The trek to Mount Everest Base Camp is on many a traveler’s bucket list and for good reason. The round trip route takes adventurous trekkers to the foothills of Mount Everest, called Sagamartha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan, the world’s tallest mountain.
In reality, reaching the top of Mount Everest is a legendary feat, requiring great sacrifice. At 5,600 meters, Base Camp is no joke, but it offers a much more attainable goal for people from all walks of life, who still want to catch a glimpse of the world’s highest peak.
In fact, the Everest Base Camp trek has become so well known that in recent years there has been a debate about “traffic jams” for trekkers, litter, and possible limits on the number of trekkers allowed each year.
In addition to the stunning scenery, travelers to the region can experience the unique local culture by visiting monasteries, connecting with local guides and teahouse owners, and admiring Buddhist stupas and mani stones along the way.
The days are filled with hiking for the sheer joy, and determination, of doing it. You will pass colorful prayer flags and metal bridges through deep canyons. The evening is rewarded with hot Nepali food, tea, and conversations around the teahouse fire with fellow trekkers and local guides.
The sweet combination of natural beauty, fascinating culture, and personal sense of achievement, as well as the warm Nepalese hospitality of the people of the Solukhumbu region, make a trip to Everest Base Camp one of the most unforgettable in the world.
Needless to say, a trek to Everest Base Camp is just a nice hike. The hike, while not technically challenging, is still brutally hard on your body due to the altitude. However, most would agree that the physical challenges make the trek more worthwhile.
From March to May and from September to December. It’s hot in May, just before the monsoons; Be prepared for possible rain but beautiful blooming rhododendron flowers. December temperatures drop to below freezing, but the days are still stunning and there are fewer hikers.
It is not mandatory to have a guide for the Everest Base Camp trek and the trail itself is well marked. Still, a local guide can greatly enrich your experience, even if you are an experienced hiker.
Hiring a guide has many advantages: for $20 to $30 a day, you are giving someone valuable work, and in return, you can learn a lot about the local culture and natural environment. Many people hire a porter for $10 to $20 a day who will carry most of their belongings, leaving them with only one package a day. To save more money, several hikers often share a guide and two hikers can share a porter. Be sure to tip both of them at the end of your trip.
A trekking company offers the convenience of arranging everything for you, including airport transfers, flights or helicopters to Lukla airport, pre-booked teahouse accommodation, daily lunch and dinner, porters and/or guides, and your insurance. An added benefit is that the guides are trained in the symptoms of altitude sickness and carry oxygen canisters with them to help keep you safe on the trail.
You can book before you go with Western tour companies, though you’ll pay much less if you book in Kathmandu; make sure they are registered with the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal.
Don’t be discouraged if you’re not a professional hiker – people of average fitness and little hiking experience can do this hike. However, it is important to prepare for Everest Base Camp with physical preparation. After all, you’d rather enjoy the sights than a complain about how much your thighs hurt.
Your personal training plan should include cardio, endurance, and strength work several times a week. Try to focus on running, stair climbing, walking, and other exercises that will condition the muscles you need for trekking.
It is also important to prepare for the altitude. Try to train at least once a week with swimming, yoga, or another exercise that focuses on breathing. No one really knows how your body will react to altitude until you’re in the situation, but this cross-training can help you prepare.
As you get closer to your Everest Base Camp trek, don’t forget to walk, run, or get in a continuous day of exercise. The hardest part of a long-distance trek, like the Everest Base Camp trek, is waking up the next morning feeling sore and doing it all over again.
Aim for 10-15 kg. Consider your porter’s load before adding a large bottle of shampoo or jeans.
The weather gets colder as you walk, and most teahouses are unheated, so packing layers is a must. As a base layer, pack thermal underwear, two pairs of long pants, and two or three T-shirts (synthetic fabrics, not cotton, that wick away sweat). Your layer of insulation should include a fleece jacket and one or two long-sleeved shirts. A raincoat and down jacket (for cooler nights at high altitudes) will complete your outer layer.
Footwear for afternoon teahouses requires broken-in light boots, trekking socks, and slippers or sandals. You’ll also need gloves, a beanie, a buff, a headlamp, and tinted sunglasses. A good sleeping bag (rated to 0°F/-20°C) and trekking poles are essential but can be rented in Kathmandu before the trek begins.
Choose travel-size toiletries that include good sunscreen, lip balm, travel towels, and tissues. Baby wipes and dry shampoo can be used when you can’t shower.
Your first aid kit should include medications for diarrhea, antibiotics for chest or sinus infections, adhesive bandages, and hydrocolloid bandages for blisters. Consult your doctor before traveling for specific vaccinations for Nepal. A pulse oximeter is also helpful in keeping track of your oxygen saturation, especially if you are a solo hiker. Don’t forget to provide hand sanitizer.
Using a filtered water bottle or two 1-liter water bottles with water purification tablets is a reliable and safe way to drink water, and is more environmentally friendly than buying bottled water at the lodge.
