Whichever mountain you attempt to scale, one thing is sure to come in the journey of every climber. And that thing is your body which gets involved both physically and mentally. Similar to other climbing mountains, to conquer Island Peak with great mind and physics, Tips for Island Peak Climbing are crucial for every mountaineer enthusiast.
Each peak climb has something that is always ready for a battle with your fitness. For this reason, what is more, important before climbing, is mental and physical preparedness to cope with every emergency that comes on your way.
Peak climbing should never be taken in negligence and must not be undertaken without proper preparation and planning. A deep study of the map and weather should be done before actually commencing the peak climb.
Island Peak otherwise called Imja Tse is the most sought-after climbing peak in the Everest region after Everest. Adventurers looking out for a challenging journey after the completion of Everest Base Camp Trek find this climbing Peak in Nepal fully satisfying. In addition, novice climbers who wish to install their mountain climbing memories in their life history generally opt for Island Peak Climbing.
Touching an elevation of 6189m this Nepal Climbing peak of course is technical and requires technical climbing knowledge. Climbing Island Peak without a guide might not be a good idea since they ensure your safety and successful completion of the climb.
Preempting this technical peak with no prior knowledge, plan, or skills might not let you achieve your goal of conquering the peak. Thus, to make you aware of do’s and don’ts during the Island Peak Climbing, we have listed the top tips to summit Island Peak.
- Island Peak Expedition View
10 Main Tips for Island Peak Climbing
1. Great Mental Preparedness
Your physical preparedness goes in vain if you step into the mountains without a positive mindset or positive mental preparedness. As much as your physical strength, your mental stability and strength are equally responsible for making your climb either successful or unsuccessful. The mountains heed doesn’t merely demand you’re great physical health, it respects more your mental strength. After all, at final your mind wins every other aspect.
The days in the mountains do not always go as expected. Thus, prepare your mind to accept all the unexpecting that you will encounter during the climbing journey.
While scaling the eminent Island peak elevation of 6189 m, you never know when the climate and weather get harsh. To predict anything at this altitude is impossible. Therefore, you should prepare your mentality to battle with every circumstance. Don’t ever lose your confidence. Whatever comes on your way don’t ever rush. Deal with everything with a calm attitude. Otherwise, it takes no time for a mere incident to escalate to the higher one.
2. Get Habitual with your Climbing Boots before the actual Journey
The actual Island Peak Climbing days are not the right clock to test out new climbing boots. Climbing boots are normally rigid and heavy. Trying out this on the actual hiking day causes lots of pain to your feet. During the climbing time, what is more, important is your feet. Your feet are the ones to take you to the summit of Island Peak. By chance, if your feet get into a problem for any reason, it will directly hamper your climbing resulting in an unsuccessful climbing journey.
Thus it is highly recommended to get habitual with the climbing boots that you will be using on the actual climbing days. Prior use of hiking shoes helps soften the shoe material to conform to the shape of your feet.
3. Keep Extra Days on Your Island Peak Climbing Itinerary Plan
God-gifted mountains never let you predict what will be going to happen in their ambiance. You can’t think of what will the weather and climate be like in the next few seconds. You never know when the weather will result in flight delays or cancellations. In the mountains, you can’t be sure of your health itself.
Similar is the case with hiking and climbing routes. Thus, on a trip to the peak and mountain always expect extra days from your itinerary. Any bad impact on the climate, weather, health, or route likewise leads to a change of itinerary in the Himalayas.
If everything goes normally according to your plan, you can utilize those extra days for rest, retreats, side hikes, or even sightseeing day tours in Kathmandu.
4. Pack the right clothing and gears
You don’t want to catch up at the summit with unbearable cold because you didn’t bring the right clothing, it doesn’t sound appealing. Further, you also don’t want to realize that you forget the gears that are crucial for your journey. Thus to not be caught up in such situations you need to pack the right clothing and gear and double-check before embarking on the climb.
