Everest Base Camp Trek - Difficulty Level And Other Important Details

By Author: weramblers
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It would not be wrong to call the
Everest Base Camp trek Trek a challenge in itself. Do not get us wrong, but you will not need any technical climbing lessons or special expertise for this one. Are you wondering then what makes the Everest Base Camp Trek a challenging Trek then?
Well, it’s the altitude!
The trek has a profile of high altitude that makes it challenging for the trekkers. In fact, there is nothing else except its high altitude that makes it a Herculean task for most of the adventure seekers. With high altitude comes the challenge of Acute Mountain Sickness, better known as AMS by the trekkers. So if you are planning to trek the EBC Trek, remember one thing that cannot be taken for granted is the Acute Mountain Sickness.
Highlights of the Trek
The starting point of the hike is Lukla, at around 3000 meters which in itself is high enough to stimulate mountain sickness. Post that, the trek sees a steady climb up towards the base camp. The entire journey from Lukla to the Everest Base Camp and then back is 65 km that ...
... makes it a round trip of 130 km. Depending on your previous experiences and fitness levels, 65 km may or may not be a testing experience. The fact that a Yak or a Porter is there to carry all your gear also makes it much easier to travel long distances like these.
Duration, Nature of Trek and Other Details
A standard itinerary takes about 14 days to complete the Everest Base Camp Trek. Out of all the 14 days, a trekker ideally spends 12 walking about 15 km a day. Even though 15 km a day might not sound challenging to an individual but one must not forget that it is the nature of the trail that makes all the difference. The terrain is rocky, rough and steep that makes the speed quite slow for a trekker. Not to mention the months when the trail is covered in snow and makes it much trickier and definitely slower.
While returning from the EBC Trek, the trekkers get to enjoy the highest point of their trek at 5554 meters, better known as the viewpoint from Kala Patthar. It is important to make note of the fact that the whole trekking zone is covered in a wilderness and there are no smooth sections which make the journey a little more complicated. The frequent ascends and descends of the trek that makes it adventurous are in fact also responsible for making the trekkers feel over-tired and get slow in speed.
Among a list of things, one of the most important one to consider in a challenging trek like the EBC Trek is to have enough days for acclimatization. It is important to ensure that the standard itinerary has a place for an additional two days for acclimatization. The trekkers should also understand that such extra days for acclimatization are not days that are wasted but can be used to explore the local areas and culture and lifestyle that is prevalent in the region.
A final piece of advice
It is important to get medical advice from a professional before considering such high altitude treks. Ensure that you know more about your physical fitness and how it can be affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. However, it is worth mentioning here that AMS can affect anyone irrespective of their age, gender and even their level of physical fitness which means everyone is equally at risk with this one.
So slow and steady does not just wins the race but also wins the Everest Trekking!

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