Don’t forget to bring a supply of Nepalese rupees in cash to buy food, wifi, showers, toiletries, and other essentials along the way. Get it at an ATM in Kathmandu before your trip. ATMs are few and far between along the road, and even a small storm can put a low-end ATM out of action.
Take your time. ‘Slow and steady is the key to winning and enjoying your track. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, even the very physically fit. (Acclimatization days are usually set at Namche and Dingboche for a reason.) Watch for signs of altitude sickness: Symptoms include severe headache, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and low oxygen saturation. Before your trip, ask your doctor for the prescription drug Diamox, which can prevent altitude sickness. If the symptoms persist, go down.
Be conscious. The route to Everest Base Camp is relatively wide and well marked, but can still be treacherous in places. There are steep hills, often narrowed by herds of yaks or donkeys. Listen for the bells of approaching animals and always stand on the inside of the trail where you won’t be knocked down. Also be sure to stay clear of the porters, who are often running down the trail at a marathon pace. Not only will it help avoid traffic jams, but it’s a sign of respect.
If you see meat on a menu during your trek, be aware that all meat is carried by porters from below Lukla due to the no-kill policy in Sagarmatha National Park. That means that by the time you eat it, it will be old and potentially rancid. The safest and healthiest option is to eat dal rice, as the local guides and porters do. Dal Bhaat is a delicious Nepalese dish of lentil soup, rice, vegetables, and curry that is cooked in batches. It is made fresh daily and is a great source of protein and energy. As the saying goes, ‘The power of dal rice, 24 hours!’
Although climbing Everest is safer than ever, the large number of climbers who scale the summit each year poses a significant security risk due to the influx of climbers and rapid security protocols, as well as a shortage of reliable equipment, such as oxygen tanks.
NDTV blamed the problem on “competition among expedition organizers” that led to “reduced costs”, while mountaineer Harry Taylor, who was the first person to summit Everest’s deadly northeast peak in 1988, told him told the Times this week that the blame fell squarely on the Nepalese authorities.
This is what you need to know:
Everest, which spans Nepal and Tibet, is the highest mountain in the world at 8,850m (29,029ft).
As such, no matter which route you take or which route you take, climbing the mountain is not a cheap or easy feat, four-time Everest climber Tim Mosedel warns on his Everest Expeditions blog.
“Just because you have ambition, drive, focus, and all the other necessary prerequisites doesn’t mean you’ll achieve your goals,” he writes.
Is it safe in general?
According to The New York Times, an average of about 600 people now make it to the summit each year, but about as many fail.
Many were forced to return, while others were trapped and even died. A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that looked at deaths on Everest between 1921 and 2006 found that the overall death rate among climbers who ascended above base camp at 17,600 feet (5,400 m) was around 1.3%. Since 2008, when that report was published, more than 80 people are believed to have died at the summit.
The risk of mass casualties makes avalanches a particularly deadly threat to climbers.
In 2014, an avalanche on the southeast side of Everest killed 16 people. The following year, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake triggered an avalanche that leveled the southern base camp, claiming at least 18 lives.
Nepalese officials and Sherpas have raised concerns about the increased risk of avalanches and advise visitors never to leave the designated route to the summit. Authorities have warned pilots not to fly into restricted areas on Everest that are sensitive to vibrations emitted by jet engines and helicopter rotors, the BBC reported.
“Falls are the most common cause of death for climbers,” says Live Science. “The mountain is covered with steep ridges and cliffs, and even small patches of bad weather can cause climbers to lose their orientation and slip or fall down the edge. .”
Route choice is also a critical safety factor: 98% of all Everest climbers use the northeast or southeast ridge to ascend the mountain, but several other routes are available.
Of the thousands of documented attempts to summit Everest, only 265 people took a “non-standard” route away from the two main summits, 80 of whom died during the attempt, Everest expert Alan Arnett wrote in your blog. This means that climbers on non-standard routes account for 28% of all mountain fatalities.
Several deaths on Everest have been the result of altitude sickness: when people struggle to adjust to low oxygen levels at high altitudes, usually around 10,000 feet (3,000 m). It is essential that climbers acclimatize by spending a few nights at the base camp before climbing the mountain.
Most cases of altitude sickness are mild, causing only a headache, nausea, or dizziness. However, if left untreated, altitude sickness can lead to cerebral or pulmonary edema, which is often fatal. Climbers experiencing the effects of high altitude are told to descend rapidly, the only known cure.
The altitude and lack of oxygen can cause other problems, including heart attacks, says the Outside magazine website. Additionally, hypoxia caused by high altitude can reduce climbers’ motor function, meaning the risk of falls and other injuries is greatly increased.
Time is also a key factor. Wind speeds on Everest can reach over 100 mph, while temperatures range from 10°C to -25°C, with frequent blizzards and meltdowns. If weather or visibility is poor, climbers are strongly advised to wait at base camp until clear conditions, which can take days.
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