Chasing Dreams at 17,598 ft – My Everest Base Camp Journey

Lifetime Journey of My Everest Base Camp Trek

This year with my friends I Was planning for a short Himalayan trek to Pindari Glacier. I received a link from my Friend Ravindra about Giripremi Adventure Foundation’s (GAF) FFD Everest Base Camp trek (EBC). Although we are not members of FFD, nevertheless, 13 of us from Bangalore signed up for the trek after attending the wonderful presentation by GAF executives about the complete day-to-day itinerary of EBC. In just one presentation I could make out that Giripremi Adventure Foundation is a professional body, and they know the job too well. My opinion was further reinforced after couple of meetings and interaction with Mr. Nikunj Shah. The professional touch was seen even in monitoring our daily preparation for the trek and every detail like what to pack etc. was worked out meticulously.

Preparation Challenges: Insurance, Age, and Determination

I and my Friend Badami, who are above 70 had an issue with Insurance as they were quoting double the premium . We almost decided not to take Insurance and Instead take Porter. Then our good friend Mr. Nikunj reasoned with me the necessity of Insurance then I had to agree with him and take the policy.

11 years back when I was selected for Kailas Manas Sarovar Yatra through Lipuleh Pass , every one encouraged me. Two ladies one of them almost completed Mt. Everest told me KMY will be a cake walk for me.  It was indeed a cakewalk. Now lot of friends said why at this age, all of them wanted me to be careful etc. One friend strongly suggested I should take Helicopter for return journey.  I was not perturbed and declared to myself that, it will be easy trek.

After 3 months preparation, We landed at Kathmandu on 4^th May, after a warm welcome we were taken to Kailash Kutee Hotel. 

We were assigned Ashish as trek leader and Dikki from local agency as trek in charge. We collected GAF T-Shirt and Down jacket and started night journey by bus to Ramechhap. 

The Lukla Wait: A True Test of Patience before Everest Base Camp

At Ramechhap, we had to wait for 36 hours before boarding the flight to Lukla — known as the most dangerous airport for landing. Eventually, we reached Lukla around 6 in the evening, and immediately, we began walking down the trail. I had a personal porter, Alex, a young boy of just 18 years. Fortunately, the trek from Lukla to Phakding is a relatively short and easy walk. Consequently, I reached Phakding Tea House along with the duffel bag porters. Interestingly, the hotel manager was happy to see me arrive first and even offered free tea. To my delight, my porter Alex smiled and said, ‘Sir, Everest Base Camp will be easy for you.’ Altogether, these moments made me feel really good.

The next day, we had an early breakfast and, after a short prayer, began our trek to Namche Bazaar. Meanwhile, Alex looked fresh and energetic, so we started walking at a steady, slow pace. The trail was incredibly scenic, with monumental mountains surrounding us and six suspension bridges along the way — the Hillary Bridge being the longest. In the meantime, Diki and Ashish had already arranged the necessary permits for Sagarmatha National Park. Later, we stopped for lunch at a tea house next to the check post. As we approached Namche, it felt more like a small city than a mountain village. Eventually, we reached our destination comfortably by late afternoon, having gained nearly 1,000 meters in elevation. Our stay for the night was at the historic Kumbh Lodge.

Acclimatization with a View: Kyangjuma and Everest Hotel

Our 4^rd trek  from Namche to Kyangjuma  was more of acclimatization. We trek via Sagarmatha national Park Museum and Everest View Hotel. The trek offered stunning views of Himalayan Range. The weather was too good, and I had clear view of Everest from the Hotel. Myself and Manju tasted Fruit cocktail, the taste remained for almost one hour. By midafternoon we reached Kyangjuma and stayed at Amadablam Lodge.

Deep Valleys and Monasteries: Trek to Debuche

Day 5 trek to Debuche was short. Walked through deep valley of Tengbuche and saw one of the large Monostries and comfortably reached by midafternoon.  The day was bright and encountered little rain just before reaching.

We started our 6^th day hike to Dingboche on a clear morning. The 10km trek continued through trees and forest and as the morning passes the landscape turns to stark and weather becomes cold.  Apart from Alex young Nithin and Jovial Venu were always with me. Diki, Ashish, Raj and other staff beautifully manage the big contingent of 26 trekkers. Every now and then they talk to all of us and make sure that we are ok. We reached the Lodge at Dingboche around 3 in the afternoon.

