Everest base camp trekking
As I mentioned on my first trip to Nepal, for some inexplicable reason the Mountain began to attract me.
After I returned home from Kathmandu, I kept thinking that I had to get to the Everest base camp.
Although I hesitated between Annapurna and Everest, of course only Everest could win.
I've never been on a trek before, and I'm not even a big hiker, apart from some running, I didn't train too much for the trip, which my body felt on the way, so if someone feels like doing such a trip, don't be as irresponsible as I was.
All my life I have been a fan of cheap and self-organized tours, but I only dared to go here with an organized group.
After two years of collecting, we finally set off with a Hungarian team of 12 people, supplemented by two local tour guides.
The majority of the group signed up for the trip alone, as did I.
There were several of us who had never hiked before, but as it turned out, according to experienced trekkers, we started well with the most difficult.
On the first day, we flew to Lukla at dawn, where we landed at what is considered the most dangerous airport in the world, where the runway starts in a ravine and ends in a mountain wall.
This is the last place where machines still take the things necessary for life. After that, the task is left to the sherpas, who carry everything from the door to the refrigerator up the mountain themselves.
In the first couple of days, we hiked in short sleeves, but at night I spent the whole night in my North Face imitation sleeping bag - comfortable up to 20 degrees. (Lesson, you shouldn't buy an imitation for such a serious tour!! )
If I don't have one of my hiking companions, László Kovács, who finally lent me a sleeping bag insert for the whole journey, then it is quite likely that I will freeze before the base camp or turn back.
(I also thank him for the sleeping bag insert and his wonderful photos, which can be found in the Everest gallery and here.)
At an altitude of over 3,500 meters, we had all kinds of symptoms, from nausea, to terrible headaches that wouldn't go away, to diarrhea.
After a few days, we reached the height where, due to the lack of oxygen, I and two other companions had such a hard time marching that we had to stop every few steps.
In Gorak Shep, where we spent our last night before the base camp, it was so cold that I couldn't even take off my shoes, so I went to bed with them in the sleeping bag. I was so sick at night that I was absolutely sure that I was going to die that night.
In the morning, when I wanted to drink from the steel water bottle, I had to face the fact that the water in it was completely frozen.
At four in the morning, we left for the long-awaited base camp, where a round trip of 5 hours awaited us in minus 27 degrees and wind.
My body was already completely gutted, yet I started the tour, I think that's why I came, so that I could go home without stopping before the finish line.
There were some in the group who were so sick that they didn't even go here.
It was beautiful to hike under the never-before-seen number of stars at night, but everyone was just bored with this morning hike, while that's why we came to see the base camp.
After an hour of marching, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and turned back, hoping to find my way back under the still dark sky.
I can thank Péter that I still made it, because he encouraged me to not give up if I had come this far! Fortunately, I listened to him, so I managed to get to the base camp.
Although we were warned in advance that it was the end of the season, we were the last group, there would be no one at the base camp, but it was a bit of a disappointment to find a completely empty camp, where there were only ice glaciers, rocks and prayer flags.
But we did it! :)
After a short breakfast, we could start back down to cover the 8-day uphill distance to Lukla in 3 days.
At first, I didn't understand why it was necessary to head back so tired right after the base camp, but we'd rather walk than spend another night in such a cold place.
Arriving in Kathmandu, we were finally able to shower and wash our hair, which we did not have the opportunity to do for 11 days, although it was surprisingly easy to get used to the nomadic conditions.
After I returned home, I never said that again, and that was enough for a lifetime.
This state lasted for two weeks. Then I started missing the mountain again, and now I think I would go again. When we went to Nepal to get the goods and I couldn't go hiking, it felt bad.
The stunningly beautiful mountains that accompanied us along the way are unforgettable. Now I understand why those who have seen them once go back again and again.
All my respect goes to the climbers who don't "just" climb up to the base camp, as this 5357 meters was also very trying.
