A Month to Go<\/h3>\n
By now each climber has selected their guide or logistics service but it always pays to have\u00a0a live conversation to review plans, dates and most importantly, expectations. Speak directly with the lead guide if possible, not a company owner who will not be there. Also if you can get the emails of other team members, it is good to make contact in order to scope out your team.<\/p>\n
Team dynamics is crucial to a positive experience on any expedition. You can count on the fact that you will not get along with everyone on your team, regardless of the size, so getting to know\u00a0each person as soon as possible will accelerate the bonding process.<\/p>\n
By now you should have\u00a0completed these step:<\/p>\n
One Year Out<\/strong><\/p>\n Six Months Out<\/strong><\/p>\n With most people leaving home around mid March, these steps are still open:<\/p>\n Three Months Out<\/strong><\/p>\n One Month Out<\/strong><\/p>\n The last point is key – don’t get hurt! While it may be tempting to add extra weight to the bar when\u00a0doing curls, or push that long run an extra mile – don’t. You are at diminishing returns.<\/p>\n Your body is about as good as it’s going to be. Twisting an ankle or pulling a muscle that takes six weeks to heal\u00a0will sabotage your entire climb, plus undermine your confidence. Keep working out but move into maintenance mode where you tone, not build.<\/p>\n Don’t be antisocial but avoid those people with colds or the flu. Replace handshakes with fist bumps and let Purill be your friend! Do not go to Nepal already sick!<\/p>\n Watch\u00a0what you eat, again this is not the time to get sloppy. Watch your balance of carbs, proteins and fat. When in doubt, avoid the carbs\u00a0because healthy fats and protein build muscles. \u00a0You will lose weight even on the trek in, let it happen naturally. Your diet will take a huge shift as you eat the food of the Khumbu or Tibet – lot’s of carbs thru rice, little meat.<\/p>\n Oh, and now is the time to knock off the booze. You\u00a0should have already but it adds empty\u00a0calories that will not help you at 26,000 feet! Also, watch those beers on the trek in, one is enough with a meal\u00a0if any at all. After you summit,\u00a0you can celebrate but not before.<\/p>\n As I previously posted<\/a>, I expect\u00a02017 to be a big year from both side. I base this on the record crowds\u00a0on Manaslu\u00a0in autumn 2016 and\u00a0big teams on Cho Oyu – both used\u00a0as training for Everest.<\/p>\n Also the Chinese\u00a0are telling Nepal operators that they will limit the number of foreign (non-Chinese) climbers\u00a0in Tibet in the autumn of 2017 because\u00a0of “a large meeting held in Tibet at that time.” This may encourage some climbers\u00a0to jump on the Everest train rather than wait. They are saying no more than 50 on Cho Oyu and none for the other peaks including Shishapangma and Everest.\u00a0Check with your operator BEFORE sending any money and get cancellation insurance if you do.<\/p>\n I am expecting over 600 summits from the South (Nepal) side and well over 200 from the North (Tibet) totaling 800 from\u00a0both sides, smashing the record\u00a0set in 2013 with 658 total summits from both sides. In 2016, 641\u00a0climbers made the summit from both sides.<\/p>\n Knowing you will summit \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0think ahead on how to honor your summit and time in Nepal. Many\u00a0people bring family pictures\u00a0or tokens that\u00a0are meaningful to them. While not allowed\u00a0and discouraged, many summiters\u00a0leave something on the summit.<\/p>\n This is a picture of a small singing bowl that reminds me of the monasteries, the bracelet from Bravelets<\/a> is what I wear to honor my mom, Ida Arnette, who died from Alzheimer’s and the medallion is from Geo’ Junga <\/a>and can be customized for your summit.\u00a0Geo Junga will donate $10 to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund plus give you a 10% discount via this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n With all this, there is an important step remaining, getting closure with your family. And that is the subject of another post.<\/p>\n\n
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Slow Down!<\/h3>\n
You are what you Eat!<\/h3>\n
Big Year<\/h3>\n
Celebrate!<\/h3>\n
![\"Geo'](\"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/IMG_8433-640x480.jpg\")
<\/a>Last Steps<\/h3>\n