Everest Base Camp

Kathmandu

Clare BLOG, Everest Base Camp, Nepal, Nepal Tips - Kathmandu, Nepal Tips - Pokhara #adventurethatislife, #nepal. #kathmandu, #travelblogger

Things to do, places to see and restaurants to visit.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is a fascinating place to visit and is usually the first port of call for mountaineers and trekkers before heading into the mountains.

The city is vibrant, bustling, colourful and aromatic…

“where life has a beauty of its own, played out in front of us on the street with a namaste and a smile”

~ Lizzi Hawker

The Thamel District is the main tourist centre with narrow pedestrianised streets adorned with restaurants, souvenir stalls and shops galore selling a vast array of merchandise from outdoor gear and cashmere scarves. Above are colourful Buddhist prayer flags dancing in the breeze.

Restaurants:

The numerous restaurants have something to suit everyone’s taste. All restaurants cater well for vegetarian diets. Here’s a few that we like:

Third Eye

The restaurant blends both traditional Nepalese cuisine with royal Indian dishes. The thali is a particular favourite. This dish is ideal if you can’t make up your mind as it provides a number of small curries served in delightful copper bowls inside one large copper platter. You even get a shot of the local rice wine.

Yin Yang

A Thai restaurant situated next door to the Third Eye. It has outdoor dining as well as an indoor restaurant. The cuisine in here in mainly Thai with some continental dishes available on the menu. The deep fried spring rolls and vegetable tempura are delicious.

OR2K

This vegetarian restaurant is located upstairs on Mandala Street. You are required to take off your shoes and sit on floor cushions on low tables. The menu is vast and serves a range of dishes from the Mediterranean and far-east as well as more local cuisine. There’s plenty of choice it’s difficult to select one dish to go for. The falafels were very tasty and served with salad, hummus and a naan bread.

The Black Olive

Situated next to the Marshyangi hotel, this cafe serves a range of meals. The menu ranges from Nepalese fused with oriental and middle-eastern flavours. It also serves breakfast. It has live music in the evenings.

La Bella Cafe and Aqua Bar

This restaurant is ideal for large groups as it is situated over two floors and has plenty of tables some of which are on a balcony which overlooks the main street below. They serve a range of Italian meals along with burgers and Indian dishes. A great place to visit as there’s something for everyone.

Greens Organic Cafe and Farmers Bar

This lovely little cafe is a favourite of mine. It’s located upstairs opposite the Roadhouse Cafe and if you can get a balcony seat it looks down over the main street in Thamel below. This little gem serves a range of vegetarian and vegan dishes. My favourite was a delicious paneer curry with brown rice and millet and buckwheat flour momos.

Rum Doodle

This most famous of restaurants in Kathmandu is located outside of the Thamel District so it’s advisable to take a short taxi ride in the evening. The restaurant has large paper feet dangling from the ceiling, where Everest summiteers have signed their names including Sir Edmund Hillary, Rheinhold Messner and Sir Chris Bonnington. The restaurant moved from its original location to its new location after it was severely damaged by the earthquake in 2015. It serves a range of Nepalese and Indian dishes, which were generally on the hot and spicy side.

The Rum Doodle

Shops:

Trekkers Pharmacy

Opposite the Marshyangdi Hotel, this small pharmacy is ideal to stock up on supplies for a trek into the mountains. Here you can get diamox (Acetazolamide) and antibiotics without a prescription to take with you on a trek.

Shop Right Supermarket

This excellent store is great for buying a range of western snacks to take with you into the mountains plus has a vast array of toiletries just in case you’ve forgotten something or need to top up.

Pilgrims Bookstore

There’s many bookstores in Kathmandu, but this one is my favourite. It only looks small from the outside, but once you step inside its doors it’s like an Aladdin’s cave crossed with Doctor Who’s Tardis. Spread over four floors, this shop sells a range of new and second-hand books in this labyrinthine environment. It also sells stationery, souvenirs and gifts on the ground floor.

Bhandari Photo Shop

This shop is close to the Kathmandu Guest House and sells a range of camera equipment. You can also buy a Nepali SIM card for your phone if you wish to make lots of phone calls or use data when in Nepal. An Ncell SIM card is best if you need to use a lot of data, but NTC (the state provided service) is cheaper for phone calls.

