Hiking to Everest Base Camp?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done it? How much training did you do before hand? Did you take 2 weeks or longer for your time in Nepal?

[Anonymous]

If you are over 60 I advise you skip it. I know two people who tried trekking in Nepal when they retired and both had to be airlifted out. One died and one almost did.

[Anonymous]

My brother did this right before the pandemic, in his early forties. He is fit and works out and runs regularly, and I don’t recall him doing any additional training. If you have any breathing issues I’d consult with a doctor first. The altitude is no joke.

[Anonymous]

It's kind of hard to predict how well you'll do with the altitude, even very fit people can have an unexpected reaction. I'm personally not sure I think it's worth it compared to other hikes, given the inherent additional altitude risks.

[Anonymous]

The danger of the altitude is real. I guess if you’ve ever been to very high altitude, you’d know if you for sure have a problem, but even then, sometimes people who’ve never had an issue before suddenly do. Your Doctor can give you medication to carry that will help alleviate altitude sickness.

If you want to experience what the trails and landscape looks like, iFit has a “hiking to Everest base camp” series that’s fun to do on an elliptical. At sea level, it’s not that strenuous at all (which is very deceptive, of course).

[Anonymous]

I know a not particularly fit woman in her 50s who did it but she trained regularly and seriously for 6 months. Which is consistent with the fit man in his early 40s who did it without any extra training.

[Anonymous]

Do Kilimanjaro instead.

[Anonymous]

https://www.keadventure.com/blog/getting-fit-for-everest-base-camp-trek

[Anonymous]

I really hope this is the same poster that was worried about dying from turbulence.

[Anonymous]

Did it in my early 30s (2010). On a longer trip so we were in the mountains for a month. I’d be generous with your time if you’re flying in and out of Lukla as flights often get screwed up and more acclimating is better than less.

You should make sure you are in good cardiovascular shape and strong in the legs (I did a lot of weighted lunges to train and I was glad I did). That’s assuming you’re using a porter. If you’re not then you need to train carrying weight.

Even if you’re in good shape, altitude sickness can be serious. You should not rush your itinerary from Lukla - better to take extra days to acclimate than get in serious trouble. The standard 14 day itineraries are too short I think. I’d spend the night in Lukla before starting out. And maybe an extra one in Namche (it’s the biggest town on the route). And be prepared for an extra day on either end in Kathmandu.

And even a mild altitude headache ruins the day. (I got one on a different trek and it was no joke). You should also definitely pack Diomox so you can treat yourself if needed (any travel clinic will give you the prescription).

It’s a spectacular trip. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

A friend of a friend just did it and she got food poisoning at the farewell dinner

[Anonymous]

I haven’t been to base camp but got terrible altitude sickness while nearby in India. Be prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend of a friend just did it and she got food poisoning at the farewell dinner

Which you could get anywhere, including in the US of A

[Anonymous]

My dad and 5 of his friends did it (around age 60 at the time). I think 3 weeks total. They are very fit outdoorsy types and it was fine for them, a bucket list thing. He said it was too far/chaotic in Kathmandu/and facilities are very poor if anything goes wrong.

[Anonymous]

I did it in 2011 when I was 41. I was working in Nepal at the time, but was in an area with no hills, etc. beforehand so I trained 2 months before by running/walking for 2 hours after work in Nepal every day and ended the sessions with all out sprints. Also put weights in a backpack and walked up stairs.

The hike includes a lot of walking up rocks like stairs (stair climbing) and then gentle valleys and going up and down. I bought hiking shoes, down jacket, hiking pants, etc at REI and in Nepal.

Our guide purposefully made us go slow so we would not get altitude sickness, so we talked along the way, took photos, etc. I took altitude sickness pills every day, but got sick on walk back from base camp at 17,500 feet. I decreased altitude that day, and kept decreasing it the next day and it went away. However, very fit people we met had to take a helicopter out. We used a porter, but we carried our own water thermos (drank boiled water). Be prepared to not take a shower for a week and no running water at last place near base camp.

I think we went in late March/April which was perfect weather and very few hikers. Everest peak hikers start in April. However, a group coming down before us had run into a blizzard and heavy snow at base camp.