Island Peak – standing at 6,189 meters (20,305 ft) is located in the picturesque Imja Valley of the Everest region. This expedition offers spectacular scenery of the Himalayas on its summit ridge, the view is surreal with the 360 degree panorama of the many Himalayan mountains: Nuptse, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar in the north, Makalu on the east, and Ama Dablam and Baruntse on the south.
Whether you are planning an expedition to test your physical and mental abilities or crossing another of the world’s highest peaks off your list, Island Peak is one mountaineering destination that’s worth considering. It is one of the most highly sought after peaks in the world and is an excellent introduction to high altitude mountaineering, recommended for climbers who want to reach higher Himalayan peaks.
Being an avid mountaineer myself, I had been dreaming of Island Peak few years before I finally started summiting the high altitudes – 6000ers. Like reaching any Himalayan peak, getting to the summit of Island Peak is not for the timid. It is an expedition that requires heaps of preparation physically and mentally.
In short Island Peak is a long walk over a glacier with a 150m ice / snow headwall climb (at 50-60 degrees) followed by a knife-edge summit ridge approach. But with the correct training and planning, Island Peak experience is epic, and definitely worth it. Reaching the summit could be hard when starting with high altitude peaks but also the most rewarding.
