| What it is | A camp above base camp |
| Role | Stage the climb; shorten summit day |
| Often | Numbered (Camp 1, 2, 3) |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
A high camp is a camp established above base camp, higher on the mountain, used to break a big climb into stages and to launch the summit bid from closer to the top. Expeditions often set a series of numbered camps (Camp 1, 2, 3) for acclimatization and to shorten the final summit day.
Why use them
They stage a long climb, aid acclimatization (‘climb high, sleep low’), and put the team within reach of the summit for the summit bid — the highest may sit in the death zone.
Vs base camp
Frequently asked questions
What is a high camp?
A high camp is a camp pitched above base camp, partway up a mountain, that lets an expedition break a long climb into manageable stages. The highest one is the launch point for the summit bid, putting climbers within striking distance of the top.
Why do expeditions set multiple camps?
Big peaks are too high and far to climb in one push, so expeditions establish a chain of camps (Camp 1, 2, 3, and so on) to acclimatize gradually, cache supplies, and shorten each day's effort — especially the final summit day from the highest camp.
How do climbers carry gear to high camps?
By making repeated 'carries' between camps, ferrying loads of food, fuel, oxygen, and equipment upward over days or weeks. This load-carrying also doubles as acclimatization through the 'climb high, sleep low' pattern, and on some peaks porters or fixed ropes assist.
Sources
- Expedition tactics — American Alpine Club