Your own personal Everest

Dream of touching the sky one day? Learn to climb right here at home, then go for the summit with real sherpas.

- PETER KOCH

TWICE A YEAR the howling jet stream will shift north of the Himalayas and open up Mount Everest's twice-annual weather window so legions of hopeful climbers can lighten their bank accounts for the privilege of being coddled up Earth's tallest peak.

If getting that top-of-the-world selfie is the adventure you're looking for, be aware: Climbing Everest is a long, gruelling, low-angle walk that comes with a fairly high risk of death, due to erratic weather, crazythin air, avalanches, and overcrowded routes.

Luckily, there are plenty of safer, equally selfie-worthy peaks to climb (and we do mean climb: roped in, wearing a helmet and crampons) that are cheaper and closer to home.

"It takes time to learn all the skills you need route finding, ice fall, rock fall", says legendary mountaineer Peter Whittaker. So start with a pro guide service that offers high-altitude classes.

And after your first summit? "The rest of life is that much sweeter", he says.

SUMMIT UP