Comfort and Care in Dingboche

I was thrilled to see Café 4410 from distance. I must say all the 3 of us were comfortably walking and we never felt the altitude. The lodge is really beautiful. Once we enter the cozy little heated dining cum reception hall, we forgot our tiredness. As soon as we enter we are given hot lemon and ginger water. We relax and slowly sip 2 glasses of water. By evening almost everyone reached and assembled in the hall. Some of us were playing cards and chatting. In the mean time I slept for ten minutes in the room,  of course Ashish will not allow more than that. Dubai couple were not comfortable and Ashwini was not enthusiastic. Ashish started checking our oxygen levels. My reading was around 88 . I was happy.

Our seventh day hike was acclimatization trek. We walk from 4410 to 4800 meters and return All of us comfortably did and returned by 12 Noon.  After lunch we spent about 4 hours in 4410 café, where some of us used wi-fi and charged our phones. Dubai couple health further deteriorated and they went back to Lukla  and my friend Girish also went back on his doctor’s advice. From now on the real test starts.

The Real Test Begins: Dingboche to Lobuche

On the 8th day, our walk from Dingboche to Lobuche covered about 9 kilometers and took approximately 7 hours. The trail involved an elevation gain of around 500 meters (1,600 feet), with Lobuche situated at an altitude of 4,910 meters (16,108 feet). Overall, the trek was lovely, offering beautiful views of surrounding mountains like Makalu, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and others. As usual, Venu, Nithin, our porter, and I reached early and began waiting for the rest of the group. Eventually, everyone arrived—except my wife, Jayashree. Naturally, I felt a bit tense. Thankfully, Ashish reassured me that Dikki was with her. She arrived very late, almost four hours after I did. Consequently, Dikki advised her to take a horse for the final stretch to EBC.

It is our Day 9th and we are going to Gorakhshep and then to EVEREST BASE CAMP.

We started our trek around 6 in the morning. Alex took my 3kg backpack and sheshadri was with me. After half an hour or so  Sheshadri told me that he was not finding it easy like other days. I advised him to walk slowly . After some time I believe  he passed out for a while and luckily sreedhar did not allow him to fall and hit the stones. Ashish and Diki persuded him to walk back to Pheriche with one guide.

Ashish and Dikki are amazing guys. They are there at right moment and take proper call on any issue. Lot of us were feeling sorry for sheshadri but ultimately life is important.  Yes it’s  the destination day, for which everything was planned. Distance from Lobuche to Gorakhshep is just 5 km  and still it  took  3-4 hrs basically because of alarming Oxygen level in the air and steep accent at couple of places. I reached around 10 or 10.30. My wife had already reached on horse.  

While I was relaxing and waiting for lunch, I noticed Ashwini struggling. Fortunately, Ashish and Diki helped her reach Lukla. Later, around 12 noon, we started for EBC with Alex. However, I didn’t like the smell of the water I had carried, so unlike other days, I wasn’t drinking much. The trek to Everest Base Camp is all uphill and downhill… It was little difficult. After 2 and half hrs we reached EBC and we have  no words to explain our happiness and joy. We were dancing, congratulating each other. All our strain  faded away when we were posing for photos and making videos.

I started returning to Gorakshep with Alex. Could not feel water in my body . I should have purchased water at Gorakshap. Finally, I reached around 5.45 and lazily sitting in the cozy hall.  I started drinking water and ate little bit of food. After making arrangements for my wife to return by Heli to Lukla I went to sleep. After 3  hours of sleep I was hungry and ate energy bar and I wanted to tell Ashish that Iam ready for Kala Patthar. But it was 1 in the morning .

Next day morning we 7 of us out of 26 started walking down. We had to cover 55km in 3 days. I am over careful while climbing down. First day it was about 21 Km. Second was interesting. I was leisurely walking listening to the river flow. I was just thinking to take bath in the river if it was possible in the afternoon. On the third day, we reached Lukla, and in the evening, the hotel residents were dancing joyfully. As a result, we celebrated the successful completion of our trek with the Sherpas, porters, and other staff

I must appreciate the teamwork of Giripremi and Peak promotion. From Kathmandu Airport to the return journey, their services were truly exceptional. Not only did we never have to carry our luggage or wait for transport, but moreover, food and water consistently arrived with a warm smile and encouraging words. Hats off to the team. While taking out my passport at Lukla airport in return journey I dropped paper cover with lot of cash, without noticing I rushed to catch the flight, lot of people were moving and to my luck Dikki was about step on that , she took the cover and found my credit card, both Dikki and Ashish came running to me to hand over the cover. Thank you Dikki and Ashish.

All in all, my journey was filled with Joy, excitement and sense of fulfilling. 

Sometimes I wonder why all these. Maybe I believe that, the very basic core of man’s living spirit is his passion for Adventure.