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climbersam
May 20, 2003, 7:38 PM
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I just finished reading "Seven Summits", the story about two guys climbing the highest seven peaks. I realized that I could not identify with the climbers, nor most mountaineers on Denali, Aconcagua, etc. because neither I nor any of you (probly) could ever do it. Who has the vast $$$ to put on one of these trips?
So put on your thinking caps - How could I, an American, with say $5000 to spend get from America to the summit of Everest?
To make it interesting I won't use oxygen and I'll depend on previous parties for fixed lines, ladders.
Would I need an accomplice(s)?
Mode of transportation(s)?
What should I say to Officials?
Which side of mountain to attempt?
Please use your imagination - breaking any law (American, Chinese, Nepalese) is allowed, as well as stowing away, stealing etc. Flaming and sarcasm are always welcome, bit I prefer Quality Constructive Advice.
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Deleted
May 20, 2003, 7:45 PM
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well, it sounds like you're in the hole right out of the gate since permits (assuming you were going legit) are running 70-grand.
air fare roundtrip new york to kathmandu is about $1900, plus another $400 from kathmandu to lukla.
... want me to stop? :D
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moeman
May 20, 2003, 7:49 PM
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Jump out of a jumbo jet cruising at 40,000 feet, right above the sumit. Maybe bring a parachute. No acclimization or anything. Oh, and wear filp flops, shorts, and a T-shirt. If your lungs explode, send pictures.
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hellbent
May 20, 2003, 7:49 PM
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Be wild. Pay for your transportation there. I'm from India and a roundtrip from the US to India is approximately 1200$.
Then sleep at bus-stops and railway stations.
Food is cheap as hell. Cut out all the touristy stuff. Just go climb.
Dont blame me if you get into trouble for no permit and stuff like that. I believe that I heard the word "illegal" in your post.
Also hook up with a local if you can. Lots of benefits.
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tori
May 20, 2003, 7:51 PM
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that should be enough to put on a seminar at the local holiday inn about your recent trips up the mountain and how the trip makes you ubercool and ultrasheek. then let the new customers pay for the whole thing and you just hand out the pre event workout schedule. then loose them at the airport for their own safety. or you could go as a grip for the reality show coming up, or as the long lost possessive boyfriend of one of the contestants. if you call the show and claim that it will be fantastic drama to show up at the last minute they might go for it. keep thinking, you can do it :wink:
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phairclimber
May 20, 2003, 7:54 PM
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I'm pretty sure you will have to spend all $5000 on gear.
This means you will have to travel for free and skip buying a permit. Just wear white when climbing, no one will see you.
To get there, I recommend stowing away in the hold of a nepalese cargo ship. This may take a while, but free is free, right?
Food is another issue, you will be there for several months. I think you will have to hunt/kill/cook your own food, but I am not sure what kinda animals are around there.
Boy, sounds like fun!
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vertical_reality
May 20, 2003, 7:55 PM
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Well Koran Gruup (sp?) rode his bike to Everest, there's your mode of transportation. if you check otu travelocity.com maybe you can find a cheap flight to europe and just go from there.
Isn't this the year of the mountains or something so permit prices are cut in half. I don't think it cost $70,000 for a permit. That's how much it costs to go on a guided expedition. Everest is a big place too, so maybe you can sneak up there without the officals finding out.
How long can you survive on only eating snow?
Maybe if you do it alpine style and pack your tent and stuff as you go, that might save on setting up a couple of camps.
Rather then Sherpas, get a few of your buddies to help you out, offer to pay them with beer.
Just a few ideas, anyone else?
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billburning
May 20, 2003, 8:24 PM
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Invest your 5,000 dollars for a while until it becomes $25,000 and then go.
