Most Inspirational Moment
Every single day was inspirational, but 2 stand out. The obvious one was reaching Everest Base Camp but also finishing the whole walk brought a lump to the throat! We had the privilege of meeting Jamling Norgay (son of Tenzing) on the way, as well as other climbers heading for the summit - truly amazing people! We had some unseasonable snow too and our guide, Gele was absolutely wonderful - at one point he was using his bare hands to dig through snow and dirt to get to fresh soil and rocks that he could throw onto the icy pathway to help us to avoid slipping.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I cannot thank Gele enough. Gele and the team (Pema, Phenju, Gelgeen and the 'Yak boy' of course) were looking after us every step of the way. Gele had some very clear advice that we all stuck to and we were all successful in getting to EBC. He was always keen for feedback and made it very easy for us to raise any issues with him (not that there were any, more that most people at some point had to seek advice about something!). Our group was fantastic, we all arrived as strangers and within a few days it was all about us as a team and all of us working together - everyone was so supportive of each other and this was partly due to Gele's facilitation. He taught us cards games, made us laugh, had some great anecdotes (and some really rubbish jokes!) and was generally the heart and soul of the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes - do it! Be aware that it is not easy...every day is challenging. I have also done Kili and that was tough, but only really for the summit night and following day. This trek in my opinion is more challenging as every day there are some very steep ups and downs (sometimes they feel relentless), but that goes hand in hand with there being a 'wow' moment around almost every corner - it is well worth it.
If you are a bit nervous about heights - don't worry too much. I was concerned about the bridges and sheer cliff sides. The bridges were remarkably sturdy and can hold a lot of Yaks! As for the cliffs, there were one to two sections that I found slightly uncomfortably narrow...but rest assured that there is always someone there watching your back (or holding you up!).
A few other pointers:
- The acclimatisation days are essential for making your ascent more comfortable and they are well worth doing. - Take a metal 'Sigg' style bottle and use it as a hot water bottle.
- Buy a thicker down jacket in Namche if you need to.
- Walking sticks make it a million times easier on the knees.
- If you want to buy a Yak bell, do it in Namche as they are about the only thing that are not easy to find in Kathmandu!
- Khumbu Cough is real and it is a bit annoying (I still have it!), but it doesn't have to stop you.
- Don't expect to sleep much! The days are incredible, but the nights can drag on and feel like a lifetime!
Finally, enjoy every minute of it, take the time to take it in, take photos, breathe the air...!