Bake House

There are several bakeries and patisseries in Thamel. This one is a cafe and bistro as well as a bakery. It serves a range of pastry products such as quiche and vegetable rolls, handmade sandwiches and a fabulous array of delicious cakes. A great place to pick up something light if you don’t want to go into a cafe.

On a rainy day:

Kathmandu Sport Climbing Centre

Nepal’s largest climbing wall is located just outside the Thamel District.

Visitor Attractions:

Boudhanath

This is the Great Boudha Stupa (see photo at the top) situated approximately 6-7km from the centre of Kathmandu. It was granted World Heritage Status in 1979. You can walk around the circumference of the stupa and be in awe of its beauty. Around the outskirts is an an array of souvenir and gift shops along with a Buddhist monastery where you can be blessed by the resident monks.

Pashupatineth

The Pashupatineth Temples is worshipped by both Buddhist and Hindus and is noted as a shining example of religious harmony. The temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River where open cremations take place of the deceased. It is a designated UNESCO world heritage site due to its cultural and spiritual importance.

Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square

Another world heritage site, located in the very heart of Kathmandu is Durbar Square. There are a number of beautiful palaces, temples and shrines. It was the home of the kings of Nepal and the coronations were held here until Nepal became a republic in 2008.

The earthquake in 2015 caused severe damage to the buildings of historical importance and ongoing restoration work is still continuing. Sadly, several buildings of cultural significance were raised to the ground.

Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)

Located 30 minutes walk from the Thamel District, is the Monkey Temple. It is worth taking a short taxi ride to the stupa located on top of a hillside with fabulous views overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. There’s a plethora of monkeys as it’s located on the edge of a forest. You can wander around this sacred site taking in the views and laughing at the antics of the cheeky monkeys.

Nepalese Cuisine

Clare BLOG, Everest Base Camp, Nepal daal bhat, daal bhat power, everest base camp, food, hiking, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Khumbu, Lodges, momo, Nepal, regional dishes, Sherpa, Tea Houses, trekking

The traditional food in Nepal has strong influences from its surounding countries India, Tibet and China. The diet is highly vegetarian and is very healthy as it uses large quantities of vegetables and limited use of fats within the cooking. This suited me well as I’ve been vegetarian for almost 30 years now. Rice and potatoes are staple part of the Nepalese diet too.

If you do eat meat, don’t expect to eat beef as cows are the national animal and are sacred. You’ll often find cows sitting by the side of highways or wandering around the streets in the city. A sight we’re not accustomed to but nobody bothers in Nepal. Chicken is freely available on menus and sometimes there was ‘meat’ although it didn’t identify what it was! We did find out that it was sheep or goat. Occasionally, there was ‘buff’ on the menu too, which was buffalo. Pork is not eaten. Fish is available but as Nepal is a landlocked country it was usually tin tuna.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara there are a vast array of restaurants serving all variety of international cuisine. It’s easy to find a pizza, sandwich or burgers on the menu together with a selection of Indian, Chinese and Thai restaurants.

On the trek, the tea houses or lodges over recent years have extended their menus to cater to western tastes. I found there was usually always cheese sandwich and chips available, vegetable fried rice (or with meat) and what they called spring rolls. These weren’t like the deep fried crispy variety found in a Chinese cuisine but had been baked and filled with freshly cooked vegetables.

On the trek, all the supplies have to be carried to the mountain villages on either yaks, donkeys or porters but fresh vegetables are grown in the terraces surrounding the villages. Western treats, such as chocolate bars and pringles were available in the Tea Houses but the higher the altitude, the more pricey they became.

Whilst on the trek, I personally preferred to stick to the traditional dish of daal bhat as I found it light on the stomach, tasty and nutritious and kept my energy levels up. It was certainly the favourite of the Sherpas who ate it two or three times a day and coined the phrase ‘daal bhat 24 hour power!’

