Even with good physical conditioning, you only have a 1-in-5 chance of surviving Kangchenjunga.

To successfully reach the summits of the truly big mountains, a climber needs all the necessary permits, essential survival gear and, most of all, respect for the mountain itself. As long as climbers have attempted to summit Kangchenjunga, the third largest mountain in the world, has commanded more respect than many other peaks.

Located on the Sikkim-Nepal border, this beautiful landmark has a name that, roughly translated, means the "Five Treasures of the Great Snow." The treasures, in this instance, refer to Kangchengjunga's five peaks, each of which exceeds 8,000 meters in height.

In 1955, Charles Evans led a successful British expedition to the top of Kangchenjunga, but out of respect for the Sikkimese people and their reverence for the mountain, they stopped short of the summit. Some of the later expeditions also intentionally came within a few steps of the top before turning back.

With its heavy rain and snowfall, if you decide to tackle this mountain, you may face a double whammy of avalanches and mudslides. With a height of 28,169 feet, climbing Kangchenjunga also involves the real danger of altitude sickness. Make sure you go prepared with a medical kit, such as the SAM Splint, which is so lightweight and compact that you won't even notice it in your bag. But beware: a medical kit can only help you so much. Some climbers have simply disappeared while making an attempt for the Kangchengjunga summit.

Though not the deadliest mountain in the world, in all the recorded attempts at the summit, Kanchenjunga has a 20 percent fatality rate. Those can be pretty hard odds to beat, especially if this is your first 8,000-er.

Climbing season for Kangchenjunga runs from April through October, with the best weather occurring in April and May. For an expedition of seven or fewer members, the climbing fee is approximately $10,000 plus a $3,000 garbage deposit that will be refunded if no trash has been left on the mountain.

In addition to planning the expedition, you'll need to apply for certain permits to gain access to parts of Sikkim, which is located in India. Some areas around Kangchenjunga are completely off-limits, so it's a good idea to check with the Tourism Office when planning an expedition.

Kangchengjunga's natural beauty is only exceeded by the dangers involved in reaching the summit. Besides good physical conditioning, you'll truly need a healthy respect for the "Five Treasures of the Great Snow."

Sources:
http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=132
http://www.travel-himalayas.com/himalayan-mountains-peaks/kangchenjunga-kanchenjunga.html
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/02/20/stories/2005022000500200.htm http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=15602
http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html