Planning & Preparations
The Mt Everest or Solo Khumbu area is the second most popular trekking area in Nepal. It would be the most popular, but for its remoteness. One has to fly to Lukla , a small airstrip on the shoulder of a mountain in a remote area, or walk an additional week .
Trek in Nepal (EBC) involves walking for many days, mostly up and down steep hills through remote villages.
Every day walk leads you one day further into the hills, so you will also have to walk the same distance to get back. Make proper preparation before you start the trek so you don’t end up a week away from road/airstrip ill equipped, exhausted or unable to cope with the thought of walking all that distance back.
A trek is physically demanding because of its length and almost unbelievable change in elevation. During the 180KM trek from Lukla to EBC & return, the trail loses and gains more than 6000mtrs (19,600ft) of elevation during its many steep ascents and descents.
On most days the gain in elevation is less than 600mtrs (approx2000ft) in 15km. You can always take plenty of time during the day to cover the distance, so the physical exertion, although quite strenuous at times, is not sustained.
Probably the only physical disorder that may make a trek impossible is a history of knee problems. In Nepal, the descents are long, steep and unrelenting at times. If you are a regular walker/trekker and often walk 10 to 15km with a backpack, a trek should not prove difficult .On EBC trek you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy the hiking can be if you carry only a day pack and not have to worry about meal preparation.
Previous experience in hiking and living outdoors is, however helpful. The first night of a 2 week long trek is too late to discover that you do not like to sleep in a sleeping bag. While Mountaineering skills are not necessary, you should enjoy walking and camping.
Walking all day in the mountains is different than walking in city streets. One of the most important things you can learn to make your trek more pleasant is the mountaineers’ REST STEP. If you learn this you can push on up the steepest hill without getting tired.
Practice this on a reasonably steep hill. Lock your downhill leg and swing the uphill leg up, place it on the ground. Pause for an instant, being totally relaxed, with your locked downhill leg carrying all your weight. Shift the weight to your uphill leg, straighten it and lock it, and repeat the process. You can go on like this for hours without stopping if you maintain the rhythm and coordinate your breathing with walking.
1. Get used to walking 10 to 15 kms a day.
2. Practice Rest Step.
3. Get basic camping experience.
4. All gear meant for the trip should be used before the Trek, get used to them, most important are the walking Boots (they should not be new).
Season
The traditional seasons are pre and post Monsoon.
1. March to May and
2. October to December.
Oct and Nov recognized as having the best weather for trekking, so it’s also the high tourist season, with flights and hotels are fully booked, and trails in the hills can be busy.
During April and May the middle hills can be dusty and hazy but the high mountains is usually clear.
What kind of Trek
There are two primary approaches to trekking
1. Lodge Treks
2. Camping Treks
The most popular way to Trek in Nepal is to use local trekking lodges for accommodation and meals. There are lodges every few hours on most of the popular trails in Nepal, including Everest Trail. This way you can manage with bare minimum equipment and rely on local facilities. In this manner your trek will cost Rs1200/- to Rs1500/- a day depending on where you are and how simple you live and eat. It becomes more expensive as you move away from road heads, and in higher altitude.
This method also gives you the freedom to move at your own pace and set your own schedule.
The classic style of trek in Nepal is to camp in tents and employ porters to carry your gear and sherpas to set up camp and cook. You end up carrying only a small backpack with water and snacks.
On a camping trek you will have to sleep in a tent, which means you will have a quieter night, away from the uproar of a lodge. With this style you also have the freedom to camp where you want.
Most of the Trekking companies in Kathmandu/Nepal offer a package that will include a guide, porter and accommodation for a fixed daily rate. Depending on the company, food may or may not be included in the cost.
This arrangement works best with a single trekker or a group of less than five.
If you don’t want to involve a Trekking company, and want to undertake a lodge trek, you can hire only a porter to carry your gear or perhaps hire a guide also to accompany you. A guide is not necessary for you to find your way, but if you are traveling alone, it’s a good idea to employ someone to travel with you. A guide is invaluable if you fall sick, or have an accident, traveling with a Nepaly will also give you more opportunity to learn about the local language and culture.
Cost & Services
Prices for treks vary significantly depending on, if you use a Trekking Company or you do it on your own, also on the style, size of the group, season, and the mode of transport to the start of the trek.
Trekking company range from large organisations to small operators. Verify if the company is a member of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal.
Larger companies will be more transparent with there costing , buy including all the items as a matter of course, where as smaller companies add items later as extra cost.
Check whether the cost of your trek includes the following: National park fees, porter insurance, and transport from Kathmandu to start point and back, fuel sur-change, advance money for emergency evacuations. Make sure Nepal’s VAT and Service Tax is included in the quote.
Benchmark: Porters charge Nepali Rs750/- per day as wages, they will find food and accommodation on there own.
Guides will charge anywhere from Nepali Rs1000/- to Nepali Rs1500/- depending on your group size, difficulty of trek, season and his experience. They will find there own food and accommodation.
Veg Food and Beverages at various Lodges will cost more or less Nepali Rs1000/- per day.
Clothing & Equipment
The task of selecting gear can almost overwhelm some people, but preparing for a trek is no more complicated than equipping yourself for a weekend trek. In some way it’s simpler, on EBC trek there is no food, eating utensils, cooking pots or tents to worry about, and less over all concern with weight and bulk.
Some people like to travel light, with bare minimum, this works fine when the weather is good and you have no health problems. But the mountains are not always kind, and you may find your self caught in rain or snow storm far away from a lodge. If you do head into the mountains unprepared, you will be on your own; few people will give up there clothing or sleeping gear to help you when you run into trouble.
