Everest Base Camp Trek - Possible to do it faster?

[asimpson1983]

So I'm looking at the Lonely Planet Guide to Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya. I've got a question - it seems to be listing some crazy times for not that long of a distance.

Jiri to Namche Bazaar - 48 miles in 9 days?
Namche Bazaar to Base Camp - 33 miles in 10 days?

Couldn't two, in shape young people do this faster, or an I underestimating traveling at this altitude?

-Andrew

[James]

This is one of those cases were a quick answer won't cut it. The Lonely Planet Guide to Trekking in the Nepal is a good book, however, you skipped the section on acute mountain sickness ("AMS"). Read that section and you'll understand.

[critter2722]

Andrew-

It is possible to do the trek a bit faster. If you want to shave off time, it will be best to do it on the Jiri - Namche portion. In that section you are basically going up and down everyday until you get past Lukla where you definitely start gaining altitude. You can the first two days of the lonely planet itinerary on the first day and probably combine some of the other days. Depending on how much you are carrying and the shape you are in, you could probably get thru this section in 5 days.

As already stated, read the section on AMS because it is serious. Even if you are in excellent shape, you never know how your own body's physiology will take to the changes in altitude. If you ascend too quickly, you might find yourself not enjoying your nights. Last year I was there with a couple that went from Lukla to Gorak Shep in two days only stopping in Dingboche for a night. Around 10p that night they were basically sucking on oxygen and calling for help. So be careful.

Finally, the lonely planet itinerary sets it up so you have plently of time to enjoy your trek, check out the views and spend time interacting with the Nepalese people. The best part of my trip was chatting with the teahouse owners each night. They are some wonderful people. I can't imagine the trip being better if I spent the entire time walking and sleeping. Just my opinion.

best,

critter

[kegarne]

Yeah can be done a bit quicker the Jiri to Namche part but for newbies you have gotta realise that the first couple of days are lungbusters. The climb over the Lamjura La is approx 1200m altitude gain and then about 800m descent. On the third day of a trek, with a heavy pack on your back, it tends to work the knees somewhat and for the next couple of days you may not want to walk so fast !

[csommer]

The times and distances from Namche Bazaar onwards are a bit frustrating. But serious altitude problems occur far too often. And the tricky thing is that you don't always notice it immediately - it's a delayed reaction. You may arrive at a place and feel fine and suddenly during the night the problems start, or even during the second night at the same altitude.

Studies have shown that even for a "standard" EBC itinerary (2 nights Namche, 1 night Tengboche, 2 nights Pheriche then Lobuje), about 50% of trekkers still experience some form of AMS.

Take a book with to read on your acclimatisation stops.

[daras]

Hi Andrew,
You can save ca.7 days .... when you start your trek from Lukla.
In this case you will need a ticket KTM-Lukla-KTA (ca.200USD).
But for the rest part of trek - please keep your itinerary acc.LonleyPlanet (with aclimatisation "pit stops") ;)

rgds
daras

[yakshaver]

In agreement with all other advice. Definitely DO NOT try to do it faster going up from Lukla. In fact fitness can be a danger here. You may be tempted to go faster/higher simply because you can. And if you go too high too fast, altitude gets you. Altitude sickness is no respecter of how fit you are. You can get just as sick or die, wheter you are a fit or unfit. Being a bit unfit may be a blessing in disguise, as you will go up slower.

Some nights aroung Namche and Kumjung area for acclimatization are a must. Fit or unfit.

Maybe if you have trekked from Jiri, then two nights may cut it. But definitely stick to the LP rythm (or slower if you can) once you pass 4000m. Even if you just walk 3 hours that day. Because it is not the time that matter, but how high you got in those 2-3 hours. And if leaving 4000 m, you have reached 4400 or 4500 in 2 hours, so be it. You stop there for the night. A good trick is to stop at some lodge by lunch time, have lunch, then go climb some hill 300-400meters up from there. Then come and sleep down back at the lodge. For some reason by doing this the body gets tricked into making more red cells faster, therefor helping with acclimatiztion. So walk higher than you will sleep, if you can. Definitely try not to gain more than 300-500m in altitude a day, once you get beyond 3500m.

