The Eco Everest Expedition 2008 intends to:

p  Raise awareness for glacial melting and the formation of glacial lakes among the Sherpa people.

p  Allow people to personally participate in the climbing expedition or the trek.

p  Raise funds to finance further research and monitoring of glacial lakes, not just in the Everest region but  throughout the length and breadth of the Himalayas. 

p  Organize clean up activities and try to get expeditions to participate. Clean ups would ideally be conducted at BC, Camp 2, South Col, Balcony and the South Summit.

p  Use biodegradable bags for toilet needs.

p  Establish an Information Center at base camp with the support of ICIMOD.  The Information Center will update visitors on the GLOF risks in the Khumbu.  The Information Center will provide toilet facilities to keep the base camp clean.

p  Trekkers will stay at Base Camp for two nights and receive an update on the scientific study being conducted at the time.

Dawa Steven Sherpa, Managing Director of Asian Trekking (P) Ltd, climbed Everest in the Spring of 2007.  His very close ties with his roots in the Khumbu inspired him to take up the cause of Global Warming and Global Lakes Outburst Floods (GLOF) with special focus on the Khumbu.  He decided to prepare a program that would attract maximum global attention using the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 as a platform.

ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) is the main partner in Everest Eco Everest 2008 in order to raise the awareness of impact of climate change and melting glaciers in the Himalaya with a special focus on glacial lake outburst floods risk in Khumbu region.

Dawa Steven Sherpa, Leader of the Eco Everest Expedition 2008, has contacted internationally renowned Everest summiteers such as Reinhold Messner (Italy), Peter Habeler (Austria), Wolfgang Nairz (Austria), Chris Bonington (UK), Ed Viesturs (USA), Byron Smith (Canada), Ken Noguchi (Japan), Love Raj (India), Nazir Sabir (Pakistan), and other Everest Summiteers as well as Alpine Associations of India, China, Pakistan, USA, Canada and other countries to request a ten point recommended "eco-code of conduct" (ECC) that would be field-tested during the  Eco Everest Expedition 2008.

In this regard the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 has also negotiated assistance for field testing biodegradable bags fir human waste that can be carried down to lower altitudes in Clean Mountain Can (CMC). 

Conceived by mountaineering ranger Roger Robinson, the CMC is a portable toilet designed to address Denali’s remote, rugged environment and the unique logistical challenges presented by an expedition. Robinson worked with the manufacturer of this toilet to create a smaller, lighter version. A grant from the American Alpine Club (AAC) in 2001 enabled the purchase of 50 of these prototype toilets which were used voluntarily by climbers with favorable results.

Robinson continued to work with the same manufacturer to enhance the can design, and through grants from both the AAC and the Access Fund, 220 newly designed Clean Mountain Cans were purchased for a large scale trial in 2002. Over 500 climbers used the CMC’s, successfully removing their human waste from the polluted 17,200-foot high camp. Response from the more widespread trial was again favorable. Climbers and park management alike were pleased with the voluntary compliance, the ease of using the CMC, and most importantly, a noticeable improvement in cleanliness and hygienic safety of the 17,200-foot camp.

The Clean Mountain Can is manufactured by Geo Toilet Systems. To date, no other container designed for human waste exists in this size, weight, or strength. The durable CMC comes with a harness system that can lock the lid down and is sturdy enough to strap on a pack or sled. The current model Clean Mountain Can (CMC) is designed to hold 1.88 gallons of human waste and has a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved two-way vent. This Gortex vent allows for the release of gases through the screw down lid and enables air to enter when upon descent from higher elevations. The CMC is designed to have its contents dumped directly out or lined with a biodegradable bag and then rinsed for final cleaning.

Itinerary:

Recommended date: Arriving Kathmandu on 03 April

Costs:

• Climbing Permit fee for Everest:                                  US$ 10,000 Per Person
• Full Board Services up to the summit:                         US$ 16,500 Per Person

Other costs:

·         Climbing Bonus for Sherpas: $1500 up to the South Col.

·         Summit bonus: US$ 500 each summit

Costs include:

• One high altitude Sherpa per climber to carry all food and gear to the higher camps. Also assist the member during climbing and Climbing period.
• 5 oxygen bottles (3 Lts) per member with Mask and regulator (For use only) "POISK OXYGEN SYSTEM"
• Common climbing equipment (Required rope, ice bar, ice piton, figure 8 etc.)
• High altitude tents (North Face or similar quality)  for all members and climbing Sherpa
• Base camp single tent for each members, climbing Sherpa, BC staffs, kitchen staffs and liaison officer.
• Khumbu Ice fall route fee (Khumbu Ice Fall route will be fixed by SPCC and we pay them in order to use the route which will be maintained by their Sherpa staff through out the expedition period)
• Schedule flight Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu for member
• Schedule flight Kathmandu/Lukla/Kathmandu for Liaison Officer
• Transportation of food supply to base camp from Kathmandu (Cargo to Lukla and then by porters to base camp)
• Sagarmatha national park entry fee
• All Food and fuel for BC and higher camps during expedition
• Solar panel at BC for light
• Service of Cook and kitchen boy at base camp and Cook at Camp II.
• All kitchen tent, store tent, dining tents, toilet tent, table and chairs, and cooking utensils for base camp.
• Insurance of climbing Sherpa, cooks, liaison officer and porters.
• Equipment allowance, wages for Government Liaison Officer
• 6 nights Hotel accommodation in a tourist class hotel in Kathmandu on BB plan in total before and after the expedition.
• All Airport transfers.

Costs do not include:

• Entry visa into Nepal. This can be obtained at the airport upon arrival
• Personal insurance cover for accident, evacuation, travel, medical, and lost luggage.
• International airfare to/from Nepal
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
• Drinks, laundry, postage, telephone calls, and all other items of personal nature
• Hotel in Kathmandu after 6 nights stay
• International flight Departure tax at Kathmandu airport
• Applicable permit fees and customs charges etc. for SAT phone, communication equipment, and commercial filming
• Applicable customs duty and import license fees for all expedition goods arriving in Nepal as air / road cargo.

PLEASE NOTE:  Existing regulations require that all climbers have documents to show their medical and evacuation insurance coverage.