School for mountaineering builds home-grown expedition expertise

Company founder promotes region as center of Himalayan culture and outdoor sports paradise

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers, the Tibetan Plateau is one of the world's finest destinations for climbers and explorers seeking challenging peaks and rarefied vistas.

Yet for decades, most serious mountaineers looked outside of China for the guides, resources and services needed to climb its lofty peaks.