Leave your home for Nepal. Depending on airline, you might fly east or west around the world. (Wednesday)

Another day of flying. Enjoy the super-attentive service of the long haul airlines.

Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal. We transfer to our hotel, and begin the process of getting over jetlag. (Friday)

Today we explore some of Kathmandu's famous sites. These include Swyambunath (the Monkey Temple) and Pashupati (Nepal's largest Hindu temple), along with the old city's original central square, Durbar.

One of the most beautiful mountain flights in the world takes us from Kathmandu to Lukkla (9,000 feet), the town where we begin our trek to base camp. After organizing our yaks and porters we will make the short hike to the town of Phakding (8,000 feet).

Today we trek to Namche Bazaar. The walk begins with a couple of exciting suspension bridges before climbing steeply up a dusty 2,000 foot hill into Namche (11,300 feet).

For acclimatization purposes we spend a second night in Namche Bazaar. After a relaxing morning we will hike to Syangboche for lunch, where we will have our first stunning views of Ama Dablam.

Trek to Thyangboche, home to the largest Buddhist community in the Solu Khumbu. We will arrive early in the afternoon so that we have time to explore the monastery and see the monks in prayer. (12,670 feet)

Trek to Pangboche. In Pangboche we visit the lama and hold our team's puja (blessing) ceremony. Once finished, we continue hiking to Pheriche.

In the morning we take a short hike to Chukkung (15,700 feet), the highest settlement in the valley.

Climb Chukkung Ri. This 17,600 foot peak is not glaciated, but provides an excellent way for us to gain additional acclimatization, as well as stunning views of the Lhotse face and the huge glaciers filling the Amphu valley. In the afternoon we return to Chukkung.

Today we trek to Ama Dablam base camp. We choose a backcountry route away from the tourist trail, traveling through tiny yak herder settlements and over countless moraines as we circle around the base of Ama Dablam. Base camp sits in a beautiful grassy area at 14,500 feet.

Rest day in base camp. We will spend the day organizing equipment, eating, and visiting other teams from around the world who are in camp.

Acclimatization hike to interim camp (17,000 feet). Return to base camp in the evening.

Return to interim camp to sleep.

Climb to camp 1 (18,500 feet), cache gear, and return to base camp.

Rest day in base camp. We also spend part of the day reviewing fixed rope technique.

Climb to Camp 1 (18,500 feet).

Today we get our first taste of the technical climbing. We will clip into the fixed ropes and climb to Camp 2 (19,500 feet), dropping a small load there. The climbing is incredible, with short steps of 5.6-5.9 climbing interspersed with countless fourth to easy fifth class moves. Return to Camp 1 to sleep.

Descend to base camp to rest, eat, and prepare for our summit bid.

Another rest day. We will have earned it!

Climb to Camp 1.

Rest day if needed in Camp 1.

Climb to Camp 3 (or Camp 2 if necessary). The climb from Camp 2 to Camp 3 is mostly ice and mixed climbing, and includes some of the toughest pitches of the whole climb. Immediately before reaching Camp 3 we cross the mushroom ridge, a series of cornices and ice sculptures glued precipitously onto a knife-edge rock ridge. It is a section of climbing you will never forget! Sleep in Camp 3 (21,000 feet)

Summit Day! The climb from Camp 3 to the summit is actually technically easier than anything prior to it. However, we will be dealing with extremely high altitude and cold temperatures. Generally we do not leave camp until the sun has reached us, making things warm enough to climb the steep ice and snow to the summit (22,525 feet). The views are staggering; we will be able to see six 8,000 meter peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu! Depending on the team's strength, we will descend to Camp 3 or all the way to Camp 1.

Descend to base camp to celebrate our climb!

An extra day to be used as needed on our climb.

Leave Base Camp, and trek a long day to Namche Bazaar.

Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukkla.

Fly from Lukkla to Kathmandu.

This is a contingency day reserved for bad weather when we are trying to fly from Lukkla to Kathmandu. If we had no problems, we spend the day spoiling ourselves in Kathmandu.

After a final team breakfast, leave Kathmandu for home. (Saturday)

Arrive in the USA. (Sunday)