Daal bhat is a complex yet simple dish. It’s a mild vegetable curry usually with a portion of greens served with rice and a poppadom. Accompanying the plate is a bowl of lentil daal, which you pour over the rice. It’s a perfectly balanced meal with a mix of carbohydrates from the rice, protein from the lentil daal and greens and other vitamins from the vegetables.

No wonder the Sherpas joked about it being a super food!

Another traditional dish which is commonplace throughout is the humble dumpling or in Nepali it’s called the momo. They either contained a meat or vegetable filling and were either steamed or fried. I always preferred to opt for the steamed variety and although they looked a little pale were very tasty. They were served with a chilli -tomato dip.

A variety of noodle soups were commonly found served in the lodges on the trail. Some were made from packet noodles and others were more authentic.

Thukpa is a heart-warming noodle soup originating from Tibet. This dish contains spices and curry flavourings and sometimes contained meat. It was either served as a starter in a small bowl or in some lodges was served as a main course in larger bowls.

Breakfast in the lodges were catered towards the western taste and a two course breakfast would set me up for the morning without feeling the need to snack in between lunch. It consisted of a starter of porridge sometimes made with water or sometimes made with powdered milk. After having some powdered milk that had gone off we stuck with water after that! Occasionally, muesli was available. After the porridge, the main course was toast served with either boiled egg, omelette or sometimes a fried egg. If you didn’t fancy any more egg, there was often jam or honey for the toast. There was little variation to the breakfast so towards the end of the trek, my group began to get a little tired with the lack of variety.

Each meal was accompanied by copious amounts of tea or coffee although it is recommended to limit the amount of coffee at altitude. The tea is black tea and is served weak without milk, which I found was quite refreshing. Large flasks were brought out with each meal.

In the mountains, fresh milk was limited but in the cities it was freely available. Yoghurt was used to make lassi, a milkshake-like drink, which was either served plain or fruit-flavoured.

There was limited sweet-food available in the mountains. We stayed in one lodge that had a bakery attached to it and slices of freshly baked cakes were available. At other times, if you fancied a desert in the lodges they made a snickers or mars pie! It looked more like a cornish pasty than a pie though with its fluted edges. The chocolate bar was wrapped in pastry and baked in hot oven so when you cut into it you had a delightful chocolatey, gooey mess! Very rich!

Alcohol is freely available in Nepal although it’s not advised in the mountains as it affects your acclimatisation. Foreign beers and wines are available in restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara. There’s also local beers served too. The local tipple is Khukri rum.

: Me eating vegetable momo in Kathmandu

: Darren eating yak cheese pizza in Namche Bazaar

Everest Base Camp Trek 2017

Clare BLOG, Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Kathmandu was a hub of colour and noise. It was vibrant, it was dusty, it was busy, but it was very welcoming and friendly.

Thamel District, Kathmandu

Fragrant incense filled the air as you wandered around the narrow streets of the Thamel District. We spent a few days here prior to the trek and strangely I liked it. Our group of six clients arrived two days after us and we had a day with a tour guide showing us places of interest around the city. Thamel is full of shops selling everything you can imagine so the group were able to buy any last minute items of gear before we headed out to the mountains.

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla was beyond my expectations both nerve wracking and spectacular combined into one. As the plane skimmed over the green terraced foothills, it came into land on what appeared to be the edge of the mountainside.

We started the trek after lunch and the busy path was surprisingly undulating as it meandered through forests to join the Dubh Koshi River. It passed through a number of tiny villages where there was vibrant displays of orange marigolds outside of the homes and Buddhist symbols carved into rocks. As we headed up the valley we walked over several suspension bridges with colourful displays of prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.

Lukla

The path was busy in both directions with both trekkers and Sherpa people who were either portering heavy loads suspended from their foreheads or guiding the trains of yaks and mules, which were used for carrying supplies to the remote mountain villages. This was the only means of transport other than helicopter into the remote area.

Mules crossing the suspension bridge

The first night we stayed in the village of Phakding at 2610m. The lodge was cosy and we were provided with an abundance of hot tea to keep hydrated. The next morning, it took a little time for the sun to rise over the mountains tops and until that time it was cool but as soon as it reached us it provided an immediate warmth. We stopped briefly in Monjo for lunch before crossing into the Sagarmatha National Park where the guides sorted out the official passes before we descended towards the roaring waters of the river below.

