Everest Base Camp Trek may sound scary & daunting but it is not as difficult a trek as it sounds. Every year more than 30,000 tourists enter Nepal with a mission to Everest Base Camp Trek which makes it one of the most popular treks in Nepal. There are few brave individuals who actually stand at the top of the world's tallest mountain every year. And for the rest, the great option will be Everest Base Camp Trek.
People of all ages, shapes & sizes have completed the trek over the years. All it takes is a little bit of preparation & determination & you’ll find out almost everyone can conquer the trek. Most people are mistaken about the fact that this trek requires mountaineering skills or technical expertise. But in fact, The Everest Base Camp Trek requires no technical expertise or mountaineering skills. It is basically a long hike at altitude.
There is still some consideration that needs to be taken before you set on for Everest Base Camp Trek despite being non-technical & completely available for anyone having basic fitness. Some of them are;-
The trek begins after your arrival at Lukla from Kathmandu. Here your 65km trek to Everest Base Camp will begin. 65km may or may not be a dreadful distance for you depending on your trekking experience. But even for inexperienced trekkers, 65km isn’t very far once you realize that the average walking speed of a human is 5km per hour. During your trek, you’ll be covering 15km per day. It may not sound like much to you but one thing you should keep in your mind is that you will not be walking on a paved path that is flat. The terrain is often rocky, steep & fairly slow going. The condition of the path may also depend on when you trek.
Altitude is by far the most difficult aspect of this trek which makes it tougher than your usual trek of similar length. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) should not be underestimated by anyone, especially when trekking a route of this altitude. The trek starts after your flight to Lukla, which stands at just below 3,000m & then you make your way up to base camp at around 5,400m. The height from where you can experience a breathtaking view of the all-region is Kala Patthar at just over 5,500m. Before your trek is sure to seek professional medical advice & information about AMS like symptoms & treatment to make yourself fully aware of it. It is also necessary to know that altitude sickness has no relation to fitness level, age or gender.
Uncertain weather & extreme temperature is another trekking difficulty caused by altitude. The weather cannot really be predicted in this part of the country. Moreover, depending on the weather and altitude, the temperatures can sharply drop down at night, which even gets below the freezing level in winter.
Despite all these difficulties, this place on earth is able to attract thousands of trekkers every year. It’s obvious that you will struggle during your trek, For some trekkers, it might be tougher than they expected & for some it might be less but once you make it to the top, you’ll realise that it was all worth it. The majestic view gives you all the reasons to forget about your pain & smile & be proud of your achievement.