Mera Peak vs Chimboroza/Cotopaxi

[a1jbg]

I am thinking of climbing Mera Peak early April 2005. Can anyone tell me how Mera Peak compares with the accent of Cotopaxi/ Chimboroza in terms of difficulty/stamina?
I am intending to go on my own (with guide and porters) unless anyone fancies joining me or I can join someone else who already has things arranged. How many porters will I need? What is the likely cost if I am travelling on my own? I want to travel quite quickly on trek and do fairly long days (say 10 - 11 hrs.) as I have a maximum of 19 days door to door (UK to UK). Is this timetable possible (I did the Annapurna Curcuit in 12 days last year and thoroughly enjoyed it)?
Any other advice anyone can give me regarding Mera Peak I would be gratefull. I am 60 years old and not in bad nick except for a slightly dodgy right knee.
Regards
a1jbg

[Daniel]

Although I haven´t climbed either Mera or anything in Equador I can for sure say that Mera is more straightforward. It´s rated F and as far as I know Cotopaxi is PD and Chimbo as well. Mera is basically a long slog, but beware of the crevasses on the way up. it´s higher which I guess you noticed and the High camp is at 5800, quite a few meters higher than you highest sleeping point i Equdor. Acclimatization is essential and you´re really short on time. I don´t know but you might be pushing it. And with your schedule you are putting the porters and the guide at risk as well, they are not always per-acclimatized, although they say so. You might pull it of but if I were you I would extend your trip or just go trekking around in the Everest region.

[Ian]

Acclimatisation and the cold on summit day are the main reasons why people turn back before the summit. The standard rule is to gain on average 300m per day between camps. You cant do that because the camps are not conveniently spread out, but the average needs to be this. Lukla is 2800m and High Camp 5800 so you need 10 days minimum. Plus another 4 minimum to get back to Lukla, 1 day in Lukla, 1 day in Kathmandu either side, but for safety because of flight delays you need an extra one, plus 3 to 4 days in total flying so I would say 3 weeks door to door from UK minimum.

Long days are irrelevant, its getting acclimatised and that takes time. On our summit day 4 groups did not make it because of altitude or cold or both, only our group and one other made it to the summit. I would not want to risk not making the summit for the sake of an extra few days. If the weather is good there are spectacular views from the summit of Mera. If you didnt make it what are you then going to do, come back the next year for longer?

I reckoned I was pretty fit, I was regularly doing challenge walks of 25miles+ with 2000m of ascents in 10 hours in the Black Mountains but above 5,000m altitude and everything changes. Age is not an issue, I am nearly your age anyhow.

You should have no problems on Mera unless you try to rush it, then you could well end up wasting your time and quite a bit of money for the sake of a few days.

[a1jbg]

Thanks for the good advice regarding my proposed trek to Mera Peak. I think you are right, upon reflection, my timetable of 19 days was too hopeful and ambitious. I am now looking for another trek to do in April, and Bhutan and Borneo are top of my list at present.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the good advice regarding my proposed trek to Mera Peak. I think you are right, upon reflection, my timetable of 19 days was too hopeful and ambitious. I am now looking for another trek to do in April, and Bhutan and Borneo are top of my list at present.

Have you been to the Khumbu before? Your first post you mentioned cluimbing Mera. Daniel and Ian are right . Do not rush because of the altitude. But 19 days GB to GB is still enough to trek in the Khumbu but you will proabably only have time to go to Gokyo or EBC, not both. For that you will need a few more days.
If you have not treked in the Khumbu you wil not regret going there.

Stephen

[a1jbg]

I have decided to do the Mount Chomolhari Approach trek in Bhutan, leaving UK 19th April. I am very much looking forward to it.

[Pesty]

Bhutan sounds good. Be interested to hear what it is like. Enjoy.

Stephen