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jman
May 20, 2003, 8:39 PM
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Here's a page with a little cost break down from a guide service.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0305/expert_everest.html
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allanange
May 20, 2003, 8:41 PM
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Pave Everest. :idea:
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xinh
May 20, 2003, 8:49 PM
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To make some extra bucks as you're hitchhiking across the mainland, beg for money on freeway offramps. The homeless Vietnam vet pitch will work better than the dirtbag-with-a-mission (nobody likes hippies!). Make sure you save correct change for the new internet access available at basecamp, as you will need it to create an alibi. On the waterways, you can pimp yourself out on cargo ships, because anything looks good to lonely seamen. Once in Nepal, steal a little kid's ratty bike that's leaning against the nearest monestary, and be sure to jingle the prayer bells in honor of the sins you are about to commit. Outlaw yourself against rich American businessmen that are heading up the rough and tumble trail. Don't touch the yaks, and leave the technical gear, as your newfound friends will inadvertently carry it for you. For now, concentrate on Gortex , warm North Face clothing, and the Hershey's chocolate bars that break the monotony of not having variety in your diet. Once at basecamp, hire the cheapest Sherpa you can find. He will do double duty as your food source later on. As for gear, there's plenty halfway to the summit. You just have to kill for it. But this is ok, because when you run out of freeze-dried Sherpa, you will need to find another food source, one that can't tattle on you if it isn't alive to talk. Oxygen is free, just breathe in and out. :lol: :lol:
Marilyn
P.S. I'd be more than happy to join you on this venture. I'm not very meaty, though, so don't get any ideas.
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alpiner
May 20, 2003, 9:20 PM
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Xinh gets the award for best answer so far. If you want to stay legal and go low budget, Everest is doable for about $15,000. But that assumes you already have gear and experience.
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dsafanda
May 20, 2003, 9:41 PM
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You could fund a great "rock climbing" trip with $5,000.
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felis
May 20, 2003, 9:53 PM
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[quote="xinh"] Once at basecamp, hire the cheapest Sherpa you can find. He will do double duty as your food source later on.
P.S. I'd be more than happy to join you on this venture. I'm not very meaty, though, so don't get any ideas.
Sherpas are not very meaty either:-(.
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sandbag
May 20, 2003, 10:11 PM
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You could buy 5000 dollars worth of lotto tickets and hope for the best, or go to Vegas and try to parlee the sum into a bigger one. Or hell, just move over there, become a citizen, and then be a sherpa, and one day rogue your way to the top and there you go. Free. Now you can use that 5000 to fly back to the states, repatriate, and sell the movie rights to Marilyn's adventure since you were there to see and witness it, and youre living the American dream.
:shock:
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weaselman
May 20, 2003, 10:39 PM
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seems like you could just canoe to Asia, then steal a bike off'n one off them chinese fellows. then just bike to everest, and start climbing!!!!
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xkyczar
May 20, 2003, 10:42 PM
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70,000 / 5,000 = 14
So if you are going legit you need at least 14 people.
Let's say 1000 for very cheap gear.
70,000 / 5,000 - 1,000 = 17ish people
How about 1000 traveling cash, assuming you're jumping boats, hitching...
70,000 / 5,000 - 2,000 = 23ish people
500 for a cheap sherpa and 500 for a lot of what ever they call that yak butter and sugar.
70,000 / 5,000 - 3,000 = 35 people
Another 1000 for bribes, ransoms, I climbed Everest t-shirts, Everest internet cafe fees...
And we are up to 70 of your closest dirtbag climbing buddies. Bet you would be pretty popular at BC.
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brianinslc
May 20, 2003, 10:48 PM
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In reply to: So put on your thinking caps - How could I, an American, with say $5000 to spend get from America to the summit of Everest? To make it interesting I won't use oxygen and I'll depend on previous parties for fixed lines, ladders. Would I need an accomplice(s)?
Nope.
In reply to: Mode of transportation(s)?
Fly to Katmandu on the cheapest bucket flight you can find, try to keep the flight cost under 800 bucks.
In reply to: What should I say to Officials?
Well, hello, yes, I'm a trekker, here's my trekking permit...
In reply to: Which side of mountain to attempt?
North.
In reply to: Please use your imagination - breaking any law (American, Chinese, Nepalese) is allowed, as well as stowing away, stealing etc. Flaming and sarcasm are always welcome, bit I prefer Quality Constructive Advice.
