Climbing Ama Dablam: The Yellow Tower & Beyond with Eva

For almost a year, Eva had one particular section of Ama Dablam on her mind: the Yellow Tower. Near-vertical rock, mountaineering boots, crampons and a fixed rope. It was the part she thought would be hardest. Then she got there, climbed it and discovered that the mountain still had a few surprises waiting.

In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to prepare for a technical Himalayan expedition when you’re also working and raising young children. From climbing at an indoor wall in mountaineering boots and a weighted vest to using a hypoxic tent before departure, Eva shares what she did, what helped and what she would change.

We also get into altitude sickness, managing energy and nerves, the importance of choosing an expedition team you trust and why the summit is never the end of the job. There’s a lot here for anyone dreaming of Ama Dablam or their first more technical high-altitude mountain.

In this episode, we talk about…

  • How Eva prepared for the Yellow Tower with limited time and access to real rock
  • Balancing work, young children and a demanding training block
  • What her pre-acclimatisation routine with a hypoxic tent looked like
  • The reality of the Yellow Tower compared with the climbing that followed
  • Recognising and responding to altitude symptoms with expedition support
  • The kit and nutrition choices she found most useful

Resources, recommendations & useful details

  • Training: indoor climbing in mountaineering boots, weighted vest and outdoor guide sessions 
  • Pre-acclimatisation: hypoxic tent; personal experience, not a universal protocol 
  • Kit she did not need on this trip: electrically heated socks  
  • Expedition operator: Alpenglow Expeditions

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