[ELMER6]

Have to agree with yakshaver, it's not if you get AMS, it's when, and believe me it's not fun, and wastes the money you spent on the trek. Don't push the limits, unless you want the worst to happen

The medical reason for the increase in red blood cells, is the kidneys produce erythropoietin naturally when at altitude (EPO, yes the same as the athletes inject), as the body's response to altitude. This EPO then induces the body to produce more red blood cellls. The more red blood cells, the more oxygen the body can get, an advantage at altitude. When you come down from altitude there's more oxygen available and you feel fantasic. This is the same reason renal failure patients are anaemic (in reverse). an important bit of trivia???
Cheers, andrew

[pilgrims-trek]

I am not completly agreed with some one information regarding to fly-kathmandu-Lukla kathmandu and only 7 days in everest base camp.

kathmandu to Lukala and return fly cost US$ 232 and everest base camp from lukla is minuum 10 days needed.
thanks

[yakshaver]

I am not completly agreed with some one information regarding to fly-kathmandu-Lukla kathmandu and only 7 days in everest base camp.

kathmandu to Lukala and return fly cost US$ 232 and everest base camp from lukla is minuum 10 days needed.
thanks


I think Daras meant that if you fly into Lukla, as different from walking from Jiri, you trek would be shorter by about 7 days or so... NOT that one can do Lukla to EBC return in 7 days. In fact even 10 days, if you suggest this as a return trip, would seem a bit too short for me for the Lukla to EBC and return trek. I did Gokyo 4 years ago in 10 days, and it wished I had an extra two days. Both for the scenary and the whole enjoyment of not rushing too much.

For EBC I suggest at least 12, but better 14 days. This way you get to take in some of the really interesting stuff along the way. Else you're a bit like Roadrunner...

[daras]

I am not completly agreed with some one information regarding to fly-kathmandu-Lukla kathmandu and only 7 days in everest base camp.

I afraid that is misunderstanding.
Please note, I wrote that you can save (earn) 7 days!! ... and do EBC trek acc.LP - ca. 14days.
Of course I agree with Yakshaver that trek from Jiri is much better then "short version" from Lukla. But from the other hand - when someone has ca.14-16 days for trek - this option (with flight) can be a solution. I think it's better then start trek from Jiri ....and back from Tengboche or Pheriche after 12-13days.

BTW:
in 2006 I've paid 190USD for return ticket KTM-Lukla-KTM; now as I see - the price is 232USD (so it's means +20%). is it true?
what about the prices for KTM-Lhassa-KTM ??

rgds
daras

[Escher]

It seems flight costs have increased. Booked two Pokhara tickets this morning for USD98 each. Three years ago they were USD65. Fuel prices have increased the world over in the last year or so. Our international flights were also 20% more expensive.

[ukcoleman]

I did Jiri to Gokyo (5350m) when I was in my late teens. At that stage I played football, basketball and golf and rode my mountain bike every day. I went camping regularly and was basically as fit as a teenager can get.

Day one out of Jiri we walked to Bhandar and it nearly killed me. Next day we went down to the river and then up and over to Golela (slightly off the Everest trail) and that nearly killed me too. Then we had a couple of lighter days and a rest day, but passed to the north of Pike (4065m), through Salleri and Phaplu before rejoining the Everest trail at Ringmo. With our 5 day detour, we passed by Lukla on day 10 and I was flying.

Then I got a mild headache on approach to Gokyo village 5 days later, did the right thing and mentioned it to my guides and was then banned from climbing the peak. I was obviously disappointed but am in a position to tell you about it and try again next year. Hopefully next time I will also visit EBC while I'm in the vicinity.

BTW: the headache never got any worse, but it didn't go away until we descended the following day either. Regardless of the what ifs, to this day I'm content that my actions _may_ have saved my life.