There are a lot of reasons why Mt. Everest is a destination that a lot of people choose. I am one of the people who have great and deep admiration for nature, specially mountains. I decided to make the Everest trek on May of 2017.
In addition to reaching the Everest base camp, which is already a great feat on it's own, I wanted to push the limits and also do the classic Three High Passes Trek. These high passes gives you all the highlights giving you the complete journey through the Everest region. This is the ultimate and of course one of the most challenging treks in Nepal.
Here are some information on the Passes and their altitude.
Kongma La Pass (5,535m) - Cho La Pass (5,380m) - Renjo La Pass (5,388m)
If these passes are not challenging enough for you, you can add side trips
Gokyo Ri (5,483m) - Kala Patthar (5,545m) - Chukkung Ri (5,550m)
Remember that these passes are not just a straight path going up, after you reach a peak, you need to go down again and start another hike to the next high pass. There are a lot of information how to hike Everest Base Camp (5,320m) in Nepal but the Three High Passes Trek is the one to look forward to.
In addition to reaching the Everest base camp, which is already a great feat on it's own, I wanted to push the limits and also do the classic Three High Passes Trek. These high passes gives you all the highlights giving you the complete journey through the Everest region. This is the ultimate and of course one of the most challenging treks in Nepal.
Here are some information on the Passes and their altitude.
Kongma La Pass (5,535m) - Cho La Pass (5,380m) - Renjo La Pass (5,388m)
If these passes are not challenging enough for you, you can add side trips
Gokyo Ri (5,483m) - Kala Patthar (5,545m) - Chukkung Ri (5,550m)
Remember that these passes are not just a straight path going up, after you reach a peak, you need to go down again and start another hike to the next high pass. There are a lot of information how to hike Everest Base Camp (5,320m) in Nepal but the Three High Passes Trek is the one to look forward to.
The usual starting point of this trip is a flight from Kathmandu to Hillary airport in Lukla. The one I rode is a 14-seater plane. This is one, if not the most, dangerous airport to fly to. There are other ways to go to Everest Base Camp (EBC) from Kathmandu but this is the fastest. Another option will be a bus from Kathmandu to Jiri that takes 9 hours, or to Shivalaya or Bhandar for a few more hours then from there it's about 7 days trek to Everest Base Camp.
Arriving in Lukla, there are no more vehicles. To go somewhere, you have to walk, to have something (food and supplies), it has to be carried by someone. This is also the reason why places to sleep in Everest has only the very basics ( walls, beds, etc.), because in order for it to be there they had to be carried on someone's back. Yaks are used to carry gear for the treks, they can carry around 100 kgs, they have thick fur and really strong lungs, but Yaks only go so far.
Everywhere you look is breathtaking!
Everywhere you look is breathtaking!
Journey starts.
I decided to make the journey without a guide and without Sherpa (I know NOW that it's a crazy decision!) It was fun but there were also times that I question my decision to do this alone, when you can not see anyone around you especially in places after Everest basecamp. Most of the people do not go further than that.
This is where you sleep in the villages. The walls are paper-thin (someone had to carry them in their backs for the walls to be here), but the view from the window is priceless!
I decided to make the journey without a guide and without Sherpa (I know NOW that it's a crazy decision!) It was fun but there were also times that I question my decision to do this alone, when you can not see anyone around you especially in places after Everest basecamp. Most of the people do not go further than that.
This is where you sleep in the villages. The walls are paper-thin (someone had to carry them in their backs for the walls to be here), but the view from the window is priceless!
Apart from being a big help carrying supplies and things, Yak also help warm up people. the tall stack in the middle is Yak poo. This is what they burn to have heat in the refuge. Since there are no trees and plants that high up, this is what they use to make fire. They make use of car batteries to store energy from solar panels.
It really was a once in a lifetime adventure that I would look back and it really taught me a lot. You can watch the video of my adventure who knows maybe from this you will be inspired to do it too!
As I said in the end of the video, I really did go to Thailand and did what I said and a lot more, I stayed in Thailand for about a month hanging out and having a well deserved vacation. I will write about it one of these days :)
It really was a once in a lifetime adventure that I would look back and it really taught me a lot. You can watch the video of my adventure who knows maybe from this you will be inspired to do it too!
As I said in the end of the video, I really did go to Thailand and did what I said and a lot more, I stayed in Thailand for about a month hanging out and having a well deserved vacation. I will write about it one of these days :)