I think you could "trek" to basecamp in China and climb the North Ridge. If you felt good and strong, you could lobby to help carry loads for a team. Then, being the nice persuasive person you are, "borrow" a suit and warm bag in high camp, make a run for it. Bribe you way out of jail if a local finds out. Voila.
Join an Everest team as a trekker. Then be strong and helpful. Might help to bring your own boots, as they are an item that you might not be able to borrow as easily.
I don't think any team would refuse a load carry...and you'd be gettin' dailed for an attempt.
Shoot, with this plan, your cost is under 2K....
The other option is to split a permit on the Chinese side with folks. I'll bet its a bunch cheaper than Nepal (10K per if you split with 7 folks versus?). Or try to add onto a team with a permit that needs a partner to fill the permit out.
Peaks get "poached" in Nepal and China all the time, I'm guessin'...and, a bit of cash greases those wheels if need be too it seems...
Be an adventure, for sure.
Your book title could be, "Everest, the Ultimate Poach".
Can't wait for the TR...
-Brian in SLC
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mark99
May 21, 2003, 12:22 AM
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First get to base camp, should not cost to much plane ticket and then hitch there....
Next dress up as a Sherpa and hitch onto another climbing party. When you get to the point where you should turn around adn go home just keep climbing
Then you can use the gear of the people you hitched a ride and also if for someone reason you need a rescue they are already there...
Easy....
Send me a post card when you get there.
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apoorva
May 21, 2003, 2:17 AM
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willing accomplice right here. i'm not very meaty either, so...
i'm also an aspiring writer, i could ghost-write the book. it'll definitely sell millions, im a very good...umm.. aspiringwriter..or if i'm accepted in the role of getaway driver, umm, i mean accomplice; we could co-write. oh and constructive ideas: plane ticket to, say, india (i'm from there too) is about 800 bucks off season, after hard searching. walk over to nepal, its not that far. attach ourselves informally to one of the indian army teams (i know one going next year); or get a trekking permit to enter the area. once there, who's checking anything?! jump on the mountain and pretend to be someone from one of the teams who're supposed to be there. BC is all a big mess in any case. and on the mountain no-one's going to want to throw us off it. tag the summit, and go home! all done, nice and easy. gear's the real issue here, seriously. if you can steal it all, i think we'd be fine. just down suits, piolets, and boots. everything else is strung up on the mountain in any case. we just gotta rope-climb...jugjugjugjug all the way to the top.
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vladowski
May 21, 2003, 2:26 AM
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Man, these guys really raped you didn't they? I hope it doesn't really cost 70 grand just for a permit, but if it does, don't pay it man. This land was made for you and me. Oh wait, that's only America isn't it? Well just tell them you didn't know that.
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dlintz
May 21, 2003, 2:50 AM
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A few ideas:
Buy a number of fake Rolex watches for bribing officials.
Have you ever seen pics of Everest basecamp? Lotta free alpine booty abandoned there. Higher up on the mountain you could strip the corpses of their booty too.
Buy a yak to carry your gear as high as possible, then make yak jerky.
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nonick
May 21, 2003, 5:22 AM
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There are plenty of expeditions out there that would just let you on board because they have a permit to sell. From what I read, Henry Todd was/is the cheapest commercial guide. I think he got into some sort of trouble though with the Nepalese authorities...
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v_nick
May 21, 2003, 7:08 AM
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Ok here's my idea.
You've got 5k
Buy your transport. After all, who wants to wait for cargo ships and beg on freeways and all that junk. $2,000
Sink a grand on gear, you'll need warm stuff and some boots, crampons, axe, a couple of crabs and assorted little things like that, a cool tent and one warm-arse sleeping bag. (ok probably well over $1,000, but i'll assume you at least have some of that stuff already, and were either willing to go second-hand or get creative with the rest) $1,000
As far as i know it's free to trek on up to base camp, and only illegal to go above it, so you're sweet to there. Use $1,000 bucks of what's left and get yourself some sherpas and some food. As I understand it, sherpas don't cost that much in US dollars a day and if they can live on yack butter and barley flour or whatever, so can you.
From there just get up early one morning and go, i doubt there'd be people there checking tickets (though maybe i'm mistaken). Use that last $1,000 (a phenomenal sum in rupees) to bribe your way past any trouble.