Clothing
Clothing matters a lot in every journey and in the case of peak climbing it should be wisely chosen. By the time you arrive at Island Peak Base Camp, no lodges appear in your sight which compels you to spend the night in the tents. With the high-altitude peak climb, you need to pack high-quality clothing as you can’t compromise with it in the harsh weather conditions of the Himalayas.
However, while picking up the clothes you better leave the cotton worn at your home and pack merino wools. Merino wools are quick-drying and don’t stick to your sweaty body making it the perfect wear during peak climbing. Besides, Down jackets, Quality Base Layers, rainjackets, Gloves and Handwarmers, and Extra socks are the must-pack items during the climb to Island Peak.
Miscellaneous items
- Headlamp
- Energy Bars
- First-aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Camera and spare batteries
- Good quality water filler
- Mountaineering gears
- Ice axe
- Crampons
- Harness
- Ropes
5. A lack of proper scheduling will reduce your chances of summiting
Your Island Peak Climbing season has a huge role in making your summit either great or failure. Attempting the climb peaks in Nepal during winter and summer drags many problematic circumstances on your way. The decision to opt for the offseason Island Peak climb just to deter the crowds turns out to be more hazardous. Keeping this notion in mind, you better continue choosing the best time to climb Island Peak which is Autumntime and Springtime.
6. Develop your mountaineering skills by exercising with the mountaineering gears
You may gain some ideas from the YouTube videos and articles about the use of climbing gear. However, to acquire real mountaineering skills, what is utmost is proper practice with the mountaineering gears.
Over the snowy surface of the Island Peak Climbing route, you need to be able to walk on crampons while crossing the ladder. The practice of using fixed ropes, crampons, ice axe techniques and likewise turns out to be a boon during real-time peak climbing.
As with Island peak climbing the techniques of abseiling and rappelling while ascending and descending from the 45-degree sloppy surface are highly applied. Thus gather the required confidence for this stunt by exercising with harnesses and ropes. The proper exercise of climbing knots like Overhand Knots Alpine Butterfly and Italian hitch knots aids a lot in making your Island Peak Climb successful.
- Island peak climb with Everest base camp Trek
7. Meet your doctor Before the ascent
The utmost tip for Island Peak Climbers is to follow these tips of the proper counseling with the doctor before commencing the journey.
Looking at the Island Peak Base Camp Trek Map you will see the Island Peak summit view at an elevation of 6189m. Just think of climbing this altitude with high blood pressure and no medication. Is it good for your health? Of-Course not. Doing so, you might end your life after a few days of the journey. Thus it is always recommended to consult with your doctor before embarking on your journey in the Himalayas either for climbing or trekking.
If you have some existing health issues the doctor will suggest you either proceed with the climb or not. If your doctor allows you, he/she will recommend certain medications to carry along with you on your trip. In addition, you can also take medications to prevent acute mountain sickness.
Also, the proper health information you provide to your climbing team will help your team to assist your health condition in case of any emergencies.
8. Pay attention to acclimatization
Prevention from acute mountain sickness is only possible if acclimatized properly. Spending the day at a high elevation and sleeping at a lower elevation is the key to acclimatization. Though the acclimatization might take some extra rest days and might increase your Island Peak Climbing cost, it will all be worth it for a successful summit.
For better acclimatization, go with the Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek. This option gives you ample acclimatization time while making your body adapt to the altitude of 5364 before reaching Peak’s summit. Heading to Island Peak Summit directly from Chhukung does not allow your body a good balance with altitude.
9. Train your Body a month before a climb
The fitter your physics more exciting your climb will be. Thus, to experience the best from the journey, you just start your body exercise a month before the climb. Whenever possible do outdoor exercise. Also, give equal time for indoor exercise. The physical exercises boost your stamina while making your body endure more challenges., gymnastics, jogging, cycling, squatting, and swimming help you improve your heart function.
