Everest Base Camp

Some photos from my 30-day trek in the Everest region. It took 30 days because I’ve taken the longest classic route to Everest, retracing the path followed by Edmund Hillary and other early expeditions, and have also made a few detours off the main trail along the way. The Gokyo Valley side-trek, in particular, offered scenery that beat anything on the main trail. I ultimately walked into the Everest Base Camp on Day 27.

Jiri to Namche

Days 1-8. From Jiri (1,935m) to Namche (3,440m)

Unlike at higher altitudes where your (walking) day is limited by vertical ascent, the days in the foothills are long. Up to 9 hours of walking a day and the route is the so-called “Nepali flat”: constantly going up and down only to end up not much higher than where you started, if at all. For example, Day 3: start in Sete at 2,575m, climb over Lamjura La (3,530m) and then back down to Junbesi at 2,700m. The last day is the only exception, as it’s only an 800m climb to Namche. When it comes to the physical effort required, this section is a lot more difficult than anything higher up.

However, the area is beautiful: rice fields, Sherpa villages, suspension bridges, rhododendron forests, yaks grazing in the fields, and very few other trekkers until you hit the Lukla airstrip where most people start their trek.

Namche to Gokyo

Day 9-14. Namche (3,440m) to Gokyo (4,750m)

Days 9 and 10 were acclimatization days in and around Namche, as that’s the first place where you begin to feel the effects of the altitude. After that, it was a steady 4-day climb to Gokyo (4,750m) which then became a base for day trips around Gokyo Valley.

Gokyo Valley

Days 15-17. Day hikes around the Gokyo valley, including catching the first view of Everest from near the 5th Lake and climbing up to Renjo La pass.

Gokyo Ri

Day 18. Climbing Gokyo Ri (5,357m)

Chukhung

Days 19-22. Day 19 – a rest day in Gokyo after a few days of climbing. Days 20-21 -hike down from Gokyo and up to Chukhung. Day 22 – Climbing Chukhung Ri (5,535m).

Kala Patthar and Everest

Days 23-25 – Climbing Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) and hiking up to Gorak Shep (5,170m). Day 26 – Climbing Kala Patthar (5,545m). From Kala Patthar you get a good view of both the Everest Base Camp and Everest itself, which cannot actually be seen from where the base camp is located.

Day 27. Strolling into the Everest Base Camp (5,300m) and having some apple pie in the bakery tent. One of the advantages of being there during that climbing season. After that it was a 3-day trek back down to Lukla to catch a flight to Kathmandu.