Everest Base Camp Trekking is for trekkers not tourists. I have climbed Mount Everest to the top and led over 40 treks to Everest base camp. We have helped thousands of people trek to Everest and climb near by peaks like Island peak and Lobuche peak.
What I am seeing on the trail in recent years is down right stupidity. I witnessed people being brought up Kala Patthar 5,645m/ 18,520 feet half asleep on horses, lots of people being brought up and down the trail on horses and record amounts of rescues. This is costing you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in higher insurance costs alongside higher prices on helicopters. Read some reviews from our trips.
Horse Ride to Everest Base Camp
During my most recent Everest Base Camp trek, I counted 17 people riding horses—an indicator that many people underestimate the difficulty of this journey through the Everest region.
Over the last decade, the number of people heading to the Everest region has trippled, yet businesses in popular spots like Namche Bazaar and Pheriche have seen a 40% drop in business. This means a lot of people are not able to hike back to Lukla!!
This growing trend of unprepared trekkers highlights the importance of proper preparation for high-altitude trekking, where fitness and altitude acclimatization are key for a successful and safe adventure. Horses should only be used in emergency for going down, not up the trail. Sagarmartha National park needs to outlaw this activity.
Why?
Access, Everest movies, Netflix documents, Helicopters, companies selling an easy trek to Everest Base Camp along with a lack of respect for high and extreme altitude. Far too many people are not been managed along the trail at the correct pace. These tourist are not equipment with the correct gear and clothing and not accustomed to long hours on their feet.
The hike from Lobuche 16,141 feet to Everest Base Camp 17,600 feet and back to Gorak Shep 16,995 feet is 7 hours, covering 7.2 miles. This is followed by 4 long days hiking up Kala Patthar 18,520 feet down to Pheriche 13,780 feet and over 11 miles of hiking. You then have a 8 hour day to get back to Namche followed by another 7 hour day to get back to Lukla. This is not an easy multi-day trekking adventure.
The lack of physical and mental preparation being displayed is frustrating accompanied by poor leadership of groups. I’m afraid the Everest region is turning into a calamity zone.
Shocking pacing, breathing techniques and more knee braces than ever before. People standing right in the middle of landslide areas because they had to take break after break. An accident waiting to happen. Be informed and be prepared!!
Everest Base Camp Treks Require More Acclimatization
By spending 3 nights in Namche Bazaar 3,440m/ 11,300 feet on the way up the trail, this gives you a safer and more enjoyable experience going to high altitude. A lot of groups are walking too fast and skipping this critical acclimatization lower on the trail to Mount Everest.
Poor Acclimatization Leads to Altitude Sickness
I am annoyed and shocked at the disrespect people are showing to this unique mountain region and high altitude. Over the past few years the Everest region is being miss managed by local agencies and locals not professional guides, racing people up the trails only to get them sick and helicopter them out of the mountains.
I see so many people racing up the trails, some groups with 1 or 2 nights in Namche Bazaar and then pushing hard up the trail. Fatigue is a real issue that builds up over time. it is especially critical to limit fatigue as there is not enough oxygen to repair the damage.
All the research is telling us SPEND MORE TIME AT 3,500m/ 11,500 feet on the way up and give yourself the best experience possible.
Shocking Physical Preparation by Many People
The Everest Base Camp Trek is for trekkers not tourists. So many people are coming totally under prepared for their trek to Everest. I see 50% of the people on the trail way under prepared on a wide range of fronts.
I don’t expect this to change any time soon. If you are coming on one of our treks we expect that you come fully prepared so that you and your team can enjoy every moment of every day.
The Everest region is one of the world most amazing mountain regions. You come to enjoy, and embrace the majesty of the mighty mountains. Coming to endure the trek is not fair on yourself and others. I have never seen so many untrained, sick people with all the wrong gear and clothing, back packs and physical preparation as I have seen this year on the Everest trail in recent times.
More acclimatization, better physical preparation, better management of teams and people and far more respect needs to be given to these Himalayan trails.
Gear and Clothing Choices can Make or Break Your Trip
Wearing cotton clothing leads to poor temperature management, sickness, colds, flu, chest infections. This also leads to people coughing and spreading germs to other people. I continue to see groups spread out on the trails and people with terrible physical preparation.
Going fast and then stopping continually is not the way to trek up and down mountains. With such range in temperatures you need to regulate your temperature so you do not pick up a cold and ruin your trip.
Also regulate your heart rate, so you can move efficiently up and down the trail. Have the right clothing so the yaks and porters are not lugging up so much unneeded and extra gear.
Come Prepared and Respect This Mountain Region
Everest Base Camp Trekking is for trekkers not tourists. I remember coming into this region when there were no showers, no western toilets, no helicopters. I see so many people planning helicopter rescues from Gorak Shep as their legs are sore and they can not walk back to Lukla.
These days, I often hear people talking about trekking to Everest Base Camp just to snap a photo for social media, only to fly out immediately after. While this may be the trend, it feels disconnected from what this journey should truly represent.
Everest Base Camp treks offer so much more than just a picture; they provide a unique opportunity for personal growth, reflection, and connection with the Sherpa culture and the majestic Himalayan mountains. For us, it’s about embracing the full experience, finding peace, and absorbing the energy that this incredible region offers.
‘The journey is far more rewarding than the destination’.
Don’t Come on One of Our Treks ill Prepared
Arriving unprepared and under trained for one of our expeditions is not only disrespectful to our staff and the high level of service we provide, but also to your fellow team members.
If someone isn’t adequately prepared for the demands of the trek, we won’t hesitate to turn them around. Safety is our top priority. We cannot afford to let an unprepared participant become a risk to themselves or our team on the ground. Proper training and preparation are essential for a safe and successful adventure.
Thousands of people are showing up each season now with minimal training. The lack of understanding on what these high altitude treks entail puts so many other people lives at risk. We want our trekkers coming fully prepared for the adventure, so follow our step by step approach to training. CONTACT US and get the best advice available and be prepared.