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Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don't leave home without this expert advice

Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don't leave home without this expert advice

RNZ News7 days ago
First published on
Mt Everest.
Photo:
Unsplash / Kabita Darlami
Tourists in Kathmandu are tempted everywhere by advertisements for trekking expeditions to Everest Base Camp. If you didn't know better, you might think it's just a nice hike in the Nepalese countryside.
Typically the lower staging post for attempts on the summit, the camp is still 5364 metres above sea level and a destination in its own right. Travel agencies say no prior experience is required, and all equipment will be provided. Social media, too, is filled with posts enticing potential trekkers to make the iconic journey.
But there is a real risk of creating a false sense of security. An exciting adventure can quickly turn into a struggle for survival, especially for novice mountaineers.
Nevertheless, Sagarmatha National Park is deservedly popular for its natural beauty and the allure of the world's highest peak,
Chomolungma
(Mount Everest). It is also home to the ethnically distinctive
Sherpa community
.
Consequently, the routes to Everest Base Camp are among the busiest in the Himalayas, with nearly 60,000 tourists visiting the area each year. There are two distinct
trekking seasons
: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October).
High mountains require everyone to be properly prepared. Events which under normal conditions might be a minor inconvenience can be magnified in such an environment and
pose a serious risk
.
Even at the start of the trek in Lukla (2860m), one is exposed to factors that can directly or indirectly affect one's health, especially
altitude mountain sickness
or unfamiliar bacteria.
We interviewed 24 trekkers in May this year, as well as 60 residents and business owners in May 2023, to
explore some of the safety issues
anyone considering heading to base camp should be aware of.
Author Heike Schanzel (right) atop the famous and much-photographed base camp rock.
Photo:
Heike Schanzel
First, it's vital to choose goals within one's
technical and physical capabilities
. While the human body can adapt to altitudes of up to 5,300m, the potential risk of altitude mountain sickness can occur at only 2500m - lower than Lukla.
Proper acclimatisation above 3000m means ascending no more than 500m a day and resting every two to three days at the same altitude. The optimal (though rarely followed) approach is the "saw tooth system" of climbing during the day but descending to sleep at a lower level.
Residents of the Khumbu region (on the Nepalese side of Everest) are familiar with the problem of tourists not acclimatising, or not paying attention to their surroundings. As one hotel owner said, pointing to a trekker setting out: "He's going uphill and it's already late. It's going to get dark and cold soon. He won't make it to the next settlement. We have to report this to the authorities or go after him ourselves."
Inexperienced trekkers should hire a local guide. Several we interviewed had needed medical evacuation, including a woman in her mid-20s who had to leave base camp after one night. She found her guides - not locals - online. But they never checked her vital signs during the trek: "[The doctors] said that I had high-altitude pulmonary edema… it was just really important to come down the elevation. And if I had tried to go higher, it probably would have been really bad."
Health checks throughout the trek are imperative. This includes assessing the four main symptoms of altitude mountain sickness: headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. If they appear, the trekker shouldn't go higher and might even need to descend.
Using a reputable local trekking agency might be more expensive, but it will help ensure safety and also familiarise the visitor with the local culture, helping avoid
negative impacts on the host community
.
Too often, the primary goal of trekkers is a photo on the famous rock at base camp. Once obtained, many simply take a helicopter back to Kathmandu. As a helicopter tour agency owner said: "They don't want to get back on their feet. The goal, after all, has been achieved. In general, tourists used to be much better prepared. Now they know they can return by helicopter."
Helicopter travel can be dangerous on its own, of course. But this tendency to view the trek as a
one-way trip
also affects host-guest relations and can
irritate local communities
.
It's also important to monitor your food and drink intake and watch for signs of food poisoning. Diarrhoea at high altitudes is particularly dangerous because it leads to rapid dehydration - hard to combat in mountain conditions.
Low air pressure and reduced oxygen exacerbate the condition, weakening the body's ability to recover. Also, the symptoms of dehydration can resemble altitude mountain sickness.
When travelling in other climate zones or countries with different sanitary standards, there is inevitable contact with
strains of bacteria
not present in one's natural microbiome.
A good solution is to spend a few days naturally adapting to bacterial flora at a lower altitude in Nepal before heading to the mountains. Also, try to eat the local food, such as daal bhat, Nepal's national dish. According to one hotel owner in Pangboche: "Tourists demand strange food from us - pizza, spaghetti, Caesar salad - and then are angry that it doesn't taste the way they want. This is not our food. You should probably eat local food."
Most of the trekkers we interviewed during this spring season reported experiencing gastrointestinal issues, often for several days.
Overall,
diarrhoea-related infections
are the leading cause of illness among travellers, including base camp trekkers. Studies conducted in the Himalayas show as many as
14 percent of mountain tourists contract gastroenteritis
, accounting for about 10 percent of all helicopter evacuations.
In the end, the commonest cause of failure or accident in the mountains is overestimating one's abilities - what has been called "bad judgement syndrome" - when the route is too hard, the pace too fast, or there's been too little time spent acclimatising.
A simple solution: walk slowly and enjoy the views.
* Heike Schanzel, Professor of Social Sustainability in Tourism, Auckland University of Technology; Michal Apollo, Adjunct Professor of Earth Science, University of Silesia in Katowice.
- This story originally appeared on The Conversation.
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Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don't leave home without this expert advice
Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don't leave home without this expert advice

