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“The climb is tough, but the view from the top is worth it.”
As quintessential as this quote gets, this indeed motivated Rohan Sharma, a mechanical engineer by profession to take on the daunting yet thrilling trip of the Everest Base Camp with Thrillophilia. He shares, “Commercial travel destinations have never excited me. I want to explore the unexplored & travel on off-road! Going to off-beat places is an adventure for me”.
Having said this, Rohan does what he says. The magical lands of Antarctica & Iceland, one of the coveted travel destinations have been ticked off from the bucket list of this passionate traveller already.
Traveling is a rejuvenating experience for him where he finds himself connected with nature & loves the cultural experiences that come his way.
“I constantly challenge myself each day. Running half marathons despite having an asthma condition is my way of channelling my energies.” But, the big adventure that I was impatiently waiting for is finely expressed in these words-
“The Everest Base Camp trip seemed long long due & the mountains were calling, out loud!”
So come wander through rough terrains & challenging trails, ice-cold river fronts & verdant valleys with this chronicling travelogue of the Everest Base Camp with our delighted traveller, Rohan Sharma
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Choosing Everest Base Camp Trek Over Other Destinations
I was browsing through my Facebook feed & came across a commercial of the Everest Base Camp(EBC) Trek with all the other Himalayan treks but the Ebc was offering me a Rs 3000 cashback. The thing about we Indians is, “we love discounts” & the moment we read an advertisement reading the word ‘discount’, we are totally sold, he chuckles.
It was only after this that the magic of the mountains took over & I was set for the next adventure!
“Along with 3 other friends of mine, I took on the challenging EBC trip & was ready to start the epic journey!”
Embarking on The Base Camp Trek
The trip began with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla with stunning aerial views. Flying above green tender valleys with scenic views of mountain ranges geared me up for the trip. We had a delightful start by experiencing nature’s bounty from atop.
Our trekking from Lukla for Phakding which is at a height of 2652 m began soon after. Slowly our excitement built up. The trail through small villages & farmlands was one of a kind experience. Amid this, we crossed our first hanging bridge & boy were we excited! You have both an emotion of adrenaline & anxiety of hanging midway on these bridges!
The following trip days involved abundant trekking for long hours where encouragement & trekking guidelines from our Sherpa was our dose that kept us moving forward.
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Farmlands End & Mountains Begin!
From Phakding, we set to Namche Bazaar, elevation 3440 m. We had an elevation gain of nearly 900 mts here & it was one of the steepest & hardest days I remember. But, the route gets only more scenic with every trekking step. While you trek till Namche Bazaar, the Dudh-Koshi river will flow alongside the trail. Flowing river water is soothing music to tired trekkers.
Farmland trekking ended at Monjo and it gave way to sky-high mountains & forest regions. The trek from here gets extremely strenuous as the climb gets steeper & steeper. We made frequent stops to catch our breath & more so to admire the panoramic scenery & click pictures.
To add to our fear, we experienced an avalanche on Mount Lhoste accompanied with thundering sounds, which was a reminder of how deadly the mountains can be.
The Much Needed Acclimatization
Acclimatization is extremely essential on treks. It allows the traveller to sync with change in altitude levels & extreme temperatures. This is vital as it allows the person to maintain his performance in unusual conditions. So, for the approaching higher altitudes & reduced oxygen levels, we were being trained physically & mentally.
Acclimatization was provided at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche. I also recommend eating light food as the digestive systems work slowly and less effectively on higher altitudes.
During this time, we also made a hike to the Tenzing Norgay memorial and this is where I got my first view of the Mount Everest. I was simply overwhelmed! I stood there just admiring the view! It was surreal!
After the tough hikes, the heavenly view served as a much-needed adrenaline push for the forthcoming days.
Mounting Up – Namche Bazaar, Tengboche & Dingboche
The trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche is at an elevation of 3880 m. This part of the trek promises picturesque views of Mount Ama Dablam and Mount Taboche. Tengboche is the most beautiful stop on the way to the base camp.
Don’t miss the divine sunsets and the starry night sky that’s adorned by glistening stars! It was infinitely peaceful to watch the starry skies, away from the mad rush of urban cities.
Our next trek was from Tengboche to Dingboche at an elevation of 3880 m. After Pangboche, the landscape changed drastically and trees were replaced by shrubs. Strong frosty winds are a common phenomenon, accompanied with light snowfall. Experience these natural miracles fully because you will miss them once you’re back!
