Facts about Everest Base Camp

Taking an excursion in Nepal guarantees an abundance of adventurous opportunities that will satisfy any thrill seeker. The Everest Base Camp is the beginning to one of the most difficult treks that can be found in popular Nepal. The hike from Everest Base Camp onward to the summit of Mount Everest is infamous not just for its alpine peaks, but also for the friendly locals known as the Sherpas.

Facts about Everest Base Camp

The nearby community will help guide you to the next village in the event that you get lost during your trek on the trails which contributes to the popularity of this destination. Climbers, wishing to reach the summit, begin at Everest Base Camp which is about 17,500 feet in elevation. The trek to get to this starting point helps the trekkers become acclimated to the high altitudes so it lessens the risk of altitude sickness.

View of Everest
View of Everest

View of Everest


Information about Mount Everest

Mount Everest, located in Mahalangur mountain range of Nepal and Tibet, is called Sagarmāthā (Forehead in the Sky) in Nepal and Chomolungma (Goddess Mother of the World) in Tibet. Named after Col. Sir George Everest, who was a Surveyor-General of India in the 1800's, has a peak that is more than 29,000 feet above sea level and holds the highest mountain in the world title in the Guinness World Records. Mount Everest is, however, not the tallest mountain on Earth. That title is actually held by Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Even though only 13,796 feet can be seen of the mountain, most of it is found underwater creating a mountain height of 33,480 feet altogether. Since Everest has the highest point in the world, many trekkers travel to that part of the world to take on the challenge.

The mountain is located on the border of Nepal and China within the Himalayas. Extreme weather on the summit adds risk for trekkers with the average temperatures ranging between -20°C to -35°C (-4°F to -31°F) and wind blowing up to 280km/h. The summit extends from the upper troposphere into the stratosphere which means it is in a freezing jet stream. The winds are so powerful that climbers can actually blow climbers off the mountain.

Since it has been established as being the highest mountain on earth, there has been a flock of trekkers and thrill seekers attempting to reach the top. The first to climb to the summit was Edmund Percival Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. The first woman to reach the summit was Junko Tabei from Japan in 1975. Some mountaineers believe that the first valid ascent of Mount Everest goes to Reinhold Messner of Italy and Peter Habeler of Austria in 1978 because they were the first to reach the summit without the aid of supplemental oxygen. Oxygen usually helps climbers overcome any ill effects from the high altitude. Without supplemental oxygen, the challenges of the summit are increased tenfold.

Apa Sherpa of Nepal is the one to hold the record of reaching the summit of Mount Everest the most at 21 times as of May 11, 2011. On May 29th, 2012, 234 people climbed Everest making it the most to reach the summit on a single day. The popularity of the world's highest mountain has caused a serious issue of overcrowding. Since 1953, there has been numerous attempts and over 3,500 successful ascensions. The Nepali government has been trying to find ways to reduce the overcrowding of trekkers in order to save lives and the Everest environment. One way they have deterred some people is by making the trip only available to those who pay a permit of $11,000 US dollars per trekker. There are other fees that help maintain the mountain.

The Trek to Everest Base Camp

The trek to Everest Base Camp is extreme yet it is not as treacherous as climbing to the summit of Everest. As long as you are in pretty good physical shape, you can encounter a piece of the majestic Mount Everest. Start the adventure in either the Nepal or Tibet region, then make your way to the Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp from Nepal
Everest Base Camp from Nepal



From Nepal Region

The journey begins in Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu. This culture rich city is where you can visit street markets, museums, and beautiful temples. Many trekkers sign up for a guided tour that will usually hold an orientation in Kathmandu to prepare for the next few days. This starting point will give you time to get things in order with your guide and finish up any other paperwork that is needed before a trip to the mountains.

Depending on the route that is taken, the trek to the base camp could take about 20 days. A lot of trekking guides will fly you into the mountains at Lukla from Kathmandu to begin the trek to Everest Base Camp. The flight takes close to 25 minutes but it is not uncommon to experience a long wait during the rainy summer season. There has even been delays as long as a week. Flying into Phaplu airport which is about a 2 to 3-day trek south of Lukla, or hiking from Jiri, are least popular alternatives. The alternatives make the journey to Everest Base Camp longer so many stick to the plan to fly into Lukla. Hiking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp takes you on a round trip of about 75 miles.

The first part of the trek from Lukla is a downhill stroll for about 3 to 5 hours to either Phakding or Monjo. After resting, hydrating, and getting acclimated, the journey takes you towards Sagarmatha National Park and make its way towards the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar. There is an entrance fee into Sagarmatha National Park of about 3,000 Rupees and you have to be prepared to show your passport. Throughout the trek, it is important to remember to stay hydrated and to let yourself relax to help with the acclimatization process.

Everest Base Camp from Tibet
Everest Base Camp from Tibet



From Tibet Region

Trekkers also travel to Lhasa to begin their journey to the Tibet side of Everest Base Camp. From Lhasa, visitors will travel through popular tourists' destinations like Gyantse, Sakya, and Shigatse. Hikers enjoy the scenic beauty of Yamdrotso Lake and Karola Glacier while they make their way to Tingri. The Himalaya Natural Reserve is the next spot which is only 100km from Everest Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp is the destination that separates those who want to try for the summit from those that just wanted to cross visiting the mountain off of their bucket list. Advanced trekkers will rest at Everest Base Camp for about 4 to 8 weeks to get acclimated to the high altitude which helps prevent altitude sickness during the trek to the summit. At that time, individuals called "Icefall Doctors" work to set up ropes and ladders to help the journey across the unstable Khumbu Icefall. It is notoriously treacherous because of seracs, crevasses and other shifting ice blocks. The ascension over the area usually begins well before sunrise while the ice blocks are still frozen in place. At 19,900 feet is Camp I which is a temporary camp right above the icefall.

Advanced Base Camp

(ABC) is Camp II at 21,300 feet elevation. This trek is a gently rising trek over a glacial valley. The next part will require the use of ropes to ascend the Lhotse face to Camp III. The Geneva Spur and the Yellow Band are a couple of obstacles to reach Camp IV. Climbers use ropes to maneuver past the anvil shaped rib of black rock on the Geneva Spur. There is a fixed line from Lhotse face to the Everest summit that takes you through the sedimentary sandstone of Yellow Band.

From Tibet Region
From Tibet Region (source)

Climbing Mount Everest


Training and Gear

No matter if your goal is to reach the summit of Mount Everest or to trek through the region to make it to the Everest Base Camp, it is very important to be well trained and well equipped for this excursion. Make sure that you are in your best personal shape through regular exercise and a healthy diet. Some experts suggest gaining experiences on treks and climbs that are not as challenging, making your way up the difficulty ladder until you are ready for Mount Everest.

Layers are important for wearing the proper gear for the trek. Cold weather makes it critical to protect yourself from frostbite. Wear gloves to protect your fingers, proper boots to protect your toes, and a knit hat for your head and face. Gain the insight from guides who know about the conditions of the summit so that you can be prepared.

Other suggestive items to take along:
Biodegradable toilet paper
Hydration pack with Gatorade or something that does not freeze
Steripen and purification tablets
Bandanna
Headlamp
Trekking poles
Warm wind jacket with hood
Rain jacket
Sunscreen, sunglasses, and chapstick
Trail food

Some personal electronics can be brought along because villages are equipped with charging capabilities and there is even some cell towers for service. There is always a cost to charge or use certain simple necessities so make sure to be well prepared to have extra spending money.

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