If you think that last bit sucks, you don't have to go the standard route, from Gorak Shep stay east and climb up and over the north east ridge of Nuptse, and drop down into the Western Cwm and up from there. Consider it a bit of acclimatization. You still get to use all the ropes from other people but avoid base camp all together. From there you wouldn't be much less than 6,000m, so no one's about to physically stop you and you've still got that $1,000 to sweet talk your way down after running like hell didn't work.
I didn't say any of it was a good idea. Let us know if it works. :D
Nick
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galt
May 21, 2003, 2:09 PM
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Pay for airfare there. Dude, you really can't get around it. You'll also want to bring in some quality food and any meds you're going to want for altitude. Go over as an American Environmentalist who wants to help clean up Everest. Get the government to give you a place to stay, food, and a little $ while you ferry O2 bottles down from Everest. (Hell, if the Gov. won't help you out raise sponsorship here in the states. I'm sure there are tons of treehug... people who would give a few bucks to help out) If neither of those turn out sell the O2 bottles back to the guides. It may not be top dollar, but cost of living can't be that bad over there.
Now you have 2 things going for you. 1) A little extra cash for the rest of the gear you're going to need (I hope acmeclimbing ships to India). 2) Experience in the area (which is priceless). Take your gear up to where you are getting the O2 bottles and leave a little behind about 2 days before you try to summit. One day leave for "Work" as usual and just don't come back. By the time anyone realizes you aren't there you'll have a 2 day head start. Take your time and do it right (you probably won't get a second chance). Good luck to you. (and I hope you don't even consider anything I mention in the above... but if you do I'd buy the book.)
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reborne
May 21, 2003, 3:14 PM
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i am under the impression that a permit is 65k maybe you could take the 5k to vegas and work it into like 100k caus other than that ....
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jeffers_mz
Jun 3, 2003, 10:55 PM
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First move, spend $35 and buy a copy of The Book of Lies, if you haven't already.
Second move, get your gear together to trek to base camp, higher if you can do it for no additional cash outlay, buy your ticket, roundtrip, and your trekking permit and get yourself to base camp as cheap as you can. Then start talking. If you've got any business being there you've got 3 main chances. One, late in the season talk a legal expedition into selling you an unused permit slot for a grand or two. It usually costs more than that, but if there are extras, unused, then any money you pay them is found money, on the end side of their trip, when most of their own money has been spent. You might get lucky.
Two, get on as a load carrier. Tell them you'll work cheap, prepared to drop to free if they seem at all interested. Packing loads will get you acclimated. Once you're up high, watch for your chance. You might tag along with somebody, if they don't turn you in because they had to pay good money for their permit, and don't want to see you getting over. You might go up on your own after trail is broken and lines are fixed.
Three....blend in...think on this some...you won't pass as a Yak, but....
You'll probably ned some local friends or people who really know their way around over there to learn enough to pull this off. If you can keep your first trip under three grand, then you have a whole year to capitalize on the contacts you make, and recoup your original $5000, to make another shot.
I have a passing acquaintance with a few climbers who have had some success at what you are attempting, and I believe your chances of getting over there and back in a single season and snagging a summit on E are about zero. Other peaks get much less attention. Take a year, and meet some contacts, learn your way around, and your chances rise to a max of maybe one in four.
If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
All that said, I think it's a fool's move. You're probably going to lose some flesh for a summit you can't tell anyone you made, on pain of being permanently barred from the country. Without support, a team, Sherpas, O's and good gear, you'll be lucky to just lose toes.
Just so you know exactly what my advice is worth, I've never been above 14,500', never sent anything harder than 5.8, never done glaciers or ice, but I have talked to people who make regular practice doing what you want to do, some you may even know of, and this is what I get from them.
Take it for whatever it's worth to you.