At Larja Dobhan, we ascended steeply to cross a long suspension bridge set high above the steep-sided gorge below. This was the infamous bridge from a scene in the film ‘Everest’. From here, the path zig-zagged steeply up hill for 600 metres through the trees. We stopped briefly several times to catch our breath and on doing so had stunning views back down the valley below before arriving at the Sherpa Town of Namche Bazar just as the light was fading.

Namche Bazar

Namche is set in an stunning location in a semi-circular formation based in a hanging valley high on the side of a mountain. The white washed buildings with their colourful rooftops are striking set against the green vegetated hillside. It’s a charming little town with animals roaming freely amongst the steep, narrow winding streets lined with shops, stalls, cafes and bars. We had two nights here to acclimatise so plenty of time to acquaint ourselves with both the hostelries and shops.

The following day included a short acclimatisation walk to the Tenzing Norgay Memorial where I glimpsed my first sighting of Ama Dablam, which was quite emotional for me. Unfortunately, there were no views of Everest though. Surrounded by clouds it would keep us waiting one more day!

Back on the trek the following morning, it was a frosty as we headed to Khumjung. This was only a short day and we arrived in the village at lunchtime walking past the Sir Edmund Hillary School. Sir Edmund had raised a lot of money after the first ascent of Everest with Tensing Norgay in 1953 and was highly regarded in the region. It was this school that was the first to be built by his charitable foundation.

First sighting of Everest with Ama Dablam on the right

As we got higher, the vegetation became more stunted and scrubby with Juniper, Cotoneaster and pretty blue Gentians lining the paths. We arrived at a Chorten and it was here we were able to see for the first time the breathtaking view of Everest. The view was simply stunning with the white rocky peaks defined dramatically against the contrasting dark blue sky.

The next day started by gently descending as we headed away from the main Everest tourist trail. This was followed by a steep climb up the Gokyo valley on a path through Rhododendron Forest in the cold shade of the day, crossing numerous frozen streams before we arrived at Dole.

Heading along the Gokyo Valley

After a cold and frosty start to the morning we left Dole and were now above the tree line continuing to traverse up the valley to Machermo. We arrived at the lodge by lunchtime and were welcomed with the now customary sweet but refreshing hot juice, which left us guessing what flavour we would have today! It is here in Machermo that the International Porter Protection Group run the Rescue Post which is staffed voluntarily by doctors from the UK. They offered healthcare at the centre to trekkers as well as to porters and everyday provided a talk on acclimatisation to raise awareness of the symptoms of altitude sickness. You could have your SATs tested here for a small donation and see where you featured on the leaderboard!

The group spent two nights at Machermo to aid acclimatisation so it was a good opportunity to wash any clothes and allow them to dry in the sunshine. We had an acclimatisation day scheduled here where we could either choose to relax or take a short climb up onto the ridge above for a brief opportunity to see Everest again peaking between the rocky ridge.

Porridge, eggs and toast provided the staple nutrition at breakfast to sustain us for the morning together with copious amounts of tea. By the now the routine was familiar, bags packed and ready to go before breakfast so these could be loaded onto the porters whilst we ate breakfast. The eggs were usually boiled but occasionally there was the choice of an omelette, french toast or fried egg.

Due to an early snow fall, it was identified that we wouldn’t be going over the ChoLa pass so it was agreed with the Guide that we would descend back down the opposite side of the valley through a number of small hamlets until we reached the Sherpa settlement of Phortse. This side of the valley the path was more dramatic and was much quieter so it was an opportune time to see wild mountain goats upon the steep-sided slopes.

The lodges that we stayed overnight provided basic yet comfortable accommodation. Our bed for the night was in a twin-bedded room with a duvet provided to cover your sleeping bag. There was no heating within the bedrooms but some lodges had more insulation than others and the higher we ascended the colder it got and the more frost we had on the inside of the window in the mornings. This was where the group developed differing strategies for dealing with the cold. A Nalgene bottle filled with hot water doubled up as a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag and was still luke warm in the morning to wash your face and clean your teeth rather than using the icy cold water.

