Below are the links to picture blogs that I have started and shall continue to add pictures until the end of my Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek; so keep checking in if you wish. I have added some maps and pictures of the Everest area from Google to show where I am heading and some pictures of my prep for the EPIC hike. Also I have included pictures of supplies and things that people have asked me about, what is recommended and what I am taking on the trek.
March 14th thru 28th 2014 Everest Base Camp Trek pictures:
I am doing this trek to promote AWARENESS OF SHELTER PETS. You can help by donating to any shelter of your choice and just emailing me the name of the shelter for my log if you wish. My choice of shelter is www.therabbithaven.org
please DONATE or link at my website too www.lilchick.com Thanks
March 14-28. For me hiking to EBC, there is just a feeling of EPIC, knowing how many people have come to conquer the mountain. Just to know you took the same path everyone has to take to climb EVEREST. It sure is humbling. But I am more than prepared; body and mind totally in sync. Goal was to hike 4 major hikes in 12 months with elevation gains of 5-6k each hike and go at least 12,000-14,000 feet high to get my body acclimated for the Everest Trek which at the highest point will be around 18,000 ft with Oxygen intake of only Half that experienced at sea level. I’m going from 200ft here in California to 18,000ft at EBC. Everest Summit is still another 11,535ft from Everest Base Camp.
EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK DETAILS:
So I fly from San Francisco on March 10th 2014 to Singapore and arrive in Kathmandu on March 12th. I rest there for two days and then head to the small town of Lukla on March 14th which is at 9000 ft to start my trek to EBC (17,500 ft). Boots to mountain. The trek finally begins.
Lukla Airport_most extreme airport in the world.
Want more to read? Here is a link to my itinerary except my group is doing it in 15 days not 19 days. NG has a better description of the hike. Here is a link to my group.
Total miles hiked round trip should be approximately 80 (with 39 miles over an 8 to 9 day period to hike in and 3 to 4 days to hike out).
Anyone in decent physical condition can do this hike. It’s the altitude that’s the circus clown. You will be breathing 50% less Oxygen at EBC for sure that is if you are like me coming from sea level.
We shall be hiking about 4-6 miles a day with some days climbing at least 2000ft. We shall have a few rest or acclimatization days in between. Should be on Everest Base Camp by day 8 or 9.
The kicker is that once at EBC you can’t really see Everest so the day before I shall be hiking up to the neighboring mountain Kala Patthar which means 'black rock' in Nepali and Hindi. It is a notable landmark located on the south ridge in the Nepalese Himalayas. It provides the most accessible point to view Mt. Everest from base camp to summit of Everest which is at 29,029ft. WOW!
We shall be allowed to stay at EBC for about 4 hours.
Shower?!? What shower? Not if its 10-20 degrees outside and no hot water (0 at night). That’s why I shall carry baby wipes.
My journey starts on the 10th via Singapore to Kathmandu. All except my friend Kristin will be strangers on this amazing trip. 12 hikers, one guide, several Sherpa’s and Yaks. It's always exciting to meet fellow like hearted- minded travelers. I keep saying it’s like "going home" for me since I am familiar with trekking this sort of terrain. It's in my blood.
My great grand dad was from Nepal, great grand mom and grandfather from the Kumon region. Kumaon is one of the two mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the district of Nanital where my grandfather (Nana) was from.
It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Nepal, on the south by the state of Uttar Pradesh where I was born.
My love for hiking comes from my family, specially remembering a hike as a kid with with my grandfather in Nanital and several with my Mom who would hike 20-30 miles some days with me. I remember her letting me swim in a lake only if I was tied to her with a rope. Loved taking shelter in a downpour at small tea house that doubled as homes for the village folks. Milk tea and deep fried potatoes on a rainy day, yum. Remember camping and staying at cabins where at night you could hear wild animals in the jungles around us and to add to the excitement Mom or my aunt reading to us from awesome jungle stories from the book Man Eaters of Kumon, co authored by Jim Corbett who was a legendary British hunter and tracker-turned-conservationist, author and naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eating tigers and leopards in India. So this is like returning to a very happy and adventurous childhood indeed.
Off I go to climb the mountain. People ask, why I climb? Why? Because as someone once said, “Cause it’s there.”
My album / picture log is of my prep for this trek for the past two years and also some of the equipment, supplies etc for all you future trekkers who might someday do this after seeing my awesome adventure unfold.
Most hikers/climbers know that what you carry in you should carry out, meaning trash. Everest has a huge problem with trash and so does any place humans visit so please, " leave no trace and take just photographs."Good article on Sherpa culture.
Feel free to pass on email/picture links.
Dreams do come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
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