Lifesaver Tips: Planning Your Everest Base Camp(EBC) Trek –

vanika

Vanika Sumbly has graduated from Delhi University with a major in English Literature. She believes traveling is truly the best way of passively exploring oneself. And writing about it is active exploration.

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Last Updated: April 16, 2020

Most climbers aspire to reach the summit of Mount Everest at some point in their hiking career. It’s understandable why – the sensation of touching the highest point on Earth, the magnificent Mt. Everest (8,848 m), is unparalleled. Its immense size puts everything else into perspective, and achieving such a feat is a lifelong goal for adventurers worldwide. Despite years of preparation, only a small percentage of climbers actually succeed. Isn’t that fact alone quite daunting to grasp? The EBC (Everest Base Camp) trek serves as a starting point for many trekkers who dream of conquering this colossal mountain someday.

For some trekkers, EBC trek alone is a huge travel goal! Rigorous training, honing patience levels, developing sustainable trekking stratagem, investing in reliable trekking gear are the many tasks on the to-do list when you are planning for an EBC trek. In addition, there is the task of locating reputable trekking providers and relying on unpredictable weather conditions. Engaging in conversations with experts and making reservations in advance will alleviate some of these challenges, although a few uncertainties may persist.

Must Read: 15 Tips and Tricks to Reach Everest Base Camp

When the accomplishment is extremely significant, the risks become greater. Occasionally, they may even be life-threatening. You have the option to rely on luck and improvise, or you can prepare for potential serious issues that may arise during your EBC trek, as there is a notable chance of encountering them.I am unable to reword this text.

Mt. Everest is in a very remote region and at a very high altitude doubles the risk factor. However, the chances of getting medical aid get scarcer as we go up. A mishap like a simple leg injury; life-threatening high altitude sickness like AMS (Acute Motion Sickness), HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) or HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema); natural disasters like earthquakes, avalanches, and rock-falls can prove fatal. At such an altitude, one has to be rescued with the help of a helicopter and escorted to the nearest medical facility. An The cost of evacuating via helicopter during an emergency could exceed $10,000 in expenses.

Next, never self-diagnose!

• The symptoms of altitude sickness can vary with each body type. One should never self-diagnose, chances are you will be wrong and will worsen your condition further. Medicine delayed is medicine denied.
  
• Make sure to regularly update your guide. They have been doing it for years and are very familiar with it. It is highly recommended and necessary to trust their advice.
  
• Consuming garlic, staying hydrated, and getting enough rest may alleviate the symptoms, but ultimately descending is the sole remedy.

Reaching Lukla

Lukla is a small airfield with a very short landing strip. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous airfields in the world. Being a small airfield, only small aircraft like Dornier 228 having short take-off and landing capabilities, are operated. These aircraft do not have the ability to operate in bad weather and very low visibility. That means it can get cancelled or delayed for safety reasons if there is a bad weather condition. Always take a few grace daysUpon your arrival in Kathmandu, ensure that this does not impact your return flight home. If you arrive in Kathmandu as planned, you can utilize the extra days to discover the vibrant city’s cultural heritage.

Flights to Lukla now depart from Ramechhap Airport, located approximately 140 kilometers away from Kathmandu. This change was implemented in September 2019. The new arrangement is advantageous because Kathmandu Airport had experienced heavy air traffic, resulting in flight delays. This was particularly problematic for mountain flights that required early morning departures to ensure favorable weather conditions.

Different alternate options you can choose from, in case your Lukla flights get cancelled are:

Please be patient and attempt again on the following day.
When we wait we are be given the last priority as others have already booked for the scheduled date. Therefore, when flight gets cancelled, we reschedule it for the next day. And this means that sometimes we don’t get them at the earliest. However, we try our best.

2. Pay for an expensive helicopter to get in or out
There are helicopters available for this particular situation. However, the drawback is that they provide expensive transportation to Lukla or back to Kathmandu. This is beyond our control. Occasionally, they offer lower prices, while other times the price they quote is quite high. The prices for the helicopters are not fixed and depend entirely on the circumstances. Choosing a helicopter to Kathmandu is one option. Another option is taking a helicopter to Phaplu from Lukla, which may cost USD 800 per helicopter. Please note that each helicopter can accommodate up to 6 people. Additionally, there is a 12-hour shared jeep drive to Kathmandu.

3. Hike to Phaplu + Drive to Kathmandu(Cheaper Alternative)
It is a 2 days hike to reach Phaplu from Lukla and then it takes 12 hours sharing jeep to Kathmandu. This is a way cheaper option for getting out to Kathmandu in the worst-case scenario. Meant for those who do not want to pay for an expensive helicopter or cannot wait for next day’s regular flights.

Must Read – Everest Region: There’s More to it than Everest!

WATER RESOURCES-Staying hydrated is essential!
There are many natural sources of water all along the trail. It is advised to carry some water purification tablets and a good reusable wide mouth water bottle. You can get bottled water all the way till EBC but it gets more and more expensive as it gets closer to the EBC. Also, bottled water is NOT a good idea as every other bottle means more and more garbage is created.

Responsible eco-tourism means one is not encouraged to leave behind anything other than their footprints. 

REMEMBER, REMEMBER

• There aren’t any ATMs located on the EBC trail. Remember to carry cash from Kathmandu itself. Currency exchanges on the trail offer especially inflated rates so it is advised to keep enough local currency with you i.e., Nepali Rupees.
• There is no need to be concerned about food. Along the trail, there are numerous tea houses where you can find a wide variety of nutritious or sweet food options available all the way to the summit. Popular choices include Dal-Bhat (dal and rice), chowmein, and spaghetti.
• If you have a local sim, you will have enough data. Many lodges provide Everest Link and you can purchase a Wi-Fi data package to use it. The internet connection is typically slow. It is probable that you will not be able to communicate with your friends and family.
• Although helicopters are frequently traversing this extensive mountain range, their use for supplying materials is prohibitively expensive. Consequently, as you ascend higher, you will notice significantly higher prices for everything.

Must Read – Why ‘One Is Not Enough’ For Mount Everest Base Camp: A Detailed Account of the EBC Trek

INSURANCE is a must in a trek like Everest Base Camp. Any insurance you go for should at least cover the following:

1. The minimum altitude limit should be 5,700 m.
2. Emergency evacuation by air in case of an accident, illness or natural disaster.
3. Trip cancellation and delays
4. Flight cancellations and delays including the internal flights to Lukla
5. Baggage Loss
6. All the countries you intend to visit during the trip
7. All the adventure activity one intends to do during the course of the trip