International Mountain
Climbing School
2733 Main Street, Rt. 16
P.O. Box 1666
North Conway, NH 03860
PHONE: (603) 356-7064
FAX: (603) 356-6492
EMAIL: guides@ime-usa.com

 
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15th Annual
Ice Fest

16th Annual Women's
Rock Day
Annapurna IV (24,832ft / 7,528m)
North Ridge Expedition
Annapurna Himal, Nepal
September 15 - October 22, 2006
Trip Description Itinerary Equipment List
2003 Trip Photo Gallery   Registration Form
Terms & Conditions (General Info)
What's included in the land cost:  
The Land Cost of the trip is $11,500 for climbers and $4,500 for trekkers
Prices given are for land costs only. This includes everything you will need from the time we leave Kathmandu to the time we return to Kathmandu. Items and services covered include all food, lodging, scheduled transportation, permits, guides, group climbing and cooking gear (kitchen supplies, ropes, etc.), base camp services, Sherpa support to the summit.
What is NOT included
in the land cost		 View of the summit ridge from Camp III. Annapurna II is the peak on the left. Phot by Maury McKinney
Airfare to and from Katmandu
Airport taxes
60-day Visa
Small group supplements
Hospitalization/evacuation  
Medical checkups  
Immunizations  
Insurance of any kind  
excess baggage charges  
private lodging arrangements  
  laundry services  
personal expenses like liquor, snacks, souvenirs, and tips for guides or camp staff.
The cost of delays is not included if any trip is held up due to river levels, road and trail conditions, flight delays, illness, government delays or any other factor which is beyond the control of IMCS, Inc. or their agents.
Payment Policy:  
A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a reservation. The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days before departure. We accept Master Card and VISA, cash, checks and money orders.
Canceled Trips:  
We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate sign up, natural disasters, or political unrest. We will fully refund the land costs in that case.
If you must cancel your trip more than 60 days prior to departure, your balance will be refunded, minus the $700 nonrefundable deposit. If we are notified 60 days, or less, before the trip, there is no refund.
Once on the trip, IMCS reserves the right to remove any person from the trip, who, at the sole discretion of the guides, is judged to be a safety risk to themselves or others. This includes those persons who are not acclimating adequately, are not strong enough or skilled enough to safely climb. In this case, there will be no refunds.
Itinerary:  
IMCS reserves the right to determine routes and destinations, and to change these at the discretion of the guides, to best meet the needs of the participants, and to ensure maximum safety. No refunds will be permitted in the event of a change in the course itinerary. Our itineraries describe each of our trips in detail. The schedule allows for acclimatization and adjustment to life in a foreign country.
Medical:  
This trip is a rigorous mountain climbing expedition. By its very nature it is physically demanding and involves travel to many areas where medical facilities are virtually nonexistent. IMCS will furnish a well-supplied first aid kit and our guides are certified in first aid, CPR and have taken courses specific to wilderness medicine. IMCS assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. You are urged to check your insurance coverage to be sure it is adequate. The trip leaders have the right to disqualify any member from the group at any time if considered medically necessary or to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.
Summit ridge, Annapurna IV. Photo by Rick Wilcox (click for larger image)You should have a personal supply of any special medications that you may need. It is understood that IMCS is not a medical facility and therefore has neither expertise nor responsibility regarding what medications or inoculations you and your private physician should decide necessary for your safe participation on this trip. Many climbers who take part in high altitude mountaineering trips of this duration take Diamox prophylactically. Diamox is proven to aid in the prevention of altitude related illnesses. Dexamethasone (also called Decadron) is a very effective preventive for High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Please ask us for an article we have on altitude related illness and treatment. Many travelers visiting third world countries also carry a course of the antibiotics Cipro and Bactrim. If left untreated, gastrointestinal problems might force you to change your schedule and cancel any chances of climbing the peak successfully. Please ask your doctor about the use of these drugs.
It is imperative that you be aerobically fit, as it will allow you to more fully enjoy the total experience of climbing in a foreign country. We all know that life above 10,000 ft. will put a strain on our bodies. Some of us may suffer from fatigue due to improper preparation of our bodies. At the very least, please exercise aerobically at least four times a week, for an hour each time. Running and biking are the most highly recommended forms of exercise for high altitude mountaineering.
