Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 7
Laboche to GorepShep
This is the big day. Today we are going to Everest Base Camp after lunch, but we have one final push to Gorek shep.
Kalapattar on everest base camp trek Nepal
We split ways with our friends from the past few days and stayed in a guest house that we weren’t thrilled with.
It was packed with a tour of at least 20 people on their way down from Base Camp, plus us and a few other parties. The company was nice, but there was only one toilet for all of us. It was tricky to time trips to the bathroom.
How Are We Feeling at 5000 meters?
I have been suffering from a cold since India and it seems to be intensifying with the increase in altitude. Every morning my cough is worse and my nose is stuffed up to the point of being unbearable.
Dave has suffered his first symptoms of altitude sickness. He has a slight case of diarrhea and is not happy about having to wait for the toilet.
Deb takes a break during EBC Trek, Nepal
It was a slow climb to Gorepshep. We stopped regularly to catch our breath and today we took more breaks then usual, but luckily it is only a couple of hundred meters in elevation gain so we made it to our guest house by 12:30.
The sun was shining brightly and it was quite pleasant outside.
After eating a hearty meal of vegetarian Sherpa stew on the terrace. (Yes, we ate outside in the warm sun above 5100 meters) we set out for Everest Base Camp.
Clear Skies
Final push to Everest Base Camp
Sign from Gorek Shep to Everest Base Camp
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We were lucky. Up until today, the clouds had rolled in by early afternoon. Today the sun shone and the skies were blue until sunset.
The trek to Base Camp from Gorep Shep is an easy one. Two hours of walking with only a small elevation gain and we made it.
EBC trek view of Khumbu Ice Fall
The Khumbu Ice Fall is the first thing to come into view and it is unbelievable to think that we are actually standing there.
We were the only people at base camp when we arrived. We saw our friend Lillian and another group coming down, but we had it all to ourselves and it was thrilling.
prayer flags draped at mount everest base camp
It may have been exciting at other times when the Everest Expeditions are there, but we really liked having it all to ourselves. Not a soul on the mountain. We were also thrilled to see how clean it was. Great efforts have been made to clean up base camp over the years and it seems to have worked.
In truth, we were impressed with how clean the entire climb was from Lukla all the way to Everest Base Camp!
Canada's Adventure Couple at Mt. Everest Base Camp 2010
We stood at a rock covered with prayer flags announcing that yes, we had made it to Mount Everest Base Camp at 5456 metres.
We stayed for almost an hour taking video, celebrating and snapping photos. Another single climber came along and we all walked back together.
Deb Takes a rest at Everest Base Camp
Dave chillin at Base Camp on Mount Everest
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It was close to 4:30 and we didn’t want him to walk back alone and be stuck out there all night if anything happened.
Even though it was an easy climb, there are narrow paths atop high ledges and it just so happens that while we were walking back, an ice bridge broke off after I stepped on it leaving Dave with a sticky situation of having to take one giant leap over a gorge.
Never fear, we made it back to Gorepshep safely. But it was a reminder to never trek alone. We saw signs of missing solo trekkers all over the Everest region. It may be a popular route, but there are always times when you are alone and could easily run into trouble without anyone noticing.
Kalapatur a great view of Everest on the base camp trek.
By the time we made it back to GorepShep, the excitement had worn off. We felt similar when we climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. The goal of reaching base camp is complete, but it feels a little anticlimactic. There are still so many days to go.
Tomorrow, we are climbing to Kalapatur to see the amazing view of Mount Everest and a panoramic view of the other 8000 metre peaks. It ain’t over yet and we have to eat, rehydrate and rest to face another climb above 5000 metres.
More Posts on Everest Base Camp Trekking
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 6
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 5
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 4
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 3
- Everest Base Camp Adventure- Part 2
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – Day 1
- Everest Base Camp Adventure – The Arrival
- Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek
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Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 7
Wow! Congratulations guys! Well done
Alison´s last blog ..Sardinia – Lago Baratz and Porto Ferro
Amazing view!! Congratulation on your adventure.
Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..The Q Family Giveaway Winner
CONGRATULATIONS!
The view from Kala Patthar is supposed to be phenomenal. A photographer’s playground!
Alan´s last blog ..No Regrets: Renaissance Living and a Bucket List
Congrats guys! What an amazing adventure, and as usual, amazing photos!
But honestly I had no idea that they made stew out of Sherpas. Wow.
Trisha Miller´s last blog ..Take Advantage of Google’s Free Tools
Congratulations on reaching Everest Base Camp, guys!! Well, done. It’s been so cool to follow your climb. Great pictures once again. I can hardly believe how beautiful it is up there.
Good luck with the other climbs you guys have planned.
Maria Staal´s last blog ..The Low Lands, not just a Music Festival
!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Melvin´s last blog ..The Feast at Cannoli Joe’s
Congrats!! The ice fall is just gorgeous and so fun to follow your journey up the mountain
Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Explanation…AKA Why I’m a “Don’t Ask” Vegetarian
I will be in Nepal in two weeks, but my wife and I are too old to do the base camp trek, alas. I wish we had done this when we were you age. I hope to see Everest the easy way, from the air.
I have enjoyed reading about your time in Nepal, especially the restaurants in Kathmandu! We will only be spending 10 days in Nepal. That is a shame.
We live in Sharjah, in the UAE, next door to Dubai.
We have an extra bedroom if you ever find yourself in this part of the world!
We like it here because it is inexpensive to see Asia and Africa from here. For instance, I just got back from two months in Thailand, my airfare was US$600, not bad. Our air fare to Nepal???US$300 apiece, GREAT.
Anyway, I loved yur writing so far.
I just got started on TravelPad, but I have been blogging for a while. If you want to check out my blog, please do.
http://theothersideofthecoconut.wordpress.com
I hope to run into you someplace? Marrakesh in March maybe?
Forrest´s last blog ..Back in Sharjah
Thanks Forrest I will check out your blog right now. and thank you for the invite, we would love to come to Dubai one day soon and will let you know when we do! Excellent price for flights. If you do the everest scenic flight, there are some things that you can do to make it a better view, here is a post we did on our flight out to Lukla. You will see more on your flight, but the planes are the same size so there are hints on where to sit to see better. Check out flight info and video here at Everest Flight, One adventurous Way to fly
Coolio! RT @theplanetd Everest Base Camp Adventure – Part 7 http://bit.ly/aLZFyJ
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