A Journey to Everest Base Camp

What drove you to pursue Everest Base Camp?

It’s been haunting me for a while that I should do something to challenge my fitness and mental capacity at the same time. I started listing a few activities and finally selected EBC considering office time, other challenges, and of course, costs.

Doing this trek, I got a chance to view some of the most magical panoramas of the Himalayas, views that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. If you are to do this, you will feel an incredible connection with the mountains and be astonished by their enormity.

What made you want to do it solo and how did you prepare for this?

It was solo because it was my first time trekking. I wanted to try something big and always thought that going big in my first attempt will be so much more fulfilling.

It’s hard to measure if I am ready. It isn’t like a marathon or anything else you have ever done most probably. I thought without training, given that I’m in pretty good shape and regularly go to the gym over the last two years, I would be fit enough.

I started focusing on the prep only 14 weeks before D-day. All I additionally did is start running up to 6 km at a stretch (not easy to achieve this in the beginning), go on a walkathon of 25 km in Dubai in my residential area with a bag of 10kg on my back, and start some simple cardio exercises including jogging up and down through my 12-story apartment building staircase at least 15 times.??All these activities were performed at least once a week including some weight training.??There were people on the trail who were overweight and old aged and going incredibly slow, but they were right there with me at base camp to celebrate our combined achievement.

Solo trip with porter assistance: I preferred solo since I wanted to move at my own pace and not bother anyone. Furthermore, I wanted to observe solitude and find inner peace by looking at those unforgettable majestic views of the Great Himalayas!?

Talk us through the challenges you faced

Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world and trekking to the base camp is no easy feat either. It’s a journey through some of the most spectacular mountain views but also through several beautiful villages along the way. The Everest Base Camp Trek takes anywhere from 12 to 14 days (+140 km) depending on your route and itinerary but also how well you acclimatize with the conditions. The highest peak was 5650 m at Kalapathar.

I was very confident when I started my journey from Dubai however, soon, I realized what kind of risks were waiting for me upon reaching Kathmandu after speaking with a few people in the hotel. I was scared mainly due to two reasons; they all had previous trekking experience with high altitudes of at least a minimum of 4000 m (almost all are part of a group trek, not solo).

I made up my mind later in the day to not talk to anyone for a few days and see how I am doing every day. I purposefully decided to forget the day I would reach the base camp and focus my energy on planning and conquering a day at a time of the trek! I believed in the mindset that nothing should bother me apart from how good/bad the next day is! Every meter of altitude I gain is an achievement to me along with passing distance. I stuck to my fundamental belief systems which are;

a)?????Listen to your body and follow your mind.

b)????Everyone’s body is unique and no matter what their prior experience, the altitude can affect everyone differently.

c)???It’s not a competition and no prizes are waiting if you reach 1 hour earlier or 1 day late.

d)???Walk very slowly and make sure to take deep breaths every 3 steps.

e)???Eat only clean/healthy food and drink at least 4 liters of water daily.

f)????Keep your mental strength as high as you can.

Each day I kept going slowly but steadily. When I made it to Namche Bazaar (day 2 - 3440 M -12 KM, a nearly 8-hour long trail), I gained some confidence and believed that my body is not that bad and is able to do this. I was totally fine with a tough 3-hour hill climbing on day 2 post lunch!??But the hardship kept on increasing as I gained more altitude each day. On Day 7, Lobuche 4900 m, I found I couldn’t move any further as it was a bit hard to breathe smoothly, but as the day passed, later in the evening it got better.

What were your key takeaways from this trip?

Nature is the only truth; the majestically?beautiful view is attainable on day 5 of the trekking experience.

No matter what/who you are, nature will teach you a great lesson to be humble.

Make all the necessary preparations and begin the journey rather than doing nothing.

Don’t get scared by others’ views but follow your inner strength with some fair understanding on the trek ahead.

All hardships/pains are forgotten when you reach the base camp. This destination was pulling me no matter how hard the days got.

What advice would you give to your peers?

Form a habit or goal which has no relation to your professional career.

Start right away, and don’t overthink your decision.

Be sincere and give your 100% to anything you set your mind to do.

A new habit is formed in 21 days, be it good or bad. Based on this, you must pick up a challenging activity to help boost your self-confidence, both physically and mentally.

From my experience, it’s a magical life-changing journey. Having such hobbies, you find the perfect work-life balance. You end up crossing paths with new people which allows you to understand different perspectives and thought processes. You get to envision the beautiful and majestic side of nature while finding inner peace and solitude.