The Course Notes provide detailed information and background for Adventure Consultants' Himalayan Climbing Course.
You can view the course notes online by clicking the image or download a pdf by clicking the following link:
Himalayan Climbing Course Notes 2023
Our Guides
The instructors on our Himalayan courses are all IFMGA qualified guides with many years experience high-altitude guiding, not only in pursuing their own climbing careers, but also in learning how to pass these skills on in an environment which is conducive to accelerated learning.
Our focus is to pass on knowledge that will assist your development towards becoming a competent climber. Many courses focus primarily on techniques that are taught as skills in isolation yet we recognise that you need to learn those skills in context while you are actually climbing the mountain so you know where and when to utilise each technique learned.
Success with the highest margin of care is always a hallmark of our approach; promoting the realisation that even extreme pursuits such as high altitude mountaineering can be undertaken safely.
A founding principle at Adventure Consultants is to recognise the necessity of positive communication within the group to foster an open and friendly approach to communicating and reinforcing learning processes.
Adventure Consultants employs only IFMGA qualified guides, the most advanced training and certification program internationally. In order to gain these qualifications guides must undergo rigorous training and assessment on climbing skills, instructional skills, avalanche training and assessment, wilderness first aid, rescue training and much more. The qualification takes around five years to attain and ensures you are getting a world-class professional service.
The expedition leader will be scheduled approximately six months out from the trip start. All of our trip leaders to Himalayan peaks have extensive experience at high altitude and a proven record of safety, success and compatibility.
Guy Cotter
Lead Guide, Course #2, 2022
Guy is the CEO of Adventure Consultants and has spent over 25 years leading and organising expeditions around the globe. Guy's experience in the mountains is unquestionable and his skills are in high demand, not only as a guide but also as a high altitude cameraman, film project manager, training corporate groups, speaker and of course in expedition logistics and planning. Guy's impressive climbing resume includes the Seven Summits and eight of the world's fourteen 8,000m peaks.

Head Office Support Team
Running successful journeys and expeditions is more about experience, knowledge and strategic management than any other factors. As an organisation, we place a substantial amount of time and resources into ensuring our trips are well planned and supported. You can be assured that the AC staff will provide you with friendly advice and knowledgeable support throughout the planning stages of your trip and we will be there to provide backup while the trip is running.
Hayley Furze, Client Liaison
Hayley joins the AC team with a wealth of experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry along with a love of travel. She works as Client Liaison on a number of our European and international ascents, treks and expeditions.

Your Health
Course members will be provided with pre-trip medical advice and a medical questionnaire and asked to visit their family physician and receive a full medical examination. This information will be sighted only by the course leader and our medical adviser and treated with full confidentiality. See our Fitness Training Programs for information on how we can help ensure you're fit and ready for the course.
Level of Experience Required
Climbers joining the Himalayan Climbing Course must have good fitness, balance and coordination. Previous snowcraft or rock climbing is not necessary, as these skills will be taught in the instruction part of the trip.
What You Carry
We have the luxury of porter support during the trek. Each day you will carry your daypack, containing rain jacket, fleece, sun block, water, snacks, trekking poles, small personal first aid kit, camera and a few extra personal items. At higher elevations, you add in a warm hat and gloves.
You will carry your own warm and windproof clothes, ice axe, crampons, harness etc on training and summit days. It is highly beneficial on summit day to wear your trekking boots to the snowline and carry your climbing boots, then change into your climbing boots and crampons for the climbing beyond the snowline.
Difficulty Rating
Each of our trips is individually rated according to its physical and technical difficulty, displayed in the icons towards the top of each trip page. You can click on the accompanying question mark for additional descriptions and the full run-down of our grading system is available on our Difficulty Ratings page.
Food
Food will be of the highest standard possible, given the remoteness of the situation. Please inform us if you have any special dietary requirements. During the trek we will be dining in lodges and when camping we will be eating in the Adventure Consultants mess tent. Our base camp equipment and ample, nutritious meals are always the envy of other groups in the region!
Accommodation
Accommodation and dining during the trek will be in lodges where you will be accommodated in dormitories or twin rooms. Mattresses are provided but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag. Each lodge has a large lounge and dining area where trek members can congregate to share meals, socialise or simply relax by the fireplace. Some even have showers, internet, battery re-charging and laundry services available for a small fee.
When camping you will sleep in a shared tent.
Clothing & Equipment
Course members will be sent a list detailing all necessary clothing and equipment to be individually provided.