Opting for a strenuous exercise of long hiking on the first day of the training might make you frustrated and exhausted from the first day. So, plan a shorter, easier hike to begin with and gradually intensify your hike as you gain experience and confidence. Remember to carry your backpack during the hike. It helps increase your stamina for the Island Peak summit.
10. Clear Your Trashes by yourself
Mountains are the heaven on earth. Maintaining its natural beauty is the responsibility of every living human. However, with the flow of climbers to the mountains, the pristine beauty of the mountains is degrading because of the excessive trash found there.
The trash here didn’t come from anywhere other than from the climbers themselves. Whatever has happened in the past ignore that fact. And remember to clear your trash during any climbing trip including this Island Peak Climb. It is the most important tip to be followed during Island Peak Climbing.
It’s everyone else dream and right to enjoy the pristine beauty of mountains just like the way you did. Further, making the mountains full of trash impacts directly on global warming too. So, don’t take the cleanliness of the mountains lightly, and contribute whatever you can to save the world.
Additional Things to Know Before Island Peak Climbing
First aid
It will be worth spending some time on basic first aid treatment. It is useful not only just in the case of peak climbing but also in normal day-to-day life. The first-aid training course is easy to learn and costs much low. Though your climbing guide will carry the comprehensive kit make sure to carry a personal first aid kit by yourself.
Hydrate Properly
You are going to find yourself at an altitude with a low oxygen level during the Island Peak Climbing. To balance the low oxygen level, your body starts breathing rapidly resulting in dehydration. Thus to get your body balanced with the low oxygen level, you need to hydrate your body time and again, managing a frequent schedule.
Remember to drink plenty of water on the morning and night of each trek and climb day. Further, during the climbing time, make sure to drink water regularly.
Enjoy Every Moment
After all, you decide to climb the Island peak. And if you forget to enjoy the journey due to the difficulties you encounter, you will regret it later.
Of Course like other peak climbing, Island peak climbing is not a joke and it may sound cliche while suggesting having fun. However, if you cope with every difficulty while enjoying every moment you can conveniently solve the encountered issues with a cherished smile.
Being more stressed during the journey degrades the confidence level of every person. Thus instead of getting stressed solve every issue with a great smile.
- View From Island Peak Expedition Route
Have previous high-altitude experience
It is true that no matter how experienced you are when you are exposed to elevated hiking, there is always a risk of getting caught by altitude sickness. However, previous hiking experience in higher elevations has a positive impact on Island Peak climbing to some extent.
It’s your option to summit the top but getting down from the top is always mandatory.
Descending from the Island Peak Summit is not an easy task to tackle. It holds many complications while demanding much of your effort, energy, patience, and knowledge. If you put all your efforts while summiting the peak leaving no energy for the descent, it troubles you more as you will not be spending the whole of your life in the peak which is impossible too.
Choose wisely your travel partner
Besides the above-mentioned tips, one additional thing to take care of before the jaunt to Island Peak Route Map is with whom you are stepping for the adventure. How will be your climbing journey? it mostly connects directly with your travel partner.
You should wisely choose a licensed and experienced Nepal travel operator for your climbing trip. They are the ones to manage your Island Peak Climbing Permit, Peak Climbing guides, and all other required documentation and formalities. If they properly manage all your permits and other required formalities while introducing you to the best mountains and Island Peak glacial lake views you will reminisce the venture as your best achievement.
Conclusion
Here you have all these Island Peak Climbing Tips for making a stressless trip to Nepal’s most popular peak summit. If you wish for more tips for Island Peak Climbing feel free to drop your queries. We are eagerly waiting to respond to you.
Birendra Duwadi by profession a trekking and tourist guide and an enterpreur whose passion is trekking in the himalayas start Mission Himalaya Treks in 2015 with a new vision to introduce Nepal Himlayas to the world. his vision is explore and documentation new trekking routes . Birendra leads Mission Himalaya, a small company that change the qualities of trekking in Nepal.