At Dingboche, a small hike to see the world’s top three mountain peaks- Mount Lhoste, Mount Makalu and Mount Cho Yu was taken.
The Growing Adventure
From Dingboche, a trek to Lobuche was planned. This was at an elevation of 4940 m and our hike led us into flat plains.
Lobuche, Thukla, Gorakshep & The Final Everest Base Camp
Lobuche and then Thukla, by this time almost all team members were drained of their energy. The trekking exertion, extremely cold temperature, high altitude and reduced oxygen levels had started to take their toll on everyone.
Lobuche trek covers flat plains, a frozen river and memorials of people who lost their lives while summiting Mount Everest. We visited these memorials of brave men and women who pushed the boundaries of human limits to scale the high passes. Our trek to Lobuche covered great views of Mount Pumori (7138m) and Mount Nuptse (7861 m).
From Lobuche, we trekked to Gorakshep, elevation 5170m, and then to Everest Base Camp, elevation being 5364 m.
The Final Destination Is Here!
After reaching the EBC, our happiness was unexplainable! We made it there! The mood was celebratory! Everyone hugged and congratulated each other (Drinking at high altitudes is not advisable).
Our celebrations and happiness of reaching the Everest Base Camp was a feeling that words fail to explain! We rejoiced immensely on this victory!
After soaking in the view, we started our journey back to Gorakshep. We trekked from Gorakshep to Kala Patthar (5645 m) and to Pheriche (4371 m). We couldn’t sleep during the night hours as our guide warned us about high altitude and low oxygen levels.
Our descend trek started in pitch dark at night hours with headlamps and five layers of clothing. With all this, we slowly started to move uphill. It was a steep up-climb. Couple it with extreme cold and low oxygen levels, every step took its toll on us.
The Majestic Everest!
Our target was to reach the peak and see the sunrise over Everest and Himalayan peaks. But it was turning out to be a tough task. We were covered with frost all over and on our exposed body parts. With all this, we slowly made our way to the top. We reached the top just before sunrise and WHAT A VIEW IT WAS!!
On one side we could see peak of Mount Everest right at our eye level with sun rising behind it and on the other, the entire Himalayan mountain range. It was a view I will never ever forget in my life!!
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Tips To Follow For The Everest Base Camp Trip
During the entire trek, ascend and descend both, I suggest people to be brave at heart and mind. People physically give up and are often injured – numbness in feet and fingers, hypothermia conditions, excessive difficulty in breathing etc.
Trekkers must always believe in themselves. Sudden bad weather conditions and heavy winds, snowfall discourage you and block your route, but do not lose hope!
Pack Well – Its gets very cold and you should not compromise on the quality of winter wear you bring along. Also, all trekking gear are easily available for buying or renting in Kathmandu. Sleeping bags are available for rent as low as Rs 70 per day.
With all this, some thoughtful tips for people planning a trip to the Everest Base Camp-
- Carry your own water bottle and water purifying tablets with you. Bottled water in upper areas gets very costly, so carry your own bottle and purifying tablets(also available in Kathmandu).
- Carry high energy food such as chocolates, energy bar, dry fruits in your backpack.
- Wear Knee Caps while descending. It takes off a lot of pressure from your knees.
- Don’t take Dimox until you feel the need to as it has many side effects. Instead, keep some camphor tablets in your handkerchief or tie it in a piece of cloth and wear around your neck and keep inhaling it.
- Drink lots of water, it will help you with the high altitude.
- Try to walk continuously with fewer breaks. Because soon after you stop walking, you body heat dissolve and you start feeling cold. Frequent changes in body temperature that too extreme can make you very ill.
- Carry cash – Cash is of high importance in higher altitudes. Carry cash in a good amount.
- And most importantly – BE POSITIVE. You will be exhausted, will hear news of people being evacuated but you got to believe in yourself. You will be in one of the most beautiful places on earth, surrounded by some of the world’s highest mountains. Think of each day as something that will bring you to an even more magnificent view and enjoy the company of people you are trekking with.
Epilogue
Rohan has been to Antarctica on an International Expedition with 80 people from 32 countries He has been to Iceland in winters and desires to take a road trip from India to Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Exploring Hang Son Doong is on his list as well. Seeing his passion for travelling, these do not seem far-fetched. With his amazing and inspiring trek to the Everest Base Camp, Rohan withdraws with his favourite quote-
“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching”.
Follow Rohan’s inspiring travel memories here.
