The steps of the journey

The selection of the members for the HIGHCARE expedition took place between late December 2007 and the end of January 2008.
Once identified the "population" which will be engaged in the research, began the first tests conducted at the sea level for about six weeks.
The first step of the journey will be the city of Lhasa, at an altitude of 3500 meters, where the first tests will be carried out at high altitudes. The team will then move to Gyantse then to Xingatse and to Xegar.
Here, at 4300 metres altitude, new tests will be made for about two days. Then, the expedition will reach the first base camp at the bottom of Everest at an altitude of 5200 meters where it will stop for two days.
After further measurements it will be the turn of the advanced base camp at an altitude of 6400m. From this point onwards the two groups will separate: the climbers will prepare for the final climb to the top of Everest, during which tests will be carried out during the different stages of climbing, the hikers group will return to the base camp and then go back the advanced base camp, where they will stop for two days, and it will then begin the descent to the sea level.
New measurements will be carried out on the expedition members immediately after their return to Italy and then after three months.

Because of issues still pending on the Tibetan side of our itinerary, here is the alternative route that the expedition will follow to reach the summit.

The first step will be the town of Namche where the first tests will be carried out at high altitudes. The team will then move to Tengboche, then to Pheriche and to Lobuche.
Then the expedition will reach the base camp at the bottom of Everest at an altitude of 5400 meters where it will stop for ten days. From this point onwards the two groups will separate: the climbers will prepare for the final climb to the top of Everest, during which tests will be carried out during the different stages of climbing, the hikers group will return to the base camp and then to Lukla, from where it will start the long journey to come back to Italy. New measurements will be carried out on the expedition members immediately after their return to Italy and then after three months.

Following the recent political affairs of Tibet and the persistence of problems related to them, the itinerary through Nepal is confirmed.