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pico23
Jun 4, 2003, 7:54 PM
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In reply to: I just finished reading "Seven Summits", the story about two guys climbing the highest seven peaks. I realized that I could not identify with the climbers, nor most mountaineers on Denali, Aconcagua, etc. because neither I nor any of you (probly) could ever do it. Who has the vast $$$ to put on one of these trips? So put on your thinking caps - How could I, an American, with say $5000 to spend get from America to the summit of Everest? To make it interesting I won't use oxygen and I'll depend on previous parties for fixed lines, ladders. Would I need an accomplice(s)? Mode of transportation(s)? What should I say to Officials? Which side of mountain to attempt? Please use your imagination - breaking any law (American, Chinese, Nepalese) is allowed, as well as stowing away, stealing etc. Flaming and sarcasm are always welcome, bit I prefer Quality Constructive Advice.
Well it is done quite often. I constantly read about people showing up a base camp with nothing more then their basic gear. I don't recall if they have permits but my guess is no. If you really want to make it affordable you can ride your bike to everest like goran kropp did!!! You can use other peoples gear such as tents, fixed lines, food caches, ect (again done often). All you really need is your own personal gear unless you want to steal gear from basecamp. I'd recommend against that. It's one thing to use fixed lines and abandoned tents and food caches but it is another to steal hard goods from someones tent at basecamp which is definitely a criminal offense. I doubt you want to spend time in a Nepalese prison. Anyway, if you are going to use oxygen and reduce the mountain by a few thousand feet then why not do something a few thousand feet lower. That said oxygen isn't even an issue in my mind.
So really, you just need the gear and base camp tent and a way to get to base camp. Assuming you've done any climbing at all you might have some of the gear so I'd say frugal shopping should get you the rest for maybe $2000 or less (8000m suit, insulated supergaiters, ect). From what I've read I would NOT try to by it in Katmandu where it is super exepnsive. So all you have to do is figure out a way to get to basecamp with the $3000 you have left (and have enough food to eat for the trip) and from the time you leave base camp someone else is footing the expense and effort of setting up advanced camps.
So you've knocked everest off, how do you plan on knocking off Antarctica without any support?
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lemurboy
Mar 16, 2006, 1:22 PM
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You can just wait a little while till the Yuppies decided to make a tram all the way to the top so everyone can go to the summit of everest!
Look at those silly climbers down there what are they thinking, being out in the snow and cold.
That would probably cost you about 5000
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slavetogravity
Mar 16, 2006, 3:21 PM
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So you intend to defraud the Nepalese government of 65,000 dollars, eh’. Good luck with that. Can you say "Third world prison time"? Hope you don’t mind fighting off the rats for your daily bowl of rice.
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adnix
Mar 21, 2006, 9:35 AM
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In reply to: because neither I nor any of you (probly) could ever do it. Who has the vast $$$ to put on one of these trips? |
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boardline22
Mar 21, 2006, 7:55 PM
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has anyone climbed everest here?
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porcelainsunset
Mar 21, 2006, 8:39 PM
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There is no need to be a stole away on any ship over to India, crew a series of fishing ships, cruse ships, and cargo ships, and get paid to travel. Once there, use the money you made to get up there. If this fails, there is always whoreing yourself to the night, spend the 5000 on a red dress and you'll have 60 g's in no time! :lol:
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tempestwind
Mar 22, 2006, 6:38 AM
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If you are serious I know of this guide service that will take you on under its wing as a helper for other clients...Send me a PM..
There are also guide services that charge much less with the same quality.
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kobaz
Mar 23, 2006, 10:05 AM
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In reply to: If you are serious I know of this guide service that will take you on under its wing as a helper for other clients...Send me a PM.. There are also guide services that charge much less with the same quality.
It might be just me, but I don't believe the OP was serious.
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hellbent
Mar 23, 2006, 12:12 PM
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So are you going or what?
Write me up as an accomplice...but try to take a bite and i'll jab your eye out with my axe. :lol:
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adnix
Mar 25, 2006, 11:36 AM
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In reply to: has anyone climbed everest here? |
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micahisaac
Mar 25, 2006, 3:57 PM
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this will work for sure: Start from Austria shouldn't be more than a grand to get there and back. Ride a train from Austria to the Himalaya and attempt a climb on behalf of your own country and das furor (did I mention you need to be there at the onset of WW2?) from there get arrested as a war combatant, escape from prison, trek around for a while until you befriend the dolly lama (did i spell that right?) If you go during the right time period the dolly lama will still live in Tibet. Spend several years there I say around 7. Then with the wealth and power of your new friend you climb Everest. Again going at the right time period you could have a first accent! Airfare might even be cheaper! Spend the rest of the money on a time machine or hire Superman to fly around the earth backwards for a while. You can't lose, and minus the superman part It would make for a great movie!
