The Everest Base Camp Trek was... interesting. It started off great. The scenery is way better than ABC. You start off the trek in Lukla, which you have to fly to from Kathmandu, so on the 14th we jumped on a huge plane of 16 seats.
The first day was very short, as you have to be much more careful of AMS and Lukla starts at 2840m. We stopped at Phakding and then headed out early the next morning. The days continued on a similar vein and we got to EBC on the 20th April. It is technically the old EBC as the new one is reserved for people actually climbing the moutnain. EBC is a pile of rocks, and I now have a piece in my bag (which I'm sure most people who go there do!)
The next morning we headed to Kala Patthar. This is the highest point that you reach (5550m). It wouldn't be a difficult walk at sea level, but is very difficult with limited oxygen, still we all made it to the top and got biscuits while we looked at the view.
We then headed back down to Lukla. The original plan meant we went down in four days, but we wanted to make it in two. This was mainly because our guide's wife was ill and he wanted to get back, and we were happy to go as quickly as possible. We got from KP to Pangboche in one day, 6 and a half hours walking and a descent of 1620m. A long day, but it was nice not to have an afternoon sitting around with very little to do.
The next day we did get to Lukla, a further descnt of 1090m and it took me 9 hours. I was not feeling great. Although I wasn't 100% from ABC I had mostly felt fine throughtout the trek. On the last day, however, I fet nauseaous a lot of the time. It made walking a hundred times harder, and I was glad it was mostly downhill as I struggled going uphill. Which is ironic considering I was fine at 5550, with less oxygen. In the end we were delayed for a day in Lukla anyway, which was frustrating and got back to Kathmandu on the 24th.
I can now say I've been to EBC (5364m) and to 5550m and I am hoping that in a months time I will look back and be more proud of this. At the moment I didn't enjoy the last day in any way, shape or form, but I hope my lasting memory will eventually be of the first 8 days instead. Either way, not many people can say they have a piece of Everest in their bag!
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