Top 10 Things to know before trekking to Everest Base Camp

One of Nepal’s most famous treks, the hike to Everest Base Camp, is an undoubtedly exhilarating adventure. Colossal mountains, intimidating ice cliffs and enormous glaciers provide the backdrop for a gruelling physical and mental challenge, an enriching journey replete with both traditional Nepali and modern day trekking culture. Here are ten tidbits to take on board before commencing your own epic EBC expedition. Get geared up in Kathmandu If you’re not kitted out with gear, it’s best to purchase or hire prior to trekking, in the tourist area of Kathmandu known as Thamel, bursting with bargain trekking gear shops. Consider the pros and cons of hire vs buy; e.g. a hired sleeping bag may be cheap, but buying could be better value – a lighter, cleaner, higher quality bag and some shops even custom-make. Always thoroughly check hired gear as you’ll pay a deposit and be liable for any damage incurred. Financial planning Take enough cash from Kathmandu to cover the entire trek, accounting for the following expenses, average prices per person per day as of 2012 – accommodation 200 rupees, 3x meals and drinks 1500 rupees. Allow for extra unforseen costs (such as doctor’s visit, extra rest day[s], hot shower, Internet usage, toilet paper, emergency chocolate bar). Take more than you estimate you will need. There is an ATM at Namche Bazaar (2 days’ walk from the beginning) and other means to obtain cash, but should not be relied upon – the ATM never worked for us. Ten useful items you didn’t think of Perhaps you didn’t consider the following handy items: walking poles, snacks, prayer flags, water purifying tablets, string/twine, sports tape, thermometer, pocket knife, tiger balm and tealight candles. No snuggles in a single bed Most accommodation is twin-style. Single beds weren’t meant to be part of our romantic Everest adventure and I felt rather put out, scouring each village for guesthouses with double rooms. That was until I realised there were none, and it was acceptable to push beds together. Most guesthousesalso have a multitude of blankets available on request. In peak season, get in fast to claim them. Altitude sickness strikes Altitude sickness (or Acute Mountain Sickness) can strike anyone, regardless of age, size or fitness level. Of four members of our group, all four suffered symptoms of altitude sickness. Take on the hike with the assumption that you WILL suffer at least a mild case. Have a flexible itinerary that allows for extra rest days, research the symptoms pre-trip, attend the daily afternoon seminar run by the Himalayan Rescue Centre in Pheriche, (about 4 days into the trek at 4400 metres) and above all else, look after your friends! Yak protocol Yaks are placid beasts and labourious movers but don’t be fooled – they can be deadly. When you hear that familiar sound of clinking bells, be sure you’re on the upper hill-side of the passing yak herd. Slopes on the trail can be mightily steep, and so much as a light prod from a yak horn could send any off-balance, backpack-clad trekker tumbling into the ravine below. Everest Yaks Becareful when Yaks pass! High-altitude pizza Not all the food offered in guesthouses is traditional. Western options are often available, although sometimes scarcely resemble their namesakes as we know them. Dal bhat, the ubiquitous Nepali food, is a healthy option (always “all you can eat”), and tsampa porridge is a fantastic, slow-release breakfast. Both are made from locally sourced ingredients. Everest Dal Bhat Everest Base Camp Diet - Dal Bhat Good eggs and bad eggs While we’re on the topic of food, a little known fact about eggs: when frozen, the expanding albumen can crack the shell, allowing air through the membrane into the egg. This can lead to food poisoning. Eggs are on just about every guesthouse menu, but best to avoid them, especially in higher areas where temperatures are guaranteed to freeze. Cultural etiquette Always pass any stupa, Mani wall (stone wall of carved spiritual writing), or other shrine keeping it to your right. Spin prayer wheels clockwise for good fortune and likewise, hang prayer flags (particularly at high points like base camp and the top of Kala Patthar), when the flags flap, your prayers are carried on the breeze and delivered to the gods. Everest Prayer Wheels Get the Gods on your side! Small pleasures Trekking, albeit exhilarating, can be gruelling. Sometimes, little pleasures are enough to take the edge off a tough day. Here are a few examples I picked up on the trail. Fleece-lined or down slippers (available in Kathmandu) are a comfort at night. An altimeter is a fulfilling reminder of achievements at great heights. Filling a drink bottle with hot water at night makes for a great bed warmer. Massage oil in a small, well-sealed bottle, is a great enhancement when trading well-deserved, tired muscle treatments. And a cup of masala tea was once described to me as resembling “a warm hug”. Wanna trek with ametreks..just visit http://www.ametreks.com/itinerary_detail/88/everest_base_camp_trek