Experiences from Everest Base Camp Trek

EBC; Everest Base Camp, a bucket list item for many and mine too. This trek has undoubtedly been the longest I've ever undertaken, encompassing not just physical endurance but also mental resilience over the course of 10 challenging days. I was fortunate to share this experience with individuals whom I trust with my life, and together, we encountered invaluable life lessons, forged new friendships, and created lasting memories to cherish forever.

1.???? Family

I express my heartfelt gratitude to Diwakar Karri , Aarush Karri , and Anshika Karri for their unwavering love and support in my endeavors. I appreciate their honesty in ensuring I remain adequately prepared for such missions.

2.???? One Team One Goal

A team of twelve individuals from diverse backgrounds united by a common purpose embarked on this journey together from April 9th to April 20th, 2024. Bound by #SAFVC, these are individuals I trust with my life.

An idea from Col Paul Soliano to get to EBC for 10th Anniversary celebration, that evolved into a reality over last 8 months. A huge thank you to our amazing guide Saligram Aryal, Sweeper Samir & Bolah, supportive fellow trekkers Paul Soliano Ghen Siong George Wall CEng MICE FCIArb HitendraSingh Dasoni Mifie Gunawan Jason Ooi Ethan Ow Zhou Miao Senthil Yvonne Philip Li Fang and everyone back home who cheered us.

3. Mind over Body

Despite initial apprehensions, I delved deep into preparations, equipping myself with knowledge gleaned from various sources to overcome fears, particularly regarding altitude sickness. I'm proud to share that our group successfully navigated through the trek without resorting to preventive medication for high altitude sickness (Diamox)!

There are a several weeks of trainings done by the team to prepare well physically and mentally to avoid the pitfalls. If you think, walking for 9-10 hours might not seem like a big deal but when you consider a range of other external factors, mindset can really make the difference between first whether you achieve your goal. We all have the potential beyond what we may think, and really the biggest obstacle to achieving more is only ourselves.

Trekking through the rugged terrain of the Everest region presented us with unparalleled challenges, from altitude fluctuations to unpredictable weather conditions, each step offering a new perspective and every obstacle serving as an opportunity to surpass our limits and conquer adversities.

4.???? Acclamation

Everest was our mission, but each day we had a different goal to reach. Until Day 9 it was pointless worrying about EBC. We wouldn't get there without first travelling to many other places. We needed to keep focused on the mission, but on Day 1 the goal was to reach Lukla, then to make it to Phakding, then the legendary Namche, then Deboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorekshep and then EBC. Every place introduces a new elevation and altitude, and every day of the trek was much tougher than the previous day as we climbed higher and higher in altitude.

The hike from Lobuche (4910m) to EBC (5364m) and return is the longest and hardest day of the entire expedition journey to successfully complete the mission of reaching to EBC.

All the 12 members could complete with 100% success rate which couldn't have been possible without the blessing of our Family and Friends, timely decision by our Commander Paul Soliano to prioritise safety and team work as well as guidance and care from our guide. We did BAR/DAR/PAR as we progress in our journey, diligently documenting our anxiety levels, hydration, and SPO2 levels. Be honest to yourself and listen to your body.

5.???? Being positive is key

?When there is a steep up then there is always steep downhill, some areas of hike remind you the purpose of the trek. Every step reminds you the importance of mother nature and appreciation for stunning beauty of our planet. So being positive always builds resilience.

On our way down, we had issues with flight cancellations due to extreme weather conditions, we also had to take horse ride and helicopters. This was my experience to all these adventures, but being positive helped me to be adaptable. We made best of our downtime at days, lacking the internet connection helped us with the digital detox and being humanly connected with each other.

I'm reminded that work is just one part of the equation. The true achievement lies in the effort we put in, the lessons we learn, and the people we meet and lift along the way. As I reflect on this incredible journey, I am thankful to have made this once in a lifetime trip which helped to strengthen existing bonds and create enduring new friendships. We even have our own callsigns now! #IamZypsy

Can’t wait for Patagonia or the other next year with this team! #Everest #EBC #EverestBaseCamp #SAFVC