Inside the lodge at Machermo

The dining room in the lodges provided the main communal area and the focal point was the yak dung stove. Who’d have thought we’d all congregate around a burning pile of poo! We were grateful for the heat it provided and what a sustainable source of heating too!

It was evident when we had rejoined the main Everest Tourist trail again as the paths had become busier. We stayed over in a simple lodge at Shomare before continuing up the trail to Thukla and onto Lobuche. On the path, we passed by a Stupa and a number of memorial cairns which had been dedicated to climbers who had perished on Everest. It was peaceful as the prayer flags fluttered in the breeze under the clear blue sky but a sad reminder that sometimes it could be so cruel.

At Lobuche, most of the group were experiencing some form of mild altitude sickness whether it was a slight headache or breathlessness on exertion so it was important to drink plenty of water to ensure that we kept hydrated and maintained our energy levels.

The settlement of Gorek Shep with the viewpoint of Kala Pattar and Pumori dominating the skyline

The terrain as we headed up the valley was rocky, sandy and dusty with no vegetation. It was busy as we climbed up quite sharply in the morning sun before descending quite steeply into the windy basin of Gorak Shep. The surrounding mountains were stunning with the distinctive pyramidal peak of Pumori dominating the skyline with Everest now hidden out of sight behind Nuptse. We had a brief lunch stop in the bustling lodge before continuing up the valley to our ultimate destination, Base Camp.

We crossed the flat sandy bowl of the former lake-bed underneath the slopes of Kala Pattar and ascended onto the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier. It was like walking along a rocky rib with the views stretching towards the jumbled and contorted mass of ice stretching out in front. In the distance, the moraine appeared to end as the valley swung around to the right and on the rocky glacier itself there was a high mound of loose rock and scree, where a group of people had gathered. This marked the spot for Everest Base Camp.

At Base Camp

We crossed the scree, scrambling amongst the rocks with the ice creating unusual formations as it twisted, turned and pushed up boulders with its mass. By now the group was feeling tired. It wasn’t the haven I was expecting. It felt a lonely cold, exposed and windy place. When we arrived at the rocks that marked Base Camp, there were prayer flags, graffiti-ed messages and banners. The group celebrated, hugged, recorded messages for loved ones, took photos and marked the occasion in their individual way. We couldn’t hang around too long as we all started to feel the cold. It was incredible to imagine the mass of tents here in the climbing season with expeditions preparing to ascend the dangerous and scary looking Khumbu icefall on their way to the summit. It was was an amazing feeling just being here.

The Khumbu Glacier

We retraced our steps back to Gorek Shep and arrived at the lodge as the sun dipped behind the mountains instantaneously plummeting the temperatures to sub-zero.

Following an overnight stay here, we headed back down the trail to Lobuche. Conditions were icy underfoot to begin with and the air was cool on your face. We stopped for lunch at Thukla and sat outside in the lovely sunshine, a nice contrast from the morning, before branching off the main path and traversing high above the vast u-shaped valley and steeply descending into Dingboche.

The lodge at Dingboche had lovely hot showers so we all made the best use of the facilities. Washing was something you couldn’t take for granted as many of the lodges didn’t have running water let alone hot showers. We were into a familiar routine now. Dinner was served at either at 6 or 7pm and we usually retreated to bed by around 8.30pm. No partying for us!

We left Dingboche and descended under the flanks of the stunning Ama Dablam where the path was sheltered and warm to arrive in Tengboche before continuing along the trail the next day in the shelter of the valley briefly stopping for a quick visit to the peaceful Buddhist Monastery. We were now descending rapidly as the path wound its way through beautiful deciduous woodlands that were crisp and golden in the autumnal sun.

We stopped for lunch in Kyanjuma before continuing down the newly widened track back to Namche Bazar, where members of the group picked up a few supplies and used the cash machine before continuing to retrace our steps down the trail to the village of Monjo and onwards to Lukla the following day.

Celebrating with the Porters

It was fantastic to arrive in Lukla although a part of me was sad knowing that this was our last full day on the trail. We stayed overnight at the Buddha Lodge so that we could get one of the first flights out in the morning as it was renowned for the clouds building up later in the day preventing any flights.

