The 8,000 Metre Peaks

List Trips

Jagged Globe 8,000m peak expeditions are among the best in the world: resourced and supported for reaching the summit.

Personally, we have been climbing 8,000m peaks for over 30 years, before the inception of professionally–led expeditions to the Giants of the Himalaya. Since our first 8,000m expedition in 1991, we have organised expeditions to 10 of the 14 8,000ers.

Read more about our 8,000m Peak Service »

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Our 8,000m Service

Jagged Globe 8,000m peak expeditions are among the best in the world: resourced and supported for reaching the summit.

Personally, we have been climbing 8,000m peaks for over 30 years, before the inception of professionally–led expeditions to the Giants of the Himalaya. Since our first 8,000m expedition in 1991, we have organised expeditions to 10 of the 14 8,000ers.

A typical 8,000m expedition is 6 weeks, Everest is 9. The investment in time, money, preparation and emotion is huge. Key questions to ask about the organisation of the expedition are:

• Who are the Expedition Leaders?
• Who are the other team members, how experienced are they and how big is the team overall?
• Who are the Sherpas and how experienced are they?
• How much oxygen is available to each team member?
• What can I expect from the Base Camp set-up, in particular, food?
• What tents are used on the mountain? Are they strong enough to survive storms or the blasts of avalanches?
• What is the record of success?
• What is the incidence of illness and frostbite?

Our huge experience of 8,000m climbing has enabled us to evolve the support and resources we bring to bear. Climbing at such enormous altitudes is not safe, and the risks involved are significant. We know the level of personal commitment it takes to climb:– physically, mentally and emotionally, because we–ve done it. You won–t find any corners cut, nor compromises contemplated, or any other expedition resourced better than ours.

8,000m mountaineering is at our core

• Since 1991, we have climbed 10 of the 14 mountains above 8,000m.
• To date (2023), we have planned and led 22 expeditions to Everest (including private expeditions), far more than any other British organisation (Download our list of Himalayan Kingdoms Expeditions Everest summiteers (1993 - 1999) and Jagged Globe Everest summiteers (2000 - 2019).
• We have led 19 expeditions to Cho Oyu and Manaslu.
• We have organised 7 expeditions to Gasherbrum II.

Leadership and our One Team ethos

Our expedition leaders are decision-makers on the mountain, at the front. We appoint them for their considerable experience, gained not just on Everest, but also on other 8,000m peaks and mountains worldwide.

We have a “One Team” ethos – that is, one team on the mountain, with one aim – to get all team members to the summit. We do not direct or manage multiple teams at one time from base camp, nor are we simply supplying logistics or expedition management. We lead you from base camp to the summit.

Sherpas

Our core Sherpa team work on Everest each spring and Gasherbrum II in the summer. The Sherpas carry loads, fix the route and stock camps during the early stages of the expedition. On the summit push they will climb with the team. Our Sherpas are a major asset, without whom our expeditions would not be possible. Each time we climb with them we are humbled by their strength, their professionalism and their passion to help others reach the top.

What experience do you need to attempt an 8,000er?

To experience what it is like to climb at over 8,000m is an aspiration of many mountaineers. How will you perform at such extreme altitudes? Can you cope mentally on such a long expedition? Do you have the patience to sit-out bad weather? What about the dangers inherent in tackling such colossal peaks? Download our 'Steps to Everest' PDF here [508KB].

These questions are impossible to answer until you have at least a couple of expeditions under your belt. If you have built-up to and climbed a mountain like Denali, you should be able to judge for yourself whether you are ready to attempt an 8,000er. In addition to previous experience of using multiple camps on a glaciated mountain, you need to be well organised and confident climbing Scottish III/Alpine AD.

High Altitude Warning

Although safety is a major consideration during our expeditions, there are dangers involved in climbing 8,000m peaks that can not be avoided. Extreme altitude, weather, cold and other mountaineering hazards make high altitude climbing a risky occupation at the best of times. Members of our 8,000m peak expeditions need to be aware of these dangers and accept that they are an inherent part of high altitude mountaineering.

Trips Archive

To date (2023) we have climbed 10 of the 14 mountains above 8,000m. Here are details of some of the 8,000ers that are not regularly part of our programme:

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