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Find out how to climb Mera Peak with these handy tips – ignore them at your peril!
If you’ve landed on this page you’re likely looking for tips for climbing Mera Peak, which means one thing: you’re serious about climbing mountains. Welcome, you’re clearly one of us.
Climbing Mera Peak in Nepal is a dream for many trekkers and mountaineers. Towering at 6,476 meters (21,247 feet), Mera Peak is Nepal’s highest trekking peak, and it offers stunning panoramic views of the Himalayas, including Everest herself.
(Wondering what we mean by a “trekking peak”? That’s the category of mountains that are technically less challenging to ascend than major expedition peaks, like Everest. They’re great stepping stones to help beginners get more experience before graduating to something seriously challenging.)
Before you pack your bags and hit the trail, here are some Mera Peak tips that will make your climb not only successful, but also incredibly enjoyable.
Want to find out more about trekking Mera Peak with The Bucket List Company? Click here.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #1: Start Training Well in Advance
Climbing Mera Peak is no walk in the park – it’s a challenging undertaking that demands physical fitness, endurance and a heap of determination. That’s why there’s not much more important when it comes to training for Mera Peak than doing it well in advance of your trek.
Start by building your endurance with regular cardio exercises like running, cycling, and hiking. Strength training will help you tackle the steeper sections, and don’t forget to focus on your legs and core. Lunges and squats will become your best friends.
(For more help with training, click HERE for our hands-on guide to training for mountain trekking, including a breakdown of exercises to use, written by army veteran Dean McMenamin.)
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #2: Prepare Mentally
The mental aspect of climbing Mera Peak is often underestimated, and that’s a mistake you can’t really afford to make if you want to reach the summit.
You’re going to face tough conditions, fatigue, and moments when you might question your decision to come. It’s essential to stay motivated and stay positive throughout your adventure, which might involve doing things you haven’t previously tried. Open your mind and try some visualization and meditation to help prepare mentally.
Remember, reaching the summit is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #3: Include Yoga in your Training
When you’re looking for tips for climbing Mera Peak, this one might not necessarily spring to mind, but yoga could be the key to your success, so give it a go!
Incorporating yoga into your schedule when training for Mera Peak is a smart move for loads of reasons. First and foremost, yoga enhances flexibility, and in a physically demanding environment like the Himalayas, where uneven terrain and steep ascents are the norm, flexibility can be a game-changer.
Yoga also promotes mindfulness and mental resilience, which are invaluable assets when confronting the mental and emotional challenges of high-altitude trekking, like we just mentioned. It can help manage stress, keeps anxiety at bay, and encourages a positive mindset, all of which are vital on an arduous journey like trekking Mera Peak!
Then you’ve got yoga’s controlled breathing and meditation techniques which can help with altitude acclimatisation, a critical factor in reducing the risk of altitude sickness, and ultimately improving your chances of a successful ascent.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #4: Book at a Sensible Time of Year
Choosing the right time to climb Mera Peak is critical. The ideal times are the pre-monsoon (March to May) and post-monsoon (October to November) seasons. That’s when the weather is more stable, giving you a better chance of successfully reaching the summit of Mera Peak. Plus the views are just breathtaking.
Avoid climbing during the monsoon season, as heavy rainfall and low visibility can make your ascent a miserable experience, and nobody wants that. Our next trips are taking place in April and November – why not click here and have a look at the dates and itinerary?
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #5: Allow Some Contingency Time in your Schedule
When planning your trek, be sure to allow for contingency time in your schedule. Weather conditions in the Himalayas can be unpredictable, and who knows whether your flight to Lukla will leave at the right time (or day?!).
Having extra days built into your itinerary will give you flexibility to adjust to changing conditions and increase your chances of reaching the summit.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #6: Take the Right Clothing and Equipment
No list of tips for climbing Mera Peak would be complete without a mentioning your packing. Let’s face it, proper clothing and equipment are essential for your safety and comfort up on a mountain like Mera Peak.
Dress in layers to adapt to changing weather and temperatures. Essential gear includes a warm down jacket, waterproof gloves, quality trekking boots, crampons, and an ice axe. Invest in high-quality gear, and don’t skimp on anything that keeps you warm and dry in the harsh Himalayan environment.
If you want more packing tips for climbing Mera Peak, click here to watch our founder Keith going through his kit bag for Island Peak, the same principles apply!
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #7: Break In Those Walking Boots
Don’t wait until you’re on the trail to break in your walking boots, you’ll never regret anything more in your life. Wear them well in advance on hikes and walks to ensure they’re comfortable and well-fitted.
Honestly, blisters from ill-fitting boots can totally ruin your Mera Peak adventure, so take the time to find the right pair and break them in properly. Simple.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #8: Take Acclimatisation Seriously
One of the most crucial Mera Peak climbing tips is to take acclimatisation seriously. Same goes for any high altitude trek, where the thinner air can have severe effects on your body, including altitude sickness.
Plan your trek with sufficient acclimatization days to allow your body to adjust gradually to the thinner air. This reduces the risk of altitude-related illnesses and increases your chances of reaching the summit successfully.
Click here for a more in-depth read on acclimatisation and avoiding altitude sickness.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #9: Do NOT Forget Sunscreen!
In the thin air of high altitudes, the sun can be incredibly harsh, even on cloudy days. Sunburn can happen quickly, so don’t forget to pack highly effective sunscreen with a high SPF rating.
Make sure to apply it generously and frequently during your Mera Peak climb, even on overcast days, to protect your skin from the intense Himalayan sun. Nobody wants to be the one with the shiny, red face in the photos.
Mera Peak Trekking Tips #10: Choose the Right Professional Guide and Travel Company
Climbing Mera Peak is not something you should attempt without professional guidance, that just wouldn’t be pretty.
Choose a reputable travel company with experienced, qualified guides who are intimately familiar with Mera Peak’s terrain and can handle emergency situations too. An experienced guide won’t just ensure your safety throughout the trek, they totally enhance your experience too, with all their tricks and tips for climbing Mera Peak and getting to know Nepal around your time in the mountains too.
At The Bucket List Company, our UK and local guides are renowned for being better than any other. They’ll feel like family before you know it! The small groups of likeminded fellow adventurers, manageable monthly payment instalments and perfectly organised itineraries don’t hurt either.
So there you have it – the best Mera Peak tips for your upcoming climbing adventure (and, trust us, it WILL be an adventure!).
Remember, climbing Mera Peak is a physically and mentally demanding experience, but with proper training, planning, and the right attitude, it’s an achievable and incredibly rewarding goal. Lace-up those boots, keep your spirits high, and embark on the journey of a lifetime to conquer Mera Peak! You’ve got this.
