Everest-base-camp-trek-blog
Mt Everest
The Mt Everest (SAGARMATHA) or solu khumbu region is the second-most popular trekking area in NEPAL. It would probably be the most popular destination, but it is more a area. To get near Everest, you must either walk for a week or fly to expensive and difficult to get to solu khumbu then to the Annapurna lukla, a remote mountain airstrip where flights are notoriously unreliable.
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| Everest-Base-Camp-Trek-Blog |
Solu khumbu is justifiably famous not only for its proximity to the world s highest mountain (8848m), but also for its Sherpa villages and monasteries. The nominal goal of an Everest trek id the Everest base camp trek at an elevation of about 5340m You cannot see Everest from the base camp, so most trekker climb kala pattar, a 5545m bump on the southern flank or pumori (7145m). From Kala Pattar there is a dramatic view of Everest.
Other than the problem of access, the other major complication to an Everest trek is the high likelihood of acute Mountainsickness (AMS). This potentially deadly disease commonly known as altitude sickness is caused by climbing too quickly to a high elevation. Be sure to read the altitude illness section in the health & safety chapter if you are planning an Everest trek. If you suffer symptoms of altitude sickness and cannot go to base camp, you can still make a worthwhile trek to less ambitions destinations such as Namche Bazzar, the administrative headquarter of the Khumbu region: Khumjung or Thami, which are more typical Sherpa villages; or Tengpoche monastery. From Tengpoche you will have an excellent view of Everest and its more spectacular neighbor Ama Dablam(6856m).
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| Mt Everest 8848m |
An Everest trek involves a tremendous amount of
up-and-down walking. A glance at the map will show the reason why. All the
rivers in this part of Nepal flow south from Himalayan glaciers, but the trek
route proceeds east. Therefore the trails most climb to the ridge that
separates two rivers, descend to the river itself, and ascend the next ridge.
Even though the trek begins at an elevation of 1860m, on the sixth day it
crosses the Dudh Kosi at only 1500m – after considerable uphill (and
downhill)walking. If you total all the
uphill climbing, it will come to almost 9000m of elevation gain from Jiri to
Everest base camp. The Jiri road saves almost 4000m of uphill walking over the
old approach from Lamosangu, but this is still a long, hard trek with a lot of
uphill walking.
Place
Names
Maps
and route descriptions for the Everest trek become confusing because of
conflicting names for the same place. There are both Sherpa names and Nepali
names for many villages. I have used the Nepali names because these are on all official
maps and records. The Sherpa names for villages along the route appear in
parenthesis after the more common Nepali name.
Festivals
In
addition to the February celebration of the Tibetan New year, or Losar, there
are two uniquely Sherpa festivals that you may encounter in Solu Khumbu.
Lukla to Everest Base Camp
Duration:
- 15 Days
Difficulty:
- Medium to Hard
Maximum
Elevation: - 5545 m.
Permit
Cost: - NPR 2000 ($20)
Season: - October to
December
Hotel: - Excellent
Summary: - Fly in by
plane or helicopter and walk to the Sherpa village of Namche Bazzar, the
monastery at Tengpoche and on to Everest base camp. It is important to allow
enough time on this trek for acclimatization. Can be very crowded in the high
season.
15 Days Everest Base Camp Trek
Itinerary
Day
01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Day
02: Fly to Lukla and Trek to Phakding
Day
03: Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Day
04: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazzar
Day
05: Namche Bazzar to Tengboche
Day
06: Tengpoche to Dingboche
Day
07: Acclimatization Hike to Nangkartshang Peak
Day
08: Trek to Lobuje
Day
09: Lobuje to Everest Base Camp and then to Gorak Shep
Day 10 Hike up to Kala Patthar and Trek Down to Pheriche
Day
11: Pheriche to Tengpoche
Day
12: Tengpoche to Namche Bazaar
Day
13: Namche Bazzar to Lukla
Day
14: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
Day
15: Final Departure