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boardline22
Mar 25, 2006, 6:28 PM
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Posts: 652
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In reply to: this will work for sure: Start from Austria shouldn't be more than a grand to get there and back. Ride a train from Austria to the Himalaya and attempt a climb on behalf of your own country and das furor (did I mention you need to be there at the onset of WW2?) from there get arrested as a war combatant, escape from prison, trek around for a while until you befriend the dolly lama (did i spell that right?) If you go during the right time period the dolly lama will still live in Tibet. Spend several years there I say around 7. Then with the wealth and power of your new friend you climb Everest. Again going at the right time period you could have a first accent! Airfare might even be cheaper! Spend the rest of the money on a time machine or hire Superman to fly around the earth backwards for a while. You can't lose, and minus the superman part It would make for a great movie!
I am reading Seven years in Tibet now. Oh it's Dalai Lama
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billhilly
Mar 25, 2006, 9:23 PM
Post #41 of 46
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Registered: Jan 23, 2004
Posts: 75
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Why bother? Everest is a rich mans mountain growing taller with shit each and every summer. Get a trekking permit and you can climb anything up to 25,000 feet or so. If youve never been to the Himalayas you will find it is more than sufficient.
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tonloc
Mar 26, 2006, 8:06 AM
Post #42 of 46
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
Posts: 249
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three years later i say just jump to the top, chuck norris did it...
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leapinlizard
Mar 26, 2006, 6:51 PM
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Registered: Jul 14, 2004
Posts: 200
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Alright as for a shit pile, they have been working on cleaning it up every year. Granted there is still a lot of trash above Camp 2, but even these areas are being cleaned up as of late. The country of Nepal has instituted a fine if expeditions don't bring out a certain amount of trash with them when they leave. As for trekking to base camp and Kala Pathar, I think that all it will do is motivate you more, or at least that is what has done to me. I have trekked it twice. As for Everest being a rich man's mountain, it is probably true in some respects considering the permit alone is 70000 (includes 7 people). But most big mountains these days require a good amount of money. And any time you are on a large expedition such as Everest the costs are always up there. My two cents on the $5000 venture is to try and get in with the French chopper company that just landed a helicopter on the top last spring. I still find it amazing that they shattered the old record by 10000ft. (previous record 19000ft when rescuing beck wethers) THe other option is you could do it Goran Kropp style and ride your bicyle from western europe, caryy all your own stuff, cook your own meals and solo everest without oxygen, then ride your bike home. Of course if you do it legally you still have to pay the permit, or maybe you could convince another expedition to cover you with their permit. Good luck.
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rocketsocks
Mar 28, 2006, 3:10 AM
Post #44 of 46
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Registered: Feb 11, 2006
Posts: 179
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The only way I can think of would be for you to become expert at alpine mountaineering and then become a guide, letting your clients pay your way (and theirs).
P.S. I just saw this Everest gear-list on Alpine Ascents' site (linked from the NatGeo blurb).
Ya know, except for the ascenders, double plastic boots, down clothing, ski goggles, and, of course, -40 / -20 deg. sleeping bags, I have all that stuff. I think that's kinda cool.
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up_for_a_good_time
Mar 28, 2006, 3:35 AM
Post #45 of 46
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
Posts: 111
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Send $5,000 worth of chocolate and roses to Ed Viesturs and beg to ride his heels to the top next time he rolls over that way. Be sure to ask for some help with the plane ride. And maybe bum some food. Oh, and maybe ask if he has some boots he doesn't like anymore.
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kane_schutzman
Apr 10, 2006, 5:39 AM
Post #46 of 46
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Registered: May 14, 2005
Posts: 896
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Drink Some Redbull :D
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