How difficult is to climb the Everest Base Camp Trek?

  • Taralal Dharel ( Hari )
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Everest Base Camp Trek is the popular adventure hike which leads to the base of the world highest mountain, Mt Everest (8848 meters). The adventure walk takes you through the unique wonders of nature, expiring the mountain flora and fauna, walk through the gorges, crossing the glacier lakes and glaciers rivers, with the gorgeous views of the mountains you will also be familiar with the unique experience of walking through the suspension bridges, walking up and down hills to reach the destination is the beautiful experiencing you will collect while making the Everest Base Camp Trek.

The other exciting accepts of the Everest Base Camp Trek is exploring the Sherpa culture and tradition while acclimatization in the popular rest spots like Namche Bazaar- the famous bazaar of the Khumbu region, also the capital of the Sherpa community and gateway of the Everest region. This valley will offer you the beautiful environment to get familiar with the locals, know about their lifestyle, exploring their warm hospitality with the stunning backdrops views of the world iconic mountains like Mt Everest, Mt Makalu, Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Cho Oyu and other surrounding snow-caved peaks, another famous village you will explore Tengboche village- this village is very famous for the Tengboche monasteries- the oldest and the biggest monasteries of the Khumbu region, you will also enjoy the closet views of the snow-capped mountains.

With the beautiful experience locals culture, and views of the soaring peaks but the one should know how difficult the Everest Base Camp Trek is for the average walkers.

A few travelers and climb dare to reach to the top of the world highest mountain Mt Everest, but for the most, it will be to trek to the Everest Base Camp.

Khumbu region is quite far from the modernization and commercialization means you may not get the good transportation services in this region, the only means to enter to the Khumbu region from the capital city is through the plane, which takes around 35 minutes to reach but every second in the flight offer you the beauty of nature, incredible views of the snow-capped mountains and unique wonder of the surrounding nature, if you want to enjoy every walk of your journey then you can complete the Everest Base Camp Trek starts from Jiri, here you will cross all the scattered village and this trek is quite long compared to the Everest Base Camp Trek direct from Lukla.

Depending on the operator, Everest Base Camp Trek takes around two weeks to complete but the trek is flexible it means you can add some an extra day to enjoy the view or discard some acclimatization is in your interest. And the trekking hours can be increased as you increase the walk-in altitude.

Don't get panic, because the Everest Base Camp Trek is very achievable.

Table of Content

Everest base camp Trek difficulties

Length

As the trek begins arriving at Lukla from Kathmandu. Here you 65 km journey to Everest Base Camp Trek start, around 130 Km round trip, Everest Base Camp Trek seems quite longs. If you are quite good at the physical and mentally, trekking with the experienced guide, slowly and enjoying the tips you will walk 9 of the 12 days, where the other days is your acclimatization, you will cover 15 Km per day.

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The walking strength of the human is 5 Km per hours if you keep this in your mind covering 15 Km per day will not be very hard for you.

But you will not walk 15 km on the paved way that is flat rather you will quite rocky and sometimes snowy-terrains. Depending on the season you will trek that is sure to slow down your pace.

During the hiking, if you combine the terrain with the fast as generally hiking to a higher altitude or upwards you will see how the trek becomes tougher.

But there will be helpers as potters and mules to carry your bags walking in the altitude so you can just focus on reaching the trails and increasing your strength to success the trek.

Training

Many peoples believe that the Everest Base Camp requires extremely high-level fitness. Although a good level of fitness will also make your trek more enjoyable and you don't need to be an Olympic athlete.

While trekking the Everest Base Camp Trek the most of the people easily get the tire because of the altitude and hilly nature of the route but we believe that with the basic and good training any trekkers can success the hike.

You will feel some days are easier then others and some days are quite tough then so you should always prepared for the tough day, not the say one. Walking around 6 hours per day for Everest Base Camp Trek will take it out of you if you have good fitness.

So building up our strength before starting the Everest Base Camp trek. we suggest you involve in the training activities around 6 or 7 weeks for the beautiful success of the trek.

Your training plan or activities should include the below points:

  • Several long up and down hike in the hills/ walk a week building up the distance slowly until 5 hours does not bother you.
  • Training at the gym and the training should be mostly focused on your legs and arms.
  • Aerobic exercise like cycling, swimming, running, rowing, etc. this is used to build up your endurance for those long day hike.

Altitude

Without any doubt, the most difficult of the Everest Base Camp Trek is the altitude. The high altitude of the trek makes your walk a little difficult.

If Everest base camp is not in altitude then the trek would be basic indeed. The Everest base camp trek is in 5364 meters so the altitude sickness should not take very lightly. As you start your trek from Kathmandu (1320 meter) with a flight to Lukla (3000 meters)from where you will start the adventure walk. Lukla is high enough to induce altitude sickness. Then you will start the alk from the Lukla crossing the many wonders of nature and many scattered villages like Pakding, Namche Bazaar, and Tengboche. You will have the acclimatization day in the Namche Bazaar.then you will climb steadily to reach the Everest Base Camp.

The views point of the Kalapther on the journey is the highest point standing at the altitude of 5555meters.

The key point to hike is the high altitude is slow and steady.

And also if you are very weak to walk in the high altitude then you can extend your itinerary packages according to your interest as you can add more acclimatization days. This means at least 2 day acclimatization days make increase your strength to walk and make you fresh.

These acclimatization days are not wasted as they are used for exploring the village, preparing your walking strength, experience the local culture, remote lifestyle, learning their tradition and hospitality.

So your outward journey should be longer than the returning journey. As we include 9days for the outward journey and 3 days for the returning journey.

