Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu (6th Highest in the World)
Climbing Period: September and October
Altitude: 26,906ft / 8201m
Cho Oyu Base Camp is established after the Shishapangma Expedition. It
s a 2-day drive from Shishapangma Base Camp to Cho Oyu Base Camp.
Typically, climbers will stay one day at Cho Oyu Base Camp for acclimatization purposes.
Route: North West Face (Normal Route).
From Cho Oyu Base Camp, it is a two-day walk toward Advance
Base Camp. ABC is established on the Gyabrakg Glacier
5600m (18,373ft). Once at ABC, a
few days are taken to get settled and prepare for the climb
ahead. Above ABC, three higher camps are placed at 6065m (19,850ft); 7130m (23,393ft) and at
7319m (24,013ft) in preparation for the attempt on the
summit."(1) From ABC, it is several hours of tough
walking on a vague path over moraine-covered glacier to
the start of the mountaineering properly.
Camp 1: "The trail to Camp 1 at 6065m (19,850ft) is
essentially a steep walk on talus slopes, often done in
hiking boots. The fixed rope pitches are just below
Camp 2." (2)
Camp 2: "From Camp 1, climbers move up through the
ridge and fix rope to climb a 50m high serac barrier
split by a ramp to set up the Camp 2 at about 7130m
(23,393ft)." (3) "The route from Camp 1 follows
the Northwest ridge, and then opens out onto the Northwest
face of the upper mountain. About halfway between Camp 1 and
Camp 2 the ice cliff is encountered, which is a 150-foot
mix of short bands of near vertical ice. Fixed line will
likely have to be established between Camp 1 and 2.
Camp 2 will
be located at about 7130m (23,393ft)."(4)
Camp 3: "High Camp will be placed at about 7319m (24,013ft),
on the north west face, to maximize the chance of
success on summit day. From here, the first
obstacle is a bank of rock, which is usually fixed with
rope, and requires strenuous climbing. Above this,
more rocky bands and steep snow put the climbers on
the summit ridge snowfield. Expeditions usually
continue up this steep snowfield to the crest of the
Northwest Ridge and the false summit. From the false
summit, climbers cross a broad plateau, with a very small
rise to the true summit of 8201m (26, 907ft).
From the true summit it is possible to get an incredible
view of Everest."(5)
Ref 1: http://www.windhorse-trek.com/chooyu.htm
Ref 2: http://www.cybernet1.com/himalaya/cho_oyu.htm
Ref 3: http://trtrekking.com/MtChoOyuExpedition.htm
Ref 4: http://www.k2news.com/chooyu2003/co2003chooyu.htm
Ref 5: http://www.k2news.com/chooyu2003/co2003chooyu.htm
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