Everest Base Camp Trek

On Thu, 13 May 2004 23:16:00 +0100, "Angel" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm on the verge of booking a trek from Lukla to Kala Patar
& Everest Base Camp (Nov 04), this would be my first time
doing a trek like this and I have a few concerns. I'd like
to hear the opinion of people who have been on this
trek...... on the level of fitness required, the difficulty
of walking at high altitude, any experience of having
serious altitude sickness, ...... I have completed 76
Munros in the last 2 years and walked the West Highland Way
(both of which I find fairly strenuous), I don't think this
is really enough to enable me to trek to base camp but
according to some websites and the trekking company that
should be enough.

Went in Feb (great time to go - v few trekkers!) with a very
mixed, fitness-wise, bunch. Fantastic time despite getting
AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness - missed the final ascent to
Khala Pathar, slept for 36hrs!) and Guardia (waterborne
parasite, luckily struck *after* my return). Fitness was
never a real issue with anyone - lack of oxygen was more so!

So, would classify as moderate fitness - you're well over
that. AMS can strike anyone - not fitness, age, etc.
related. I didn't take Diamox, so maybe that was related
(tho' evidence of its efficacy is very bare). Reckon I
caught Guardiasis on day 1 (had a Lassi in Kathmandu) and
became v familiar with every "comfort station" between
Kathmandu and Cardiff!!

Oh, and snowed on our last day, delaying us in Luckla, and
we, the tourists, had to clear the runway with not a shovel
in sight!!

Quoted message said:

Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated (also any advice
on the trekking company - the Adventure company).

Don't know this company.

You'll have a good time!

Mark

Quoted message said:

I'm on the verge of booking a trek from Lukla to Kala
Patar & Everest Base Camp (Nov 04), this would be my first
time doing a trek like this and I

have

Quoted message said:

a few concerns. I'd like to hear the opinion of people who
have been on this trek...... on the level of fitness
required, the difficulty of

walking

Quoted message said:

at high altitude, any experience of having serious
altitude sickness, ...... I have completed 76 Munros in
the last 2 years and walked the West Highland Way (both of
which I find fairly strenuous), I don't think this

is

Quoted message said:

really enough to enable me to trek to base camp but
according to some websites and the trekking company that
should be enough.

Not done Everest Base camp trek, but did the Mera Peak trek
in 2002 from Lukla. Same terrain, although finishing a
little higher than your proposed Trek. From the walking you
have done, you will have no problem with fitness. We had 11
in our group, age ranging from 26 to 57 and everyone coped
with the walking. The pace was slow because of altitude, and
we had frequent stops for rest and water.

I, 53 at the time, was one of the fittest, and my walking
background is UK mountains (mostly The Lakes) and the South
Downs, with a visit to the High Atlas Mountains the year
before Nepal.

Regards AMS. I think everyone in our group suffered from the
usual problem, headaches of varying degree, and sore
throats. We were adviced to take a couple of paracetomol,
although our guide did say he had to be kept informed of
every medical problem, however small, including all
medication taken. One of our group did have major problems
with AMS. Had to be helicoptered out from Tagnac (17500ft).
Blood vessels behind the retinar we causing severe headache.
Many sessions in an Altitude Chamber didn't releive the
problem. This is where good medical insurance is important.
He had to foot the bill for the flight to Katmandu (1500
pounds) and claim back later from the insurance company.

Quoted message said:

Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated (also any advice
on the trekking company - the Adventure company).

Don't know of the company you are using, but a search on
Google may give some results highlighting good/bad points.

You should enjoy the trek though. Fantastic country, great
friendly people, and on your trek, following the route of
all those great Mountaineers. It will be busy though, as it
is a popular trekking route.

Take a look at my Mera Peak report on my website (address
below). Give you a feeling of the region ....... and the
urge to be out there!

Good look.

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk

"Mountains or Mole Hills ..... submmiting still brings the
same excitement"

Thanks for the info - just what I was hoping to hear! I also
managed to talk to a woman from Glasgow who has been on the
trek and she has given me similar advice........... so I
have now booked my holiday and can't wait!!!

Thanks once again

Angel :-)

"Angel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the info - just what I was hoping to hear! I
also managed

to

Quoted message said:

talk to a woman from Glasgow who has been on the trek
and she has

given me

Quoted message said:

similar advice........... so I have now booked my holiday
and can't

wait!!!

Quoted message said:

Thanks once again

Angel :-)

Don't forget to let us all know how you get on :o) Its
something I fancy doing myself.

Regards, Paul www.lakelandwalker.co.uk - My Lake District
walking site

Paul Rose Middlesbrough, England, U.K.

"Oli" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

However, you must also give some some serious
consideration to the current political situation in Nepal
- it is extremely sensitive and volatile. Sadly the
country is gripped by a nasty civil war between the King,
political parties and Maoists. Fortunately, _so_far_, the
tourist/trekking industry has been _relatively_ unaffected
by the turmoil but the situation _is_deteriorating_, at
the very least you should consider contingency

plans

Quoted message said:

for your schedule being interrupted by a bandh (strike).

There was a bit in our local paper about someone trekking
somewhere around Everest recently, just him and 1 Sherpa
guide, who were confronted by some people armed with guns
who took them off to a hut for a few hours and demanded
money. It said they were released after coughing up the
equivalent of £5.

In Article <[email hidden]>,"AndyP"

Quoted message said:

There was a bit in our local paper about someone trekking
somewhere around Everest recently, just him and 1 Sherpa
guide, who were confronted by some people armed with guns
who took them off to a hut for a few hours and demanded
money. It said they were released after coughing up the
equivalent of £5.

