How difficult is Everest base camp trek / hike to ebc

Oct
08

Travel Blog

Nepal travel advice

how difficult is Everest base camp trek / hike to ebc & how about old people and young people

It’s very difficult…not because there is anything technical to it, but because of the altitude. Altitude can affect different people in different ways, and the effects can vary from trip to trip. I have been on Mt. Whitney (14,000 feet) one year, with no effects at all, and the next year, became very ill. In addition, physical fitness does not have any effect on whether you will acclimatize to altitude. Even under the best circumstances, elevation can cause headaches, nausea, etc…..so to a degree, you will not be comfortable like you are at sea level.

You will need to do extensive research on exactly what type of gear/clothing you will need, (and this varies if you are doing a spring or autumn trek) and if you are going on an organized trek, the trekking company will let you know the requirements.

I have seen people in their 60’s and 70’s do the trek, but they spent a great deal of time getting physically ready for it, including regular hiking at home, to get used to being on your feet on uneven terrain going uphill for miles at a time. The most important thing is to go very, very slowly, to allow yourself time to acclimatize. For many people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and about of altitude sickness will prevent them from reaching their goal. The people who are most successful will prepare well in advance, be as physically fit as possible, and go slowly to acclimatize. If you live in an area where there are mountains, hiking at some level of elevation helps.