Shishapangma officially Xixiabangma is the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the eight-thousanders. It was the last 8,000 meter peak to be climbed, due to its location entirely within Tibet and the restrictions on outside visitation to the region imposed by the Chinese during the 1950s and later. The mountain has two summits, the commonly climbed Central summit that the Chinese say is 8013m (7999m on old maps) which we have reached four times. Naturally, we will be aiming to climb to the higher true summit, 8027m (26,335ft), let's see if we can get there!
Before the Chinese opened Tibet to western mountaineers in 1978, little was known about Shishapangma. The only 8,000m peak to lie entirely in Tibet, it lies tantalizingly close to the Nepalese border, shrouded behind the great, but less high, border peaks of Langtang. Enterprising individuals sought mere glimpses of it during the period that other 8,000m peaks were receiving their first ascents! It is perhaps not surprising that it was the last of the 8,000m peaks to be climbed. Not that its ascent by the North-West Ridge presents any great difficulty. On the contrary, it is now regarded as one of the most straightforward 8,000m climbs and its summit is frequently achieved.
Regarded as a 'holy' mountain by the local Tibetan population, and lying on the route to Mt. Kailash, Shishapangma continues to baffle us. Historians cannot fathom her names - Shishapangma, Xixabangma, Gosainthan. Yet, the mountain is perhaps the most accessible of her genre, rising only a few miles west of the Kathmandu-Lhasa Highway. It was 16 years before the mountain received its second ascent, by a West German team in 1980, and it has been climbed every year since.
ITINERARY:
Day 01- Arrive at Kathmandu airport (1345meters). Overnight at hotel.
Day 02- Pre-trip Meeting and Sightseeing around Kathmandu valley. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03- Official formalities and Preparation day in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04- Final Preparation day in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05- Fly to Lhasa (3,600meters) from Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 and 07- Sightseeing in Lhasa. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08- Drive to Shigatse (3900 meters), 6 hours. Overnight at hotel.
Day 09- Drive to Xegar (4000 meters), 6 hours. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10- Acclimatization Day. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11- Drive to Shishapangma base camp (5000 meters). Overnight at tented camp.
Day 12 and 13- Base camp preparation. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 14- Move to Advanced Base Camp (5600 meters). Overnight at tented camp.
Day 15 to 40- Climb period of Shishapangm.
Day 41 and 42 - Cleaning the mountain.
Day 43- Packing Advance base camp.
Day 44- Trek Base Camp and drive Zhangmu. Overnight at guesthouse.
Day 45- Drive back to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel and it's time for celebration.
Day 46- At leisure in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. In the evening, we have our farewell celebration and expedition dinner.
Day 47- Fly from Kathmandu for your final departure.