RNZ News

time7 days ago

  • RNZ News

Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don't leave home without this expert advice

First published on Mt Everest. Photo: Unsplash / Kabita Darlami Tourists in Kathmandu are tempted everywhere by advertisements for trekking expeditions to Everest Base Camp. If you didn't know better, you might think it's just a nice hike in the Nepalese countryside. Typically the lower staging post for attempts on the summit, the camp is still 5364 metres above sea level and a destination in its own right. Travel agencies say no prior experience is required, and all equipment will be provided. Social media, too, is filled with posts enticing potential trekkers to make the iconic journey. But there is a real risk of creating a false sense of security. An exciting adventure can quickly turn into a struggle for survival, especially for novice mountaineers. Nevertheless, Sagarmatha National Park is deservedly popular for its natural beauty and the allure of the world's highest peak, Chomolungma (Mount Everest). It is also home to the ethnically distinctive Sherpa community . Consequently, the routes to Everest Base Camp are among the busiest in the Himalayas, with nearly 60,000 tourists visiting the area each year. There are two distinct trekking seasons : spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October). High mountains require everyone to be properly prepared. Events which under normal conditions might be a minor inconvenience can be magnified in such an environment and pose a serious risk . Even at the start of the trek in Lukla (2860m), one is exposed to factors that can directly or indirectly affect one's health, especially altitude mountain sickness or unfamiliar bacteria. We interviewed 24 trekkers in May this year, as well as 60 residents and business owners in May 2023, to explore some of the safety issues anyone considering heading to base camp should be aware of. Author Heike Schanzel (right) atop the famous and much-photographed base camp rock. Photo: Heike Schanzel First, it's vital to choose goals within one's technical and physical capabilities . While the human body can adapt to altitudes of up to 5,300m, the potential risk of altitude mountain sickness can occur at only 2500m - lower than Lukla. Proper acclimatisation above 3000m means ascending no more than 500m a day and resting every two to three days at the same altitude. The optimal (though rarely followed) approach is the "saw tooth system" of climbing during the day but descending to sleep at a lower level. Residents of the Khumbu region (on the Nepalese side of Everest) are familiar with the problem of tourists not acclimatising, or not paying attention to their surroundings. As one hotel owner said, pointing to a trekker setting out: "He's going uphill and it's already late. It's going to get dark and cold soon. He won't make it to the next settlement. We have to report this to the authorities or go after him ourselves." Inexperienced trekkers should hire a local guide. Several we interviewed had needed medical evacuation, including a woman in her mid-20s who had to leave base camp after one night. She found her guides - not locals - online. But they never checked her vital signs during the trek: "[The doctors] said that I had high-altitude pulmonary edema… it was just really important to come down the elevation. And if I had tried to go higher, it probably would have been really bad." Health checks throughout the trek are imperative. This includes assessing the four main symptoms of altitude mountain sickness: headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. If they appear, the trekker shouldn't go higher and might even need to descend. Using a reputable local trekking agency might be more expensive, but it will help ensure safety and also familiarise the visitor with the local culture, helping avoid negative impacts on the host community . Too often, the primary goal of trekkers is a photo on the famous rock at base camp. Once obtained, many simply take a helicopter back to Kathmandu. As a helicopter tour agency owner said: "They don't want to get back on their feet. The goal, after all, has been achieved. In general, tourists used to be much better prepared. Now they know they can return by helicopter." Helicopter travel can be dangerous on its own, of course. But this tendency to view the trek as a one-way trip also affects host-guest relations and can irritate local communities . It's also important to monitor your food and drink intake and watch for signs of food poisoning. Diarrhoea at high altitudes is particularly dangerous because it leads to rapid dehydration - hard to combat in mountain conditions. Low air pressure and reduced oxygen exacerbate the condition, weakening the body's ability to recover. Also, the symptoms of dehydration can resemble altitude mountain sickness. When travelling in other climate zones or countries with different sanitary standards, there is inevitable contact with strains of bacteria not present in one's natural microbiome. A good solution is to spend a few days naturally adapting to bacterial flora at a lower altitude in Nepal before heading to the mountains. Also, try to eat the local food, such as daal bhat, Nepal's national dish. According to one hotel owner in Pangboche: "Tourists demand strange food from us - pizza, spaghetti, Caesar salad - and then are angry that it doesn't taste the way they want. This is not our food. You should probably eat local food." Most of the trekkers we interviewed during this spring season reported experiencing gastrointestinal issues, often for several days. Overall, diarrhoea-related infections are the leading cause of illness among travellers, including base camp trekkers. Studies conducted in the Himalayas show as many as 14 percent of mountain tourists contract gastroenteritis , accounting for about 10 percent of all helicopter evacuations. In the end, the commonest cause of failure or accident in the mountains is overestimating one's abilities - what has been called "bad judgement syndrome" - when the route is too hard, the pace too fast, or there's been too little time spent acclimatising. A simple solution: walk slowly and enjoy the views. * Heike Schanzel, Professor of Social Sustainability in Tourism, Auckland University of Technology; Michal Apollo, Adjunct Professor of Earth Science, University of Silesia in Katowice. - This story originally appeared on The Conversation.

Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook
Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook

Scoop

time12-06-2025

  • Scoop

Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook

Press Release – Department of Conservation Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition … Alpine landscapes within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will serve as the backdrop for a new biopic about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's 1953 epic climb to the summit of Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of Aoraki/Mount Cook, which will 'double' as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. 'These sites have been used for filming Everest-related documentaries and films before,' says DOC Ranger Ray Bellringer. 'All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance. This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it,' he says. Bellringer also noted the long-standing relationship between New Zealand and Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, and the involvement of Nepalese students in conservation and education programs, including through Lincoln University's Parks and Recreation degree. Since 1953 around 70 Nepalese including many from the Sherpa community have come to Lincoln for study in nature-based tourism and community conservation. 'Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities,' Bellringer added. 'It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay, and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling. It's an iconic setting for an incredible story.' Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the local area with a large production crew and cast staying in the village and surrounding area. Set construction and logistical preparations are currently underway. DOC staff will continue to work closely with the production team to ensure minimal environmental impact. Ray Bellringer says he happy Tenzing Norgay's story is getting recognition. 'We're pleased to support this movie project and help showcase it to the world. For Aoraki and the staff here to play a small part in helping to make that happen is special,' he says.

Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook
Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook

Scoop

time12-06-2025

  • Scoop

Tenzing Norgay Movie To Be Filmed At Aoraki/Mount Cook

Alpine landscapes within the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will serve as the backdrop for a new biopic about Sherpa Tenzing Norgay's 1953 epic climb to the summit of Mount Everest alongside Sir Edmund Hillary. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has approved filming on Malte Brun Pass near the Tasman Glacier and near the Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern side of Aoraki/Mount Cook, which will 'double' as Everest base camp and the famous Hillary Step on the world's highest peak. 'These sites have been used for filming Everest-related documentaries and films before,' says DOC Ranger Ray Bellringer. 'All filming activities are subject to strict environmental conditions to ensure the protection of the natural landscape. DOC staff will be onsite daily to monitor compliance. This is an incredibly special place and it's our role to protect it,' he says. Bellringer also noted the long-standing relationship between New Zealand and Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, and the involvement of Nepalese students in conservation and education programs, including through Lincoln University's Parks and Recreation degree. Since 1953 around 70 Nepalese including many from the Sherpa community have come to Lincoln for study in nature-based tourism and community conservation. 'Sir Edmund Hillary dedicated much of his life after 1953 to supporting Nepalese communities,' Bellringer added. 'It is fitting that this project recognises the life and contributions of Tenzing Norgay, and we are proud to provide a setting that supports this storytelling. It's an iconic setting for an incredible story.' Filming in New Zealand is scheduled to begin next month. The production, which has already completed scenes in Kathmandu, Nepal, will feature Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe as English expedition leader John Hunt. The production is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the local area with a large production crew and cast staying in the village and surrounding area. Set construction and logistical preparations are currently underway. DOC staff will continue to work closely with the production team to ensure minimal environmental impact. Ray Bellringer says he happy Tenzing Norgay's story is getting recognition. 'We're pleased to support this movie project and help showcase it to the world. For Aoraki and the staff here to play a small part in helping to make that happen is special,' he says.

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