It is helpful to have all your gear before you leave home.
List of Clothing
1. Down or Fiber filled Jacket
2. Fleece or Pile jacket
3. Hiking pant, preferably one which converts to shorts.
4. Waterproof jacket, Poncho or Umbrella.
5. High altitude Insulated pants
6. Windbreaker.
7. Polypropylene top and long johns
8. Woollen or Fleece cap or Balaclava.
9. Fleece or Insulated Gloves
Footwear.
1. Trekking Shoes along with Gaiters should suffice in summer months, but a proper Mountain Trekking BOOTS are any day better choice in high Himalayas. If you are traveling with porters, you have the luxury of carrying two sets of shoes.
2. Camp footwear.
3. Wool socks at least 3 pairs for walking and one dry pair in sleeping bag, night use.
Other Equipment
1. Backpack – with a light internal frame to stiffen the bag to give it form, should also have a padded shoulder and waist belt to keep it from bouncing. Waist belts also help in taking away some weight off you shoulder.
2. Daypack – If you have porter support, you can carry the daypack, and the porter will carry your main backpack.
3. Sleeping Bag- A warm bag is a must, no matter what the season. Down or Synthetic fill.
4. Sleeping Mat-Just in case you don’t get a place in the lodge.
5. Water bottle or a Hydration Bag, 2 liter capacity.
6. Head lamp with LED bulb for long lasting performance.
7. Duffle bag for the extra or group gear , gets carried by the porter.
8. Sunglasses or Glacier Glasses, to cut UV rays.
9. Sunscreen & lip balm.
Miscellaneous Items.
1. Toiletries
2. Maps
3. towel
4. lighter
5. small knife
6. sewing kit
7. water purifier
8. medical & first aid kit
Optional Equipment
1. Camera.
2. Altimeter
3. Binoculars
4. Books.
Day to day Itinerary
Day 01
Early in the morning drive about 15 minutes to Tribhuwan International Airport. After 30 minutes scenic flight to Lukla (2804 mtrs.), you begin the trek to Phakding (2610 mtrs.) - 3 hours easy walking.
Day 02
Trek to Namche Bazaar (3535 mtrs.).
Day 03
Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar
Use this day for an acclimatization, walk around the valley to adjust with thin air. Namche Bazaar is known as the gateway of the Everest. Here you can see the traditional custom of Sherpa peoples. Besides, a fine view of the Everest and other mountains can be overviewed from this place.
Day 04
Trek to Tengboche (3850m). and beyond to Devuche.
On reaching Tengboche, visit the monastery known as Tengboche monastery. Walk down another 20 mins to Devuche,
Day 05
Trek to Dingboche (4350 mtrs.)..
Day 06
Day trip to Chhukung valley and trek back to Dingboche.
Rest and enjoy another day for acclimatization. Walk up to Chhukung , then return to Dingboche in the evening. You can walk up to Chhukung Ri (5546 mtrs) too.From here you can observe a fifth highest mountain Makalu.
Day 07
Trek to Lobuche (4950 mtrs.).
Day 098
Trek to Ghorakshep (5160 mtrs.). Rest at the guest house, and after lunch you can walk up to Kalapatthar, if you have steam left, evening afternoon is a good time for pictures of Everest .
Day 09
Trek to Everest Base camp (5400 mtrs.) and return to Ghorakshep.
Day 10
Hiking to Kalapathar (5545mtrs.)
The day starts with a hike up to Kalapathar (5545 mtrs.), an excellent viewpoint to observe the Mount. Everest and innumerable spectacular mountains views. Then trek back to Pheriche (4280m).
Day 11
Trek to Khumjung Village (3753 mtrs.).
Day 12
Trek to Phakding (2610 mtrs.). Overnight at Guest House. Or all the way to Lukla.
Day 13
Trek to Lukla. Overnight at Guest House.
Day 14
Morning flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla.
Everest Base Camp is not actually a site from where you can see the mountain, its just a area on the Khumbu glacier where teams set up temporary residence during there attempt on the mountain.
Ascent of Kalapatthar is spectacular as it provides a view of The Big One.
Acclimatization & Altitude Sickness
Three trekkers on an average die of Altitude sickness, each year in Nepal.
Our bodies have the ability to adjust to higher altitude if given enough time.
Some people are more susceptible to altitude sickness than others. If you know you get sickness easily you just have to adjust your acclimatization schedule accordingly. If you get a severe case of altitude sickness it does not mean you can not go to high mountains again, it only means that you have to more cautious.
As long as you don’t ascend with symptoms of AMS, and you descend promptly, if the symptoms appear to worsen, you have almost have no chance of becoming an attitude-sickness statistics.
Symptoms of AMS
1. Head ache
2. Nausea leading to Vomiting
3. Uneasy ness
4. Sleepless ness
You can ascend to an altitude of around 2800mtrs rapidly with out getting ill, but beyond
You should not gain more than 450 to 500 mtrs a day, its better to climb high and sleep low when ever possible.
Treating AMS
Firstly not to ascend with AMS symptoms, and if symptoms become severe than to DESCEND. Descent will always bring improvement and should not be delayed.
NOTE: AMS if not taken care, can lead to HAPE or HACE, Pulmonary edema and Cerebral Edema , which can kill a person in hours. So never ascend with AMS symptoms.
Three medications have also been proven useful in treating and preventing AMS.
1. Acetazolamide (Diamox) for AMS
2. Dexamethasone (Decadron) helps in case of symptoms of HACE.
3. Nifedipine for severe case of HAPE.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
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Nice trek and one must do this ..
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