From what I hear there's every chance you will meet
representatives of the Maoists "collecting" for their cause
in most trekking regions now. That being said, I've also
heard that they are generally polite and courteous and will
provide you with a receipt for your "donation" (usually
around 100 Nepalese Rupees). This receipt can be shown to
any other Maoists you meet along the way and should ensure
that you do not have to pay again. Not an ideal situation I
know, but for the sake of a fiver or so, I think I'd just
pay and be on my way.

Regards, Richard G.

Quoted message said:

From what I hear there's every chance you will meet
representatives of the Maoists "collecting" for their cause
in most trekking regions now. That being said, I've also
heard that they are generally polite and courteous and will
provide you with a receipt for your "donation" (usually
around 100 Nepalese Rupees). This receipt can be shown to
any other Maoists you meet along the way and should ensure
that you do not have to pay again. Not an ideal situation I
know, but for the sake of a fiver or so, I think I'd just
pay and be on my way.

Regards, Richard G.

Apparently students can claim a student discount as well!
I've been to Nepal every year for the last seven years and
can say the troubles have become more noticeable each year.
Although to date; there have not been any serious incidents
involving tourists (its not in the rebels interests).

I have not done Everest base camp but concentrated more on
the Annapurna side. Altitude problems are the biggest worry
- next to the Nepalese driving. Many groups ascend too
quickly because of time constraints. Most 'reasonably fit
walkers' should manage it if they ascend at a sensible rate.

This September I'm walking from Western Nepal to Mount
Kailsh and then crossing the Tibetan plateau to go to
Everest Advanced Base Camp on the Chinese side (something
like 6,500m). But we are spending the best part of a month
at between 4000 - 5500m so should be ready for the altitude.
I'm aged 50 and not particularly fit (and will do a little
training before I go) - hopefully I'll make it!

Enjoy Nepal it's fabulous; and don't worry about
taking loads of fancy kit. Other than some good boots;
nearly everything can be hired (or bought) much
cheaper in Kathmandu. Trekking trousers about 5 pounds
to buy for example.

One of my worries was the current political situation in
Nepal - I had a look at the Foreign and Commonwealth website
(www.fco.gov.uk) and that made concerning reading as they
are currently advising against all non essential travel to
certain parts of Nepal (Beni and Bhojpur) and they also
described serious problems in Kathmandu. However I added
that to all my other worries and still decided that I'd go!
I really hope it's worth it :-) Seriously though Nepal
fascinates me and always has since a man from Nepal visited
my primary school about twenty years ago. I can't wait to
meet the people of Nepal, see the great mountains, visit the
monastaries....... I could go on for ages.....I'm really
looking forward to this trip and I'll definitely let you all
know how I get on (maybe see you in November Oli!!).

The trek I'm planning to go on is the one advertised by
Trail magazine - I arrive in Kathmandu on 'day 2', fly to
Lukla and trek to Phakding on 'day 3' and after that actual
trekking time to base camp and back is 12 days, I hope thats
long enough for acclimatising.

Something else I meant to ask was about cameras - I was
planning to take a digital camera but I guess the
batteries won't last too well..... any camera/photography
hints or tips?

Angel

To get a feel for the political situation in Nepal, keep an eye on these
websites that I used before my Mera Peak trip:

nepal.comnewsOpen ↗

info-nepal.comfirstpageOpen ↗

nepalnews.comnepalnews.comOpen ↗

--
Sandy Saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk

"Mountains or Mole Hills ..... reaching the summit still
brings the same excitement"

On Tue, 18 May 2004 18:39:37 +0100, "Angel" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The trek I'm planning to go on is the one advertised by
Trail magazine - I arrive in Kathmandu on 'day 2', fly to
Lukla and trek to Phakding on 'day 3' and after that actual
trekking time to base camp and back is 12 days, I hope
thats long enough for acclimatising.

Sounds similar to the one we did - long enough. The
important thing is to have a rest day after every major rise
in altitude

Quoted message said:

Something else I meant to ask was about cameras - I was
planning to take a digital camera but I guess the
batteries won't last too well..... any camera/photography
hints or tips?

I took 1 x SLR (Pentax) & 1 x digital (Fuji S602z). Little
power after Namche to recharge (tho' one of our group
managed to beg/borrow an o'night charge to keep his video
cam going). I took spare rechargeables, a solar recharger
and a Li-Ion battery pack, backed up by Lithium batteries
(lightest, highest power rating batts you can get
- v good low temp performer). No probs at all. Be warned
that on internal flights (Kath to Luckla) they confiscate
batteries (and lighters). Also took Li-Ion powered image
bank (Archos) and GPSr (Meridian). Mark

I've now chucked some pics onto a website of my trek to Everest
Basecamp, if interested:

mark-cavendish.fotopic.netmark-cavendish.fotopic.netOpen ↗

Mark

The trek I'm planning is with 'The Adventure Company' who
are running the trek for Trail mag - I fly from London-
Kathmandu on Friday 12th November and arrive back in
London on Monday 29th Nov.... I'm working away from home
right now (back Monday I think) and don't have any more
details with me.

Lucky you! If I could've managed to take that long off work
I would've!

I've not had a chance to take a look at the recommended
websites yet as I'm away from home and internet connection
is a bit poor but I'll definitely get a look at them when
I'm home....

Thanks

Angel :-)

Sorry for sending so many copies of the last post, Angel
will be back on Monday. I have been forwarding any replies
to here by email as she is not able to get on the group from
the computer she is using.

I'm a bit rusty when it comes to news groups!!

Best regards Eric