Experience Required FAQs

The experience and skills required are given under the heading “Experience Required”.  You will find this on each trip’s website page or in the pdf (also on the website).  Please ensure you meet the required standard before booking.  If you are in any doubt please call us for advice.

We run courses at all levels, so you can obtain the skills necessary for each trip as you progress.

Lots of climbing on lesser peaks such as in the Alps or the Andes, graded AD or higher, and at least one expedition to a 6,000-metre peak.   Preferably, you will have slept for consecutive nights above base camp before, at altitudes of no less than 5,500-metres.  You will need to be technical proficient and able to climb safely on fixed ropes without close supervision.

We recommend you have tried another 8,000-metre peak before Everest. 30 years of climbing the world’s highest mountain has shown us that this gives you the best chance of success.   Alternatively, if you have climbed a glaciated 7,000-metre peak (e.g. Pik Lenin, Himlung Himal or Putha Hiunchuli) or Denali and alpine climbing, you may consider Everest.

Almost certainly, yes. We like people who bag Munros as it shows determination and resilience as well as an indomitable attitude towards bad weather! If you’ve worn crampons and used an ice axe whilst Munro-bagging in the winter, you may consider a higher mountain, such as Mera Peak in Nepal or Winter Toubkal in Morrocco, a great four-thousander.

Yes, if you can ski linked turns on a red run, you can join an introductory off-piste courses in Chamonix or the Three Valleys. Expect it to be hard work with lots of spills and thrills. Please see our ski grading. We have a weekend introductory course too, in Chamonix, as a taster.

Yes, if you can descend off-piste slopes of 30 degrees without falling over, given typical snow conditions. If you do fall when off-piste, it’s now infrequent and you don’t fall-over on piste these days at all, except for the rarest of occasions. Please see our ski grading.

Yes, but beyond the skills you needed for Kilimanjaro, you must have experience of using ice axe and crampons in winter conditions. You can get his on our Scottish or Alpine Introductory courses. You must be prepared physically and mentally for a challenge that is immeasurably harder than Kilimanjaro. You will have to endure one of the hardest mountaineering days in order to reach the summit, on ever steepening ground to almost 7,000 metres above sea-level.