An Invitation from base camp

Just got invited for tea at Everest Base Camp. How cool is that!
Thanks Glacier Works and David Breashears!

Looks like interesting company at base camp

Looks like there will be a few research groups at base camp this year:

A group from the Mayo clinic researching the effects of high altitudes on the body: http://advancingthescience.mayo.edu/

From Yale University, David Breashears researching the impact of global warming on the Himalayan Glaciers: http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2295

A team from National geographic will be retracing a 1963 American route up the mountain with climber Conrad Anker, photographer Cory Richards and writer Mark Jenkins.
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/everest/american-expedition-2012/

Hopefully we will get there in time to meet and see some of these teams in action!

Sad news from base camp

One of the Sherpas at base camp has passed away due to altitude sickness. He was an experienced guide and had made the climb to the top at least 10 times on previous occasions.


Direct from the GlobalHeadlines.ca web site:


Kathmandu: The son of fabled Everest climber Ang Rita Sherpa has died attempting to scale the mountain, officials said on Thursday, in the first death of the season on the world’s highest peak.
Karsang Namgyal Sherpa, an experienced climber in his own right who had conquered the 8848-metre (29029-foot) peak several times, collapsed at Everest base camp on Wednesday, said trek co-ordinator Dambar Parajuli.

“He was active a few minutes before his death. But at 2.30 pm (0815 GMT) he entered his tent and informed the other Sherpas about his problems,” said Parajuli, of the Kathmandu-based Prestige Adventure agency, adding that the probable cause of death was altitude sickness.

Mr Karsang, 40, was the elder of two mountaineering sons of Ang Rita, a 10-time Everest summiteer known in climbing circles as the “Snow Leopard”.

Parajuli said Karsang was in a team of 11 climbers, including three Iranians and a German, who had set off on the expedition from Kathmandu on April 10.


He is due to be cremated on Friday."

Our hearts go out to to the friends and family of Karsang Namgyal. This is very sad news....and a stark reminder of how dangerous altitude sickness can be and how indiscriminately it strikes.

Tests for Rabies Titre Levels

Went for our blood test today. Unfortunately the blood samples get sent to Toronto for testing, so we may not get the results back until we have already left for Nepal. The average response time is approximately 10 days but it can take longer.

Our fingers (and toes) are crossed that our titre levels are good enough and we will be well protected.

Which Everest Base Camp to Go To?

Different Countries: 
South Base Camp is in Nepal, the North Base Camp is in Tibet. Tibet can be difficult to get a travel visa for. They seem to be sporadic; changing their travel rules so you never know when you will have difficulty getting into the country. Nepal on the other hand does not seem to have that problem

Ease of Access:
You can actually drive to the North (Tibetan) base camp since they have extended the highway so if you don't feel you are in the best of health, you could choose the luxury method.

To get to the South (Nepal) base camp, part of the experience includes a "hair-raising" domestic flight in and out of the small town of Lukla, then a 13 day trek to base camp. If you don't want to take the flight, tack on another 4 days trekking (both ways).



Difference in Altitude:
South (Nepal) base camp is at a higher altitude that the north (Tibet).
  South is at 5,364 metres (17,598 ft)
  North is at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft)

Getting Physically Prepared

No one plans to go to Everest Base camp without some thought to their state of physical fitness. If they do, I can't believe that they would be very successful in their trek. That being said, although the path can be physically challenging, you do not need to be a pro athlete to tackle this trek. Obviously you need to be able to walk for long periods of time (up to 3 hours at a time) but you are really encouraged to walk sloooooowly.

As part of our fitness preparation we are using dog walks, treadmill walking (at highest incline), treadmill jogging, swimming and biking to help boost our cardio. Fingers are crossed that this will be enough.