We celebrated. It was good to drink beer with the porters. We thanked them for their incredible service and were grateful for all their support and assistance they had provided to us. Their amazing strength, their cheerful nature and happy smiles is something that we will remember for a long time to come.

We arrived back in Kathmandu about mid-morning so there was time to relax, freshen up, go sightseeing, shopping or even have a massage. In the evening we all met up for a well deserved celebratory meal and a few more beers. The group were presented with certificates to mark their achievements and their voyage of discovery!

Click the link to find out more about trips to Everest Base Camp: http://mountainsinmind.com/everest_base_camp/

: Presentation of certificates

Everest Base Camp Kit List

Darren BLOG, Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Clothing

Sweat-wicking t-shirts & long sleeve base layer x 2
Fleece top x 1
Insulated down jacket or similar x 1
Down/warm mittens or gloves x 1
Thermal long johns for nighttime x 1
Lightweight walking trousers (NO JEANS or COTTON as they chafe and dry slowly)
Underwear. Avoid cotton as they chafe x 3 minimum
Good quality hiking socks x 3
Thin liner socks x 2
Breathable lightweight waterproofs. Goretex or similar (both jacket and trousers and not ski jackets) x 1
Waterproof walking boots, sturdy and worn-in. A Gore-tex membrane or similar is advised
Spare boot laces x 2
Gaiters x 1 (optional)
Warm hat x 1
Wide brimmed sun hat to protect face, ears, and neck x 1
Buff/neck scarf x 1
Sunglasses.
Flip-flops, slippers, crocs or light shoes for indoor use.

Toiletries

Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Deodorant.
Flat packed wet wipes.
Kleenex tissues in plastic travel pouches and toilet paper x 2
Hairbrush/comb.
Cotton buds.
Sanitary products (if required).
Lip salve with UV protection.
Vaseline, to prevent rubbing.
Anti-bacterial hand gel x 3
Nail scrubbing brush (trust me you’ll be thankful you took one!).
Hand soap.
Insect repellent.
Liquid travel soap to wash clothes.
Suntan lotion (factor 30-50).
Travel towel. (Travel towels are smaller and lighter than a standard towel).

First Aid

Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol.
Anti-histamine tablets.
Zinc oxide tape and small scissors.
Non-adhesive wound dressing.
Antiseptic wipes x 20
Compeed and blister pads.
Immodium +
Anti-sickness tablets.
Dioralyte sachets or similar re-hydration packs.
No2 Ambulance dressing x 1
Triangular bandage & safety pins.
Plasters.
Any personal medication that you normally use.

Other

Duffle bag (70 -90 litres capacity) No suitcases, frames or wheels. This will be carried by the Sherpas on the trek and should go in the hold on your flight.
Rucksack (25-30 litre capacity). This is your day-pack on the trek and should be carried as hand luggage on the flight
Sleeping bag (3-4 season or suitable to -15 degrees). These can be hired, if required. A silk sleeping bag liner is recommended for additional warmth and to keep your sleeping bag clean.
Headtorch and spare batteries.
Trekking poles (optional).
USB charger pack (optional).
Solar charger (optional).

Stockists:

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/

How to cope with the altitude on your trek

Clare BLOG, Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro Tips, Nepal #Kilimanjaro #Adventure #Hiking #Trekking, adventure, altitude sickness, Coping with altitude, everest base camp, mount kilimanjaro, trekking

Coping with the altitude can make or break any expedition to a mountainous area at higher altitudes. There is no rhyme nor reason why some people cope better with the altitude than others. One thing for certain is that everyone needs to acclimatise well. Follow the tips below to help you understand the reasoning and to develop your strategy.

At sea level, the air is more dense due to the air pressure. As you ascend you often hear the phrase that the air is ‘thinner’, this is because as you climb up a mountain the air pressure decreases and becomes less dense. The thinner air means that there is less oxygen molecules in the atmosphere to breathe at altitude, although the percentage of oxygen remains static at 21%.