There is a high chance of causing the altitude sickness to all kinds of the people so remember to search or get the professional medical advice against the altitude sickness before starting Everest Base Camp Trek.

So before starting your hike collect more advice and information about the altitude sickness, its symptoms, and preventative measures and also always mention your body balance for physical fitness to be far from the altitude sickness.

The major difficulty to climb the Everest Base Camp Trek is:

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness is also known as the mountains sickness which is mainly caused while walking in high altitude too quickly. In another world the group of the symptoms that strick while climbing or hiking in the altitude elevation or altitude, too quickly.

Reason of the altitude sickness

When you hike to the higher altitude, the pressure of the air that surrounds drop down and there is less oxygen available.

If you get life in the place that is moderate altitude then you get adjust in that air pressure. But if you hike or walk to the higher altitude than you're used to, then your body needs time to adjust in that pressure.

So as you walk from then the altitude or 8000 meters then you can be the risks of the altitude sickness.

The symptoms of the acute altitude sickness (normal altitude sickness) are:

Headache

  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Problems for sleeping
  • Loss of energy and fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Shortness for breathing

The symptoms of the altitude sickness like HAPE (buildup fluids in the lungs), HACE (a most severe form of the altitude sickness cause when there is fluid in the brains) are:

  • Coma
  • Shortness for breathing every while resting
  • Confusion
  • Difficult of inability to walk
  • A cough that produces a white or pink frothy substance

Preventive measures of the altitude sickness are:

  • Always starts your journey below the 10000 feet. If you have to fly or drive somewhere hire then stop at some destination that is lower the distance you are flying off driving around 24 hours.
  • If you climb, hike or walk over 10,000 feet per day, then only add 1000 feet more to hike. Always after climbing 3000 feet then rest at least a day to adjust in that air pressure.
  • Climb high and sleep at the low is the key factors to be far from the altitude sickness if you climb around 1000 feet per day and make sure to come down at the lower altitude and sleep.
  • At least drink 4-5 liters of the water to keep your body hydrated.
  • Don't use tobacco, cigarette, alcohols or other medications like sleeping while trekking Everest Base Camp.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours.
  • Always carry some chocolates and bar which provides you’re the extra energy to hike.
  • Always consume balanced diet food including the local and traditional cuisine Dal Bhat which provides you with rich protein and increase your strength.
  • If you fell or identify the first sign of the altitude sickness immediately share with your guide and move to the lower altitude or elevation.

Which moths you are trekking on:

Normally spring and autumn season is considered as the peak season to enjoy the surroundings and beautiful mountains views.

Spring season includes the March, April, and May, which comes after the winter season, the days are very cool to enjoy the adventure walk as you can enjoy the natural beauty, green environment crossing the dense forest of pine and blooms rhododendrons, crossing the scattered village of the Sherpa and their culture, exploring their culture and tradition. With the clear views of the sky, you can view every surrounding snow-capped mountain from the nearby village and also while walking on the route.

The route is very dense by the traveler and visitors so in this season you may not get a room in teahouse and lodge in high altitude easily or you may have to share your rooms with your friends so while trekking this season you should book your room in advance.

In this season you may have to face the light rainfalls so carry the necessary gear while trekking in this reason.

Autumn season includes September, October, and November month. This season is also peak season to enjoy the Everest Base Camp Trek. Autumn season comes after the monsoon season or rainy season, the atmosphere is very clear with the fresh environment because monsoon season washes all the dust and pollutants of the surrounding. Witha cool and fresh environment, you can enjoy every aspect of the places. Exploring the beautiful natural beauty, flora, and fauna, you will also get the beautiful opportunity to enjoy the locals Sherpa festivals with the stunning backdrops views of the snow-capped mountains. The route is very dense by the trekkers and visitors.

So you may have to face the problems related to the rooms or may not get the rooms easily or for trekking in the autumn season, you should book your room in advance.

And Monsoon and winter season are less traveled season:

Monsoon Season means rainy or summer season included June, July, and August, though it washes all the dust and pollutants and offers beautiful views of the green environments, the route can be slippery and liches can be found in more numbers which can put obstacles in your trek, other then this you can enjoy the fresh environment beauty, you may not have to book the room in advance as there will be less traveler and trekkers in this season, you can enjoy the peaceful environment while trekking in these summers.

Winter season starts from December and ends February. Trekking Everest Base Camp is this season is very challenging than trekking in another season, as snow continuously falls and the skies are usually dark and covered by clouds through the days, very difficult to views the mountains from the nearby villages.

The snow level in the high altitude is very high so the route gets blocked in the high elevation, the days put you more obstacles and temperature is below the 0 degree Celsius.

Though the teahouse will provide you with a good discount and offer you the good acclimatization services. You may not get the teahouse in the high altitude due to the high level of the snow falls, and routes blocked.

So carry all the necessary equipment while trekking Everest Base Camp trek in this season because you may have to face unknown problems anytime and anywhere in these seasons.

Conclusion

Though in every adventure hike some unknown and unexpected problem, difficult and challenges are waiting for you but facing every challenge with great strength will give you a more beautiful experience. Adventure means walking or enjoying the risks, there may be some difficulty for trekking in the Everest Base Camp Trek-related to altitude and trekking in this season but preparing for these difficulties can make your trips more beautiful and memorable. Reaching to the base of the world highest mountains means facing the problem with the adventure, increasing your strength and strong spirit to reach facing the upcoming problems will make your trek beautiful, expect these there may not be big difficulties you will face while enjoying the Everest Base Camp Trek, the walking through the scattered village, exploring the wonders of nature and familiar with the local's culture, remote lifestyle and beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains will make this difficulty very small while trekking with Nepal Hiking Trek. Email us: [email protected]

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