Key takeaways
- A high camp is a temporary camp high on a mountain, above base camp, to stage a summit push.
- It shortens the final summit day and helps with acclimatization.
- It's spartan and exposed — more cold, wind, and altitude than base camp.
- Big peaks have several numbered high camps (Camp 1, 2, 3...) up the route.
What a high camp is
A high camp is a temporary camp established high on a mountain, above base camp, to stage a summit attempt or break a long ascent into stages. It puts climbers closer to the top for the final push, but it’s a minimal, exposed camp compared to the relative comfort of base camp.
Why expeditions use them
- Shorten the summit day — the final push from a high camp is a manageable distance and elevation gain.
- Aid acclimatization — sleeping progressively higher helps the body adapt.
- Stage logistics — gear and supplies are carried up in advance.
On a big peak, a team carries loads to Camp 1, then Camp 2, sleeping higher on each rotation and descending to base camp to recover — until, acclimatized and stocked, they make the summit bid from their highest camp.
High camp vs base camp
Base camp is the comfortable hub; high camps are the spartan forward posts up the route, often numbered Camp 1, 2, 3. The highest may be little more than a bivouac. See base camp vs high camp.
The bottom line
A high camp is the forward staging post of a big climb — a spartan, exposed camp placed up the route to shorten the summit day and aid acclimatization. Distinct from the comfortable base camp below, high camps (often numbered Camp 1, 2, 3) are the stepping stones by which expeditions methodically work their way toward a summit push.
Frequently asked questions
What is a high camp?
A high camp is a temporary camp set up high on a mountain, above base camp, to stage a summit attempt or split a long climb into stages. It puts climbers closer to the summit for the final push and supports acclimatization, but it's a more exposed, minimal camp than the comfortable base camp below.
Why do climbers use high camps?
High camps shorten the summit day to a manageable distance and elevation gain, which is crucial on big peaks where the summit is too far to reach from base camp in one go. They also let climbers acclimatize in stages by sleeping progressively higher, following the 'climb high, sleep low' rhythm between camps.
What's the difference between base camp and high camp?
Base camp is the large, comfortable, well-supplied hub at the foot of the mountain; high camps are smaller, sparser, temporary camps placed up the route to stage the summit push. Climbers cycle up to high camps and back to base camp to rest and acclimatize. See our base camp vs high camp comparison.
Sources
- Expedition logistics — American Alpine Club
- Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills — The Mountaineers