Introduction, overview and itinerary of the
trekking objective Prepared for Mike O'Shea Adventures
Everest Base Camp Trek
The greater Himalayan chain stretches for 1500 miles but on average it's only 100 miles wide, however,
in Nepal it stretches the full length of the country. When the early explorers first took an interest in the
mountains it was Dhaulagiri that was thought to be the highest mountain due to the height of its mighty
7000m south face that appeared shimmering above the Indian plains. Then Kanchenjunga, with its
mighty mass standing in relative isolation and towering above its neighbors’, was believed to be the
highest mountain in the world. Everest kept shyly hidden behind the surrounding peaks and it was only
from the little frequented Tibetan side that its enormous size was really noticeable. In 1847 Peak XV
(later named Everest) was identified but its true height was not published until 1856 putting it as the
world’s highest summit. The first interests in climbing
climbing Everest were tentatively made by Lord Curzon in
1898 when he estimated such an expedition would cost £5,000 to £6,000.
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Until 1950 the
he borders of Nepal were closed to foreigners so early explorers approached Everest from
Darjeeling and the north. In 1905 Sir Francis Younghusband, traveled
travel to within a distance of 60
6 miles
from Everest on his way to Lhasa,
Lhasa he had such a clear view of the mountain that he was able to identify
the North Ridge and he subsequently recorded that ‘this might be a possible route to the summit’.
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The summit of Everest showing the upper part of the south west face, the route of the first successful ascent of
Everest by a British
tish expedition led by Sir Chris Bonington in 1975©Ian Wall
Introduction, overview and itinerary of the
trekking objective Prepared for Mike O'Shea Adventures
Peak XV is known by three different names, in Nepal it iss Sagarmatha, in Tibet Chomolungma and in
China Qomolangma, however, to
too many it is now known as Everest, the name given to it by Andrew
Waugh, the British Surveyor of India, who in 1865 gave it its English name after his predecessor in the
post, Sir George Everest.
The first British reconnaissance expedition to reach the base of Everest from the north in 1921 was
surprised to discover that the mountain was essentially a rock peak and not as previously thought a
snow peak, the high winds stripping the upper part of the
the mountain clear of snow; their expedition
budget was £3,000 to £4,000.
There after another 14 expeditions,
nine of them British, the others; a
Canadian made an illicit attempt in
1947, an Anglo American expedition in
1950, a Dane made another illicit
attempt
tempt in 1951, the Swiss tried in
1952, a Soviet attempt was made,
made also
in 1952 and a British training team
went to Cho Oyu in 1952 in readiness
for the then planned 1953 British
Expedition.
xpedition. In 1953 Colonel John Hunt
led a strong, well equipped, and very
determined
etermined team, R C Evans and T
Bourdillon reached the South Summit
on the 26th May, the main summit was
reached by E P Hillary and Sherpa
Tenzing on the 29th May 1953.
Today the Everest
verest Base Camp Trek is
one of the most popular treks in the
world with good lodges all the way up
the trail so these days there is no real
need to worry about camping
equipment and all that goes with that.
However, there are still many corners
of the Everest
rest region that are less
Everest has always inspired and attracted people to it for one reason or another however, despite its
great size and bulk it remains hidden away behind its immediate satellite peaks of Nuptse, Lhotse and
Lhotse Shar for many days during the early part of the trek. Although a quick glimpse of the summit can
be seen from one of the bends on the trail zigzag
zigzagging
ging up to Namche Bazaar it is not really until after
Namche that the spectacular black triangle of the summit mass appears above its neighbors.
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travelled by trekkers and for those
who want to get a close view of the
highest mountain on Earth.
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EBC with the Ice Fall of the Western Cwm in the background
©Ian Wall
Introduction, overview and itinerary of the
trekking objective Prepared for Mike O'Shea Adventures
The Saturday market in Namche Bazaar provides an opportunity to see the busy commercial centre of
the Khumbu region operating at its most colorful. Once in Tengboche there will be the opportunity to
visit the world famous monastery and get an insight into the lives of the monks and their Buddhist way
of life in the Khumbu. It is at this monastery than many expeditions
expeditions aiming for the summit of Everest go
to ask for a blessing from the Lama so as not to offend the deity and for a safe journey. Although
Everest remains the focal point of the trek to Base Camp the trail is surrounded on all sides by many
other peaks
ks of varying altitude and grandeur, all formidable summits in their own right. However, it is
not until the trekker reaches Gorak Shep that the grandeur of the world’s highest mountain can be fully
appreciated.
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The north face of Ama Dablam taken on an acclimatization day above Dingbouche
Dingb
©Ian Wall
Introduction, overview and itinerary of the
trekking objective Prepared for Mike O'Shea Adventures
Makalu taken from route to Island Peak ©Ian Wall
Outline itinerary
4th October : Day 01 : Depart Dublin
5th October : Day 02: Arrive Kathmandu
6th October : Day 03: Kathmandu sightseeing and trek preparations (B&B)
7th October : Day 04:: Fly to Lukla 2743m then trek to Phakding 3-4hrs
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(B & 3 x meals)
8th October : Day 05:: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3440m 5hrs (B & 3 x meals)
9th October : Day 06:: Acclimatization day Namche Bazaar (B & 3 x meals)
11th October : Day 08:: Trek to Dingboche 4410m 5 hrs (B & 3 x meals)
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10th October : Day 07: Trek to Deboche 3830m 5hrs (B & 3 x meals)
Introduction, overview and itinerary of the
trekking objective Prepared for Mike O'Shea Adventures
12th October : Day 09: Dingboche (rest day) (B & 3 x meals)
13th October : Day 10: Trek to Lobuche 4910m 5 – 6 hrs (B & 3 x meals)
14th October : Day 11:: Trek to Gorak Shep and EBC (B & 3 x meals)
15th October : Day 12:: Trek to Lobuche 4910m 4hrs (B & 3 x meals)
16th October : Day 13:: Trek to Pangboche 3930m 5 - 6hrs (B & 3 x meals)
17th October : Day 14: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3440m 5hrs (B & 3 x meals)
18th October : Day 15: Trek to Phakding 2610m 6hrs (B & 3 x meals)
19th October : Day 16: Trek to Lukla 2841 6hrs (B & 3 meals)
20th October : Day 17: Fly to Ktm - rest of the day free (B&B)
21st October : Day 18: Free in Ktm (B&B)
22nd October : Day 19: Free in Ktm (B&B)
23rd October : Day 20: Depart Nepal
24th October: Day 21 : Arrive Dublin
Sight seeing in Kathmandu and the surrounding city will be at your own expense and we can
organize to travel as a group or people can do their own thing.
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It should be noted that the Himalaya are probably the greatest mountain range on Earth affected by
global warming. The weather patterns are becoming less predictable and consequently plenty of time
should be left to allow for weather based delays in Lukla before your onward journey