Everest Base Camp Trek!! Is Everest Trekking Safe? What should you pack??

Trekkers on the way to Everest Base Camp Nepal

Mount Everest is also popularly known as the”Roof of the World”. Many adventure lovers visit Nepal with a single purpose of getting closer to Mount Everest. It has become a dream destination for trekkers and adventure lovers. As a matter of fact, a trek to Everest Base Camp is one of the most popular adventure activities in Nepal, which has for several decades won the soul and hearts of adventure seeking trekkers from all around the globe.

Mt. Everest

Nepal’s Everest region is widely acknowledged for sheltering some of world’s towering snow capped mountains including Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse, Mt Makalu, Mt Cho Oyu and chains of other surrounding high mountains within Everest region. The region fans out into a series of impressive glacier filled valleys above the main trading center of Namche Bazaar — also known as ‘ The Sherpa Capital ‘. The eastern side of the region includes the main trail to Everest Base Camp and the viewpoint of Kala Patthar at 5545 meters. Apart from being the home of mesmerizing high mountains and high alpine valleys, Everest is also home to over 3500 Sherpa people — the most legendary of mountain people.

Due to the earthquake in the year 2015, some parts of the trekking trails were damaged and was closed down for visitors. However, the trails have been re-opened for trekkers and the question regarding the safety of trekkers is very much obvious. IS EVEREST TREKKING SAFE? And the answer is YES !! Everest Base Camp Trek is as safe as it used to be. The damages that were spotted on the trails have been fixed and even the tea house lodges in the Khumbu region are marked safe and are now back in operation. Now since we are aware of the fact that there are no obstacles for doing the Everest Base Camp Trek, ’Dream Trek’, we find it very important to know and beware of the list of essentials that one should pack when doing the trek.

Everest is more than a mountain and the journey to its base camp it is more than just a trek.Clothing and equipment play a vital role in making an adventure holiday experience memorable. Generally, we recommend not carry heavy stuff and don’t miss the essentials. Such needy equipment may differ according to the grade of trekking, the level of winds, snow, glaciers and so on.The following required lists of equipment are required for both tea house lodge trekking as well as tented camp trekking. Follow the lists as a basic fundamental — some of the equipment can also be hired or purchased in Kathmandu before we begin the trek.

Clothing:

Upper Body:

• One T-shirt Icebreaker Merino 150 or lightweight 200.
• Two long Icebreaker Merino 150 or lightweight 200 shirts.
• One polar fleece pullovers, medium weight.
• One polar fleece jacket.
• One Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable jacket with a large hood to accommodate the climbing helmet.
• Lightweight down jacket for chilly days in base camp or warm layer when stopping for short breaks.
• One very warm goose-down (duvet) jacket with hood or a down/duvet suit if you prefer, for high altitude use.

Hands:

• One pair lightweight poly liner gloves. These will be worn when tying knots, but not inside your mitts
• One pair mittens consists of 1 Goretex over mitt matched with the very warm polar fleece mitt liner

Heads:

• Warm hat wool or synthetic that covers your ears
• Balaclava
• Scarf or neck sleeve
• Face mask
• Ball cap or brimmed sun cap
• Glacier Sunglass with side shields
• One pair ski goggles (optional with light and dark lens)
• Bandana or head scarf, useful for dusty conditions

Lower Body:

• Icebreaker Merino 150 underwear briefs
• One pair walking shorts
• One pair walking trousers for trekking and around camp
• Two pair Icebreaker Merino 150 or lightweight 200 thermal bottoms
• One pair Icebreaker Merino 200 weight thermal bottoms
• One pair polar fleece trousers
• One pair Gore-Tex trousers or bibs. Waterproof/breathable with full side zips
• One pair of Goose-down (duvet) trousers or bibs. You may prefer a down (duvet)

Feet:

• One pair One-Sport Millet Everest Overboots or equivalent (with Aveolite liners; good quality plastic shells with inner boots; avoid tight fit with heavy socks.)
• One pair sturdy leather or synthetic (Gortex) hiking boots with good ankle support for the walk to advanced base camp
• One pair cross-trainers, running shoes and/or sandals for Kathmandu and in camp
• One pair down booties (optional)
• Two pair med-heavy poly or wool socks
• Two Pair of liner socks. Polypropylene or wool
• Vapor barrier liner socks or plastic bread bags
• Two pair lightweight trekking socks, poly or wool
• Light Icebreaker Merino wool or cotton socks for in town.

Travel and Sleeping Gear

• Rucksacks and Travel Bags; One medium rucksack (50–70 litters / 3000–4500 cubic inches, can be used for airplane carrying).
• Two large (120 L / 7500 cubic inches) duffle kit bags for clothing and equipment. Must be durable for use on pack animals.
• Small padlocks for duffel kit bags.

Medical & Personal:

• Sunscreen: SPF 30 or higher, non-oily (Dermatone or Terrapin)
• Lip screen: SPF 30 or higher, any brand

Toiletry kits: toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, alcohol-based antibacterial hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial soap, comb/brush, shave kit, lighter, small long-burning candle, needle/thread, and throat lozenges (bring travel size bottles to keep your kit small)

First-Aid kits: Ibuprofen/aspirin, assorted band-aids, moleskin, little of hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin-type suave, Nu-skin spray, small gauze pad, roll of adhesive tape, tweezers, safety pins, small bottle of water purification tablets. Include any prescription travel meds that might be prescribed by your doctor. (Antibiotics, Diamox, sleep aids)

Ziploc bags: Always useful Baby wipes

Ear plugs: Very useful in noisy lodges and tents. (Available in most hardware stores)

Water purification tablets: Such as Potable Aqua brand iodine tablets. You will be given plenty of purified water during your trek, but one bottle of backup purification tablets is always a good idea for your travels. You should not drink untreated tap water anywhere in Asia and bottled water in some rare cases might not be available.