A Complete Guide to Island Peak Climbing

Island Peak is one of the most popular high altitude peaks in the Khumbu region. With a summit altitude of 6,189 meters, scaling this peak is a dream for most adventure seekers.

With diverse flora and fauna en route through the Sagarmatha National Park, and alluring panoramic mountain views of Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Ama Dablam from atop the summit, the journey to Island Peak Climbing keeps you wanting for more.

In 1953, this peak was named Island Peak because when viewed from Dingboche, this peak looks like an island in the middle of a sea of ice.

But in 1983, it got renamed to Imja Tse. However, even after so many years, people still recognize it as the Island Peak.

If you’re searching for a complete guide to Island Peak Climbing, you have come to the right place. We’ve compiled everything you’ll need to know to start planning your climb to the top of Island Peak.

Highlights of Island Peak Climbing

• Summit altitude of 6,189 meters
• Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa settlement
• Tengboche Monastery, the largest monastery in the Khumbu Region
• Explore the Everest Base Camp
• Magnificent views of Mt Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt Cho Oyu, and Mt Nuptse
• Explore the quaint cultures and lifestyles of Sherpas

Difficulty Level

Island Peak is not as challenging as the technical mountain peaks like Ama Dablam and Lhotse. However, since this also is a high-altitude peak at 6,189 meters, you shouldn’t let your guard down.

For experienced mountaineers, island peak climbing does not require dedicated training sessions. But for a beginner, this peak could prove demanding without adequate preparation.

Most climbers prefer to Island Peak as a practice climb to prepare themselves for Everest and other technical and high altitude mountains.

Training

Summiting a mountain peak higher than 6,000 meters is no joke, and neither is the training needed to pull off such a feat. An individual should be at their best, both physically and mentally, to start their ascent to the Island Peak.

The training for Island Peak usually takes around 4 to 6 months, but it might extend depending upon your physical and mental status. The training includes mountaineering practice, strength training, cardiovascular training, and mental preparation.

While you train, remember that Island Peak is a high altitude mountain peak and not just a hiking or trekking adventure.

Most of the people might get confused between hiking vs mountaineering. Mountaineering includes rock and ice wall climbing, acclimatization at low oxygen levels and enduring long periods of exposure to cold temperatures.

Prior mountaineering experiences help to learn the proper use of climbing equipment like ice ax, crampons, and grappling hooks.

For people with only hiking or short trekking experiences, we recommend going for mountaineering on low altitude peaks. Strength and cardiovascular training help develop your strength and stamina to endure long uphill walks in your route to the summit.

Weather Conditions

Nepal sees six different seasons in 12 months, and among them, Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for Island Peak Climbing. These seasons encircle months from March to May and September to November.

During these seasons, the average temperature at the top of Island Peak ranges from around 0 to 15 degrees Celsius in the day. And in the night, the average temperatures range from around -5 to -10 degrees celsius.

Early mornings on the peak will be freezing, but the rising sun will bring warmth to accompany the mesmerizing views from atop the Island Peak.

Trekking in the Everest Region is possible in any season, and this holds true for climbing Island Peak too. However, since Island Peak is a high altitude peak, there can be safety issues in harsh weather conditions.

Some winters might receive heavy snowfalls and bitterly cold temperatures of around -40 degrees celsius at the summit. The winter winds may even make it feel colder than it actually is. Due to these reasons, the ascent in the winter season could be quite a hard undertaking.

Quick Tip: October is the peak month for Island Peak Climbing. This month, there will be many climbers as well as EBC trekkers along the route. This is why we recommend booking your climb to the Island Peak beforehand.

Accommodation

You will be staying in varying types of accommodations depending upon the elevation that you’re in during the climb to the Island Peak.

En route to the base camp of Island Peak, there will be comfortable tea houses and hotels with basic services.

But from the base camp to the top of Island Peak, you will be staying in tents. For the tents, you will need all-season comfortable sleeping bags and foam mattresses to keep you warm and comfortable in the cold night.

If you opt to take the EBC trek with Island Peak climbing instead, you will enjoy even better tea houses and hotels as this trail is highly popular and attracts numerous trekkers throughout the year.

Because of the popularity of this mountain peak, in the prime climbing seasons like Autumn and Spring, the best accommodations might get flooded by trekkers and climbers. So we recommend booking your hotels and tea houses beforehand.

Packing List

In any trekking or mountaineering expedition, putting together a perfect packing list is a crucial task for a great trekking adventure. But compiling everything from scratch can be quite a hassle.

That is why we have gathered a complete list of things that you’ll be needing for your Island Peak Climbing.

Clothing:

• Full and half sleeve t-shirts
• Waterproof and windproof jacket
• Lightweight thermal tops and bottoms
• Trekking shorts
• Regular pants
• Breathable underwear
• Synthetic sports bras for women

Headgear:

• Climbing Helmet
• Headlamp
• Neck warmers/scarf
• Ski goggles
• UV protection sunglasses

Handgear:

• Mountaineering gloves
• Waterproof gloves
• Hand warmers

Footgear:

• Waterproof trekking shoes
• Climbing boots
• Both heavy and lightweight socks
• Socks liner

Climbing gear:

• Ice ax
• Crampons
• Alpine climbing harness
• Carabiners
• Ascender
• Belay device

Personal gear:

• Water bottle/purifier
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Trekking poles

Other items:

• Comfortable sleeping bag
• Trekking backpacks
• First aid box and necessary medicines
• Diamox for altitude sickness
• Insect repellent
• Hand sanitizer and baby wipes

Note: You can modify Items mentioned in this list to your personal needs and preferences

Island Peak Climbing Cost

The Island Peak Climbing cost may vary depending upon the package you choose. But typically, a climber spends around 1,000 to 1,500 USD which includes the cost of expedition agency and mandatory personal gear.

However, this cost might also go up to 2,500 to 3,000 USD if you choose longer routes and different packages.

The expedition agency will arrange all the mandatory stuff like permits, accommodations, food, common climbing gear, etc. But the agency doesn’t cover the personal gear, flight charges from and to your native country and other personal expenses.

Permits

The mountaineering permits for Island Peak Climbing differs depending upon the season that you’ll be climbing in. It will also differ depending upon your nationality.

Here’s a list of permits for Island Peak Climbing and their costs:

Tips for Island Peak Climbing

• Drink Plenty of water and always stay hydrated.
• Do not rush your climb. The higher you reach, the thinner is the level of oxygen and the higher your risk of suffering altitude sickness. So acclimatization is essential.
• Do stretches and flexibility exercises every day before starting your climb.
• Clean your wounds with soap and water or hand sanitizers. In high altitudes, even small wounds will take longer to heal. So take measures to avoid any major cuts or injuries.
• Stay away from the sun. In high altitudes, the UV radiation is very high, so use sunblocks and sunglasses.

Conclusion

Island Peak offers an excellent opportunity to experience an adventure filled with glacial walks, ice wall climbing, and exceptional mountain views. The route also takes you through the beautiful settlements of Sherpa to explore and indulge in their unique cultures and lifestyle.

In a nutshell, because Island Peak has minimal technical aspects, this ascent will not be as difficult as Ama Dablam or Lhotse. So, even novice climbers can attempt at this peak with adequate training.