Everest Base Camp

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Hannah m 15 Oct 2014
Any info on trekking to Everest base camp requested - any info and tips will be useful. I am asking for a friend who has announced that he is planning to do this next month. What level of physical fitness is needed? Can just about anyone manage it? Also what is base camp itself like - e.g. problems of rubbish and large numbers of people there at once etc. I have also heard that the flight in can be quite hazardous.
Interested to hear anything from people who have been there.
calumr 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

You don't need a lot of fitness, it's 3 weeks of easy-ish hikes (albeit at altitude). There's a couple of steep sections on some days, but most of it is a fairly wide & well-established path. Barring some bad luck with altitude sickness I imagine most folk with a basic level of fitness would be able to do it.

If I was doing it again I'd take diamox for the altitude. I didn't when I went and found it tough. On a recent trip to Mera Peak (about 1000m higher) I took diamox and only got a minor headache. This is just my experience, you should read up on AMS before you go & talk to your GP.

Don't worry about base camp itself, you don't normally go in to an actual camp in the Oct/Nov trips (it's just a rock near the camp that the sherpa pick at random) and you'll only be there 15 minutes or so. Any rubbish is further up the mountain. There were maybe 20-30 people there when I arrived with my group, but no-one's hanging around so it's not too bad.

The flight into Lukla is a bit hairy, but it's all good fun. The biggest hazard is the fact that it may not go ahead some days at all, maybe even for a few days in a row. Waiting in Lukla for your flight back to Kathmandu can be frustrating, make sure you have enough reading material at this point in the trip as you can be sitting around for hours (sometimes days).
 jasonC abroad 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

Hello

Done this twice, the first time I walked from Jiri to Kala Pattar (did not go to Base Camp) and walk back out, found the first day the hardest as I had stomach problems and the day finished with a 1000m climb, but after that I was okay. Probably the worse part of this trip was the coach/bus trip to Jiri, 12 hours of hell.

Second time flew to Jiri and flew back out as there were problems with the communists at the time. Still enjoyed it but found it harder at first as you fly straight into altitude and don't get the benefits of the (weeks) walk from Jiri. Flight in and out was fine, just a small plane so it feels a little different to what your use to.

Not sure what the weather will be like in October/Nov but your friend will need a decent sleeping bag and maybe a down jacket, its worth checking up.

J
 ChrisRGX 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

There is a really good free book called Travel at High Altitude available on the Medex website

http://medex.org.uk//medex_book/english_version.php

It's definitely worth a read.

Chris
In reply to Hannah m:

If your friend doesn't like the sound of the flight and has time, then they can always walk in from Jiri like I did. Beautiful walk and gets you much fitter for the latter stages
Hannah m 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

Thank you so much for this information - I'll pass it all on. Friend is usually a good hiker and usually fit but has recently become pretty heavily overweight and is trying to regain fitness - I think he has set this for himself partly for the experience of the place and also as a challenge in his drive to get back into shape.
Hannah m 15 Oct 2014
In reply to mockerkin:

Yes, I know, I saw that in the news - partly why a bit worried - I think that the thing there is to be very careful about acclimatisation to the altitude. Today I have seen in the news that several hikers have had to be rescued and some deaths in the Annapurna region I think, due to bad weather.
 scoth 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

To make the most of your time and expense I'd highly recommend diverting up the Gokyo valley then eventually over the Cho La into the Khumbu Valley and picking up the EBC route. For me the Gokyo valley was even more beautiful, less busy and thus not as commercialized as the normal EBC route. The view of Ngozumba Glacier, Cho Oyu and Everest was astounding. This way you get the best of both 'worlds'...
 Howard J 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

It's fairly easy hiking on good trails, but there are three big ascents. The first is the climb up to Namche Bazaar, the second is the climb to Thyanboche Monastery, and the last is the climb up the moraine onto the Khumbu Glacier. Nothing an experienced UK hillwalker should find too demanding but the altitude does make them harder.

The fitter you are the more you'll enjoy it, but you don't need stupid levels of fitness. You'll be carrying less than you would on a day in the hills at home.

How you respond to altitude is an entirely different matter, and isn't reliant on fitness. You can't train for altitude (unless you pay to use one of those acclimatisation chambers). It's important to be aware of the symptoms and take your time going higher. A good tour company won't rush you and will have programmed in rest days to allow acclimatisation - if possible, don't rest but use these to go higher and then come down again. Be aware that altitude sickness can come on very suddenly, which is why there are occasionally fatalities like the one reported. Usually a rest before going higher will be sufficient, but if symptoms persist then go down.
 Kimono 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Howard J:



> The fitter you are the more you'll enjoy it, but you don't need stupid levels of fitness. You'll be carrying less than you would on a day in the hills at home.

Well, that depends on how one does it. I am not one for groups or porters and like to carry my own gear which for sure makes it heavier than a day sack.
If the OP's friend really wants to lose weight, then this is the way to go
 mypyrex 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

Your friend MIGHT enjoy this:
youtube.com/watch?v=LbLgLcENvEc&
Warning: It does include footage of the flight into Lukla.
 Carless 15 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

Fitting in the ascents of Kala Pattar & Gokyo Ri is well worth it
Neither are difficult - you just need to be properly acclimatised
also crossing the Cho La
Hannah m 15 Oct 2014
In reply to mypyrex:
Wow. I have just watched that right the way through - couldn't stop - really good - wish I was going too now!
Looks more civilised - for want of a better word - comfortable, maybe - than I had imagined it would be as well. The level of commercialisation I imagine can be off-putting. Am also aware of the plight of Sherpas and the recent disaster they faced in April this year with ensuing disputes over their conditions.

Thanks all for your responses.

Highest I have been myself is just over 4000m I think in Peru, somewhere in the Andes - even after being at over 2000m for a couple of weeks I had headaches and dizziness - I was promptly sat down by the guide with us and given a wadge of coca leaves - the Peruvian panacea - to chew!
Post edited at 17:15
 BruceM 20 Oct 2014
In reply to Hannah m:

My partner and I went to the region Nov-Dec last year. Here is the movie. Should show you everything you need to know.

youtube.com/watch?v=cRKboyEINqo&

"Anybody" can and does go. But I think the recent tragic events illustrate that you are entering a serious mountain environment, and serious mountain weather and conditions can happen at any time. We used axes crampons and had a lot of our regular mountaineering kit with us (because we were scrambling lots of ridges and passes). But occasionally local and foreign people were doing things alongside us with very basic kit, and in potentially unsafe ways.
 tlm 20 Oct 2014
In reply to calumr:

> The flight into Lukla is a bit hairy, but it's all good fun.

Apart for those who die and their relatives (sorry for the daily mail link). It's just worth remembering the risk, especially with overloading being common.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2296381/Everest-danger-Why-...
 John Burns 02 Nov 2014
In reply to ChrisRGX:

Thanks Chris excellent booklet.
 Madcat 02 Nov 2014
In reply to Hannah m:
i went a few years ago was great fun only one person droped out in the group as not well flight in was fun post people can make it with average fitness depends how quick your trip plans to doit one thing make shore you purifie water properly i had bad tummy for a few days not good but would def go again and hope to return to nepal again next year to do a 6000mtr+

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