Making the journey to Everest base camp
Two years down the track and I’m looking forward to once again, pursuing my dream of reaching the top of the world.
Looking down on Namche Bazaar town
On April 7, I set out on the journey to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and flew from Kathmandu into Lukla airport in a small fixed-wing single turbo propeller plane along with the rest of my team members. Lukla , the starting point for the ten-day climb to EBC, is situated at an altitude of 2,860m, and the airport there is considered one of the most challenging in the world.
From Lukla we gathered porters and yaks for the remainder of the climb. The yaks carry the heavy goods, and the porters the less heavy items. I’ll be travelling with a team from the International Mountain Guides (IMG), a highly experienced US-based expedition company. IMG organises the logistics of the private sherpas, guides, all transfers, accommodation, food, ropes, ladders and other climbing equipment for the duration of the eight-week journey.
Our first stop was Phakding, overnight, then up a steep incline the next day to the town of Namche Bazaar at 3,440m. Here we did a tough acclimatisation climb and had a rest day. An acclimatisation climb is performed by climbing to a higher altitude during the day, and then coming back down to a lower altitude to sleep. This is done to help the body cope with the change and kick start it into producing more red blood cells so that it can handle the altitude, the decreased pressure and thinner air. The rest day helps the body make this adjustment before proceeding up to a higher altitude once again.
From Namche Bazaar we trekked to Tangboche, famous for the magnificent Tangboche monastery and temple. Here we received a blessing of good luck for the remainder of the climb. There was a snowstorm over night, and the whole area was covered in a thick layer of snow – quite spectacular. Next stop was Pangboche for a night, and then on to Periche, at 4,371m which is where we are now. Here too we we’ll rest for a day, while enjoying the magnificent views.
Reflecting on the journey – I’m fortunate and grateful to have the support of an enormous band of friends, family and sponsors yet again for this second trek.
Fresh snowfall in Tangboche
Receiving a blessing of good luck in Tangboche
Yaks carry the heavy goods
Air strip at Lukla