hills surrounding the area.

Lukla rests at the elevation of 2,860m from the sea level. It is also place where mountaineers rest. It is also the place where the trekkers of the Arun valley, The three high pass trek travelers rest and revitalize. This is the place where the travelers get in contact with the guide, potters, and additional crew members (if needed) arranged by the travelling company. After, getting all the required things the travelers need to trek to Phakding.

The distance from Phakding to Lukla is 7.2km on foot. Phakding is a small village at the Khhumbu region of Nepal. It is a small settlement at the elevation of 2,610m. It is used by travelers to spend their night, rest, or revitalize. The travelers will also spend their second day of Ama dablam expedition in Phakding.

Phakding to Namche bazar to Pangboche

The destination of the third day of Ama dablam expedition begins ate Phakding with the goal to reach Namche bazar then to Pangboche. The settlement of Namche is situated at the elevation of 3446m and is 8.3km away from Phakding. The walk from Phakding to Namche bazar is filled with mesmerizing views of mountains and forests. The travelers can finish their walk from 4 to 8 hours of walking depending upon their travelling speed and time sepnd for rests.

The day of the 3^rd day of Ama dablam expedition is spent at Namche bazar and night at Pangboche. Namche bazar is also called as the gate way to the Himalayas. It is a well flourished settlement high in the mountain region. In fact, it is one of the most flourished and biggest settlement in that region. The people who will be going to Himalayas must go through Namche bazar.

The market is quite good, one can buy souvenirs, artifacts as well as the trekking and mountaineering gears. The place also has luxury services, variety of food items on demand and various other things. Mountain view restaurants and hotels, Tibetan artifacts are the main highlights here. Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Ama Dablam, Mount Thamserku are some of the many mountain ranges seen from Namche Bazar. Then the travelers move to Pangboche from Namche to spend the night.

Pangboche to Base camp

The next day the travelers move towards the basecamp. The travelers move further towards the higher altitude to reach the basecamp. The travelers need to be careful as they reach higher in the mountains. The travelers reach to the basecamp and revitalize and prepare for the climb for remaining day. Ama Dablam base camp is located at the altitude of 4650m from the sea level. The fourth day of Ama dablam expedition is spent at the basecamp.

To the advanced base camp

The 5^th day of Ama dablam expedition, the mountaineers wake in base camp to reach the advanced basecamp. It is situated at the altitude of 5500m from the sea level. The amazing thing about Ama dablam expedition is that the mountaineers do not need to cross a glacier to reach the peak of Ama dablam, which is rare in Himalayan mountains.

Camp 1

The camp 1 of Ama dablam expedition is located at the altitude of 5700m from the sea level. This day the mountaineers climb the elevation of 200m. As the elevation increase, more difficulty arises. The mountaineers need to take care of themselves and their friends during the Ama dablam expedition. The night is spent at Camp 1.

Camp 2

The camp 2 of Ama dablam expedition is located at the altitude of 5900m from the sea level. Camp 2 is considered as one of the dangerous mountain camps there is. The area of camp 2 is around the top of mountain and is only able to give space to 4-7 tents. The way to camp 2 is very arduous and dangerous. The steeply surface and difficult terrain makes it one hell of a mountain climbing. The night is spent at camp 2.

Camp 3 and summit

Camp3 is situated at the elevation of 6300m from the sea level. Mushroom ridge need to be passed in order to get to camp 3 from camp 2. This area of Ama dablam expedition is dangerous and need to be crossed with great care and caution. As, the altitude increases various complications may occur. The night is not spent at camp 3. Also, there is considerable risk of avalanches and storms. Years ago, one night was used to be spent by the mountaineers. However, due to the elevated risk of accidents it is used for revitalization and hot drinks.

The summit of the Ama dablam is at the elevation of 6812m from the sea level. All the efforts feel worth after reaching to the summit of the mountain. It holds one of the most spectacular views there is from the tip of the mountain. Mount Everest, Mount Nuptse, Mount Makalu, Mount Cho Oyu, Mount Khumbu, Mount Lhotse are some of the mountains and mountain range that can be seen from top of the Ama dablam.

Reaching the summit only covers the half journey of the Ama dablam expedition. Another challenge of mountain climbing is getting safely from the top of the mountain. As the statistics and mountaineers say most of the accidents in mountains occur during the process of getting off from the mountain. The mountaineers need to be overly cautious and go down the mountain in the same route they climbed.

The travelers after getting down from the mountain need to follow same travel map return. They can also return via different routes and visit the Everest valley and other routes if they have time and energy. If possible and they can they are suggested to visit as this may be one-time opportunity. However, if they have no such desire, they need to follow the same route they took to go upwards the route and need to return to Lukla via Namche bazar.

By the 30 minutes flight, the travelers return to Kathmandu. Return to Kathmandu marks the end of Ama dablam expedition. However, the end of Ama dablam expedition need not to be end of fun in Nepal. If the travelers have more time, they can spend 1 or 2 days at Kathmandu. Kathmandu may not be the natural paradise like the mountains but it certainly is a cultural paradise.

The city alone holds seven of the UNESCO cultural world heritage sites in its small vicinity. Such dense amount of presence of cultural heritages are rare in the entire world. Also, the travelers can spend their time in revitalization and resting as they have returned from an arduous journey. Kathmandu also have luxury hotels where one can get wide range of services as well as therapy that will at vast speed get rid of the pain and tiredness of the journey.

The cost of the expedition hugely depends on the travel company, quality of the equipment used by the mountaineers. The number of guides and potter service used. The fact is that in the Himalayas, in the villages as well as mountain climbing wide range of services exist with wide range of price. The cost entirely depends upon the number of days spent, the quality of service used and the use of luxury services. That said one can complete the mountain climb with 7 to 12K US dollar. Also, the average cost of one person comes around 8000 USD.

Warmer seasons are considered as the best time to reach the summit of the mountain. April to May and October to November is the best time for Ama dablam expedition. The cold temperature results to harsher weather hence resulting in a higher probability of mountain-related accidents. Hence, such journeys should be taken in mid of the warm seasons or as recommended by the guides and travel company.