Altitude sickness or AMS (acute mountain sickness) can effect individuals differently and the research indicates there is no particular pattern related to gender, age or fitness as to who will be more susceptible.

Altitude sickness can develop when you travel to a high altitude too quickly. Certain individuals may feel the effect of altitude at around 2500m. However, it’s usually above 3000m when symptoms start to develop. Early on you may feel a little more breathless than normal as you are ascending. As you get higher the signs and symptoms to look out for are a persistent headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, weird dreams and fatigue.

That’s why when you are trekking it’s extremely important to acclimatise slowly and properly. Acclimatisation is the process in which your body adjusts to the change in altitude and the thinner air. Generally, on treks you ‘climb high, sleep low’ whereby you climb higher during the day then descend to a lower altitude for the overnight stop, which helps with the acclimatisation. It’s important than you drink plenty of water, little and often, as keeping hydrated helps with acclimatisation.

When trekking, it may feel very slow, sometimes too slow, to begin with but there’s a reason for this as it helps your body to adjust. On treks such as Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp, the guides will employ tactics to ensure that you don’t set off too fast. It’s all too easy when you have lots of energy at the beginning of the trek to go like a rocket. Howver, this may lead to failure higher up on the trek. Did you know the demographics for the highest failure rate on Kilimanjaro is men under 30! Push your egos to one side 😉 It’s not a competition!

On Kilimanjaro, we take an extra day of acclimatisation on the trek as this increases the summit rate success. It makes it a more enjoyable experience for yourself as you can stop to take in the panoramic views, and to enjoy the nature and your surroundings.

The guides will monitor your health for the effects of altitude sickness and if your symptoms persist, will ensure that you retreat to a safer altitude.

There are drugs, such as, Acetazolamide or commonly known as Diamox, which can be obtained from your doctor. It can help you adjust and acclimatise quicker, but it will not reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness completely. If you still feel unwell, it’s important that you mention it to the guides so that they can keep you under assessment. The only only way to relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness and the guides will make a decision on whether it would be safer to descend.

Success! 🙂

3 interesting facts about Everest, the name

Darren Everest Base Camp, Nepal adventure, bucket list, everest, everest base camp, fun, Nepal, trek

Mount Everest, as it is commonly known, has three names:

1. Mount Everest was named in honour of the first Surveyor-General of India, Sir George Everest, by the Royal Geographical Society.

Radhanath Sickdhar, was the brilliant mathematician who used his skills to calculate the height and discovered that in 1852 that Peak XV (as it was known then) was the highest mountain in the world. It took until 1856 to ratify that the mountain was actually the highest.

2. Sagarmatha is the Nepalese name for the mountain and means ‘Goddess of the Sky’

The mountain is located in the Sagarmatha National Parkm which was established in 1976. The Nepali region is home to the Sherpa people and as you trek to Everest Base Camp you stop at the Sherpa capital, Namche Bazaar.

3. Chomolungma is the Tibetan name and commonly means ‘Mother Goddess of the Earth’ although there are other translations. It is believed that this is the oldest name for the mountain although there is debate about this. The Tibetans had reserved the name for the highest mountain in the world but this was only confirmed after the British survey.

Nepal – Immunisations

Darren Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Hi Team,

It’s advised that you start immunisations for your trip 3-4 months before departure.

Book an appointment with your GP or physician and they’ll be able to provide an up to date list of vaccinations required.

Some GPs will be able to give you all the vaccinations needed, some won’t and you’ll be advised to contact your closest travel clinic for the injections.

Full and up to date details of the required vaccinations can also be found on the NHS website –

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/nepal.aspx
PLEASE NOTE!

Although we try to keep up with the latest vaccinations and advise accordingly, it’s your responsibility to check with your GP or travel clinic and obtain the necessary immunisations.

Without certain vaccinations border control will not let you into the country. The Nepalese government has been known to change the criteria at the last minute.

Hepatitis A;
Tetanus;
Typhoid;
Cholera;
Diphtheria;
Hepatitis B;
Meningococcal Meningitis;
Rabies;
Yellow Fever;
Malaria.

Have fun with the needles!
Please contact me if you require any further details.

Have fun.
Darren.

Darren@mountainsinmind.com
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