Mt. CHO OYU (8,201M /26906 Ft)

The great bastion of Cho Oyu stands astride the Nepal/Tibet border, just 70 kilometres west of Everest. It is the world's sixth highest mountain and of the fourteen 8,000 metre peaks, it is regarded as one of the most straightforward to climb. The normal route ascends the north-west face from the Tibetan side of the Nangpa La, the old trading route to Nepal . This will be our route of ascent.

According to Lamas (Buddist Monk), 'Cho' is the sacred test whereas 'Oyu' is the Sherpa word for turquoise. A turquoise is a blue or greenish-blue precious stone. Thus the 'Cho-Oyu' is known as goddess of turquoise. Its towering peak stands with Everest well above the surrounding mountains.

ur expedition will be entering Tibet by flying into Lhasa from Kathmandu and then driving over the Tibetan plateau to the north side of the mountain. From the road-head, three days walking leads to the base camp. After the climb, we will leave Tibet by road, crossing the Nepalese border by the Friendship Bridge at Zhangmu. This is a quick exit, and we will arrive back in Kathmandu on the same day that we leave base camp.