If you are prone to motion sickness bring along Dramamine. The train trips and long bus rides can be tough on weak stomachs.
The sun is extremely intense at high altitudes. Invest in a really good pair of glacier glasses, zinc oxide, the most powerful sunscreen, and a baseball or sun hat (making sure that the underside of the brim isn't white). We have seen many climbers' trips threatened by sunburns, blisters, cracked lips, eye irritation and other nasty conditions caused by the powerful ultraviolet energy of the sun at high altitudes.
Brace yourself! Diarrhea is a common ailment in the third world. Basically new strains of bacteria visit our intestines and our body has only one way to get rid of them. As noted earlier, ask your doctor about Bactrim. Also stock up on extra strength, liquid Pepto Bismal and Immodium AD. In order to avoid dehydration you'll need to drink plenty of liquids. Remember that prevention is the best medicine. Try to avoid drinking water that wasn't filtered, boiled or iodized. Never swap water bottles. Don't eat fruits and vegetables that weren't either peeled or washed in treated water. We'll only dine in places that cater to the stomachs of gringos. If you do get diarrhea please let your guide know so that we can supply you with a little compassion and the best medical treatment available. It is always advisable to carry a stash of toilet paper with you, as all rest rooms are not stocked.
Money:  
People love presents. If you have a lover, a big family or an irate boss you had better bring a duffel bag full of $20 dollar bills. Actually, $10 to $15 per present is plenty. Bargaining is the name of the game, so feel free to haggle with the locals. Plan on spending $3-$4 per breakfast and lunch and $5-8 per dinner while in town. Carry your money and passport in a neck pouch or waist belt.
Photography:  
We suggest you bring ASA 50 to 200 slide film and/or ASA 100 and 200 print film. If you have a digital camera be sure to bring plenty of extra battery packs or a AA converter. Lots of folks experiment with black and white film and have reported excellent results. This works really well if you have a second camera. Bring all your film and fresh batteries from home. A telephoto lens is ideal for portraits and mountains while a wide angle creates some magical photos in the markets. Remembering the intensity of the high altitude sun and the predominance of snow covered subject matter, a Skylight filter is strongly recommended. A sturdy camera case and a comfortable strap make carrying your camera less of a worry. Those of you with video cameras are strongly encouraged to bring them. In the past, expedition members from various IMCS trips have taken some amazing footage, even from the summits.
Suggested Reading:  
Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue, Selters, A., The Mountaineers, 1990.
Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, The Mountaineers, 1992.
Altitude Illness: Prevention & Treatment, Bezruchka, S., The Mountaineers, 1994.
Personal Safety:  
Theft is a possibility. Thieves will be looking for luggage that is easily opened and expensive looking. Canvas or heavy nylon duffels are your best bet for luggage. Get a small lock to secure it all. Handbags are easily snatched, or sliced by a razor; think twice about bringing one. Keep your carry on to a minimum, but should include a complete change of clothes. Everything should fit into a single daypack (jackets, cameras, books, everything).
Some Other Hints:  
Leave expensive looking jewelry at home.
Keep your daypack either in your lap, or with a strap around the leg of the chair your sitting in.
Don't keep much money or your identification in your pants pocket. Rather wear a neck pouch or money belt to discourage pick pockets.
Before you leave home write down your passport number, traveler's check numbers, plane ticket number and any other vital info and Xerox a few copies of the list. Scatter these lists throughout your luggage.
Picture of the eastern Annapurna Range from Annapurna I South Face in winter 1989. Photo by Maury McKinney (click for larger image)From L-R Fluted Peak, Gangapurna, Annapurna II, Annapurna IV. Our route is the long, low-angled snowridge right in the middle of the picture. Click on the image to get a larger sized image for easier inspection. Tent Peak (Tharpu Chuli), a popular trekking peak in the Annapurna Sanctuary is located on the bottom right side of the image
By taking a few precautions with regard to health and safety,
we will help insure that our time in Nepal will be fondly remembered.
The precautions mentioned would be no different then those
recommended for any city of the United States. Nepal has so much to
offer us, not only in terms of beauty and adventure, but also an increased understanding of what life is really like at home.

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If you need any more information, you can contact us by:
Email: guides@ime-usa.com or Phone: (603) 356-7064