EBC trek, to old at 55 ?

[ross]

I want to trek to Everest base camp, has any one done it at 55 ?, I am average fitness, and this would be my first trek.
How difficult is it ?
I am looking at 11 days Lukla - everest base camp - Lukla
All help and advise would be a GREAT help
Thanks
Michael

[Suginami]

It is very difficult and very hard work. But, if you diligently do plenty of exercise before you will be fine. A treadmill, or regular strenuous weekend walking will help. I used an exercise bike for 3 months every day and found the trek quite manageable. After 3 days you will get into it.

But the climb up to Namche is nasty. Go there after doing plenty of exercise and you will enjoy it. Go there half assed and you might drag yourself up but you will be screaming. Don't believe anyone who says 'just keep going' it is hard.

You are no too old. But this is NOT strolling.

[thesilvertops]

You're never too old. Just do some regular walking - an hour a day or so and a couple of longer walks on a regular basis. You need a moderate level of fitness and stamina. I am 66 in a month's time, I try to walk on a regular basis and have the odd week away in Derbyshire or N. Yorks Moors hiking and cycling. Since I retired in 2000 at the age of 58 I have managed to trek 3 times in Everest Region, twice round Annapurna circuit, across the Pyrenees and completed the Bibbulmun track (963km) in Western Australia twice. Just put one foot in front of the other and say "I can do this"

Have a look here and see: Silvertops pics (http://www.pbase.com/thesilvertops)

Good Luck - It's a great trek.

[Huw]

Hi Michael
I did the Annapurna Circuit at 55 and had my 60th birthday while on the Gokyo Trek. I hope to return later this year to trek around Manaslu, at 62. Like silvertops, I usually do my walking on the North York Moors and occasionally in the Lake District. If you're happy with that type of walking and are reasonably fit you should have no problems with trekking in Nepal.

You can see my birthday photos here:
http://nepaljournals.googlepages.com/day13monzo

I urge you to go, you'll never regret it!
Huw
http://nepaljournals.googlepages.com/home

[RRainey]

I have no idea what "average fitness" means. If it means the amount of fitness that the inactive 90% has(only 1/12 does the proper amount of exercise to have full health benefits-30-45 minutes of exercise 3-5 times/week) then yes you would need to do substantial extra preparation.

I'm only 50. But that dosn't stop me from doing 5-6 Ultramarathons/year, plus about 2 thousand miles of hiking and running training annually.

what type of exercise have you been doing?

December My hiking partner who is 56 and I are doing a 178 mile trek to EBC, and over 3 passes.

[ross]

I have no idea what "average fitness" means. If it means the amount of fitness that the inactive 90% has(only 1/12 does the proper amount of exercise to have full health benefits-30-45 minutes of exercise 3-5 times/week) then yes you would need to do substantial extra preparation.

I'm only 50. But that dosn't stop me from doing 5-6 Ultramarathons/year, plus about 2 thousand miles of hiking and running training annually.

what type of exercise have you been doing?

December My hiking partner who is 56 and I are doing a 178 mile trek to EBC, and over 3 passes.


I play golf, run up stairs, work in a 3 floor house and go to the gym twice a week, so average as in not unfit, but not supper fit

[thesilvertops]

Go ahead and book your trip and just keep up a moderate level of exercise. You'll be fine!

[RRainey]

I say you are above average in fitness from your description. I would do some all day (8plus hrs of hiking) training hikes as preparation with altitude if it is practical.

[yakshaver]

Ross, you sound a lot fitter than I am, and I do a trek like the EBC or similar, almost every year, or twice a year sometimes. Just take it easy and don't rush it. No matter how fit you are, altitude gets you if you rush. Else enjoy it, you will most probably love the experience.

[julia]

You are never too old!

I agree with Yakshaver, you will need to go slow, which obviously helps if you are not quite as fit as you want to be, and like Yakshaver said, you cant go fast at altitude. Im not super fit either, but I think I would have benefited from doing a bit more hill walking before I went!

[yakshaver]

Julia stop it! You ARE superfit...

[julia]

Julia stop it! You ARE superfit...


Yakshaver, thank you very much for the wonderful compliment! :)

Now, I will have to live up to your statement, so when we meet up in Nepal for that coffee etc, you wont be disappointed! :D

[Escher]

You two. Get a room!

[peteris]

I'm not about fitness (this trek is right for you :) ) but schedule for 11 days. I think it depends on acclimatization before. Two days to Namche, rest day, Tengboche (I would like Pangboche much better), Dingboche, rest day, Duglha/Lobuche, Gorakshep/ Kalapathar, Duglha/Pheriche, Tengboche, Namche/Monjo, Lukla. I would add some day to this for more pleasure or reserve. Am I wrong?
Peteris

[yakshaver]

You two. Get a room!

Just missed to type the second part of my statement which says: ...else you could not keep up with Escher ;)

[julia]

Just missed to type the second part of my statement which says: ...else you could not keep up with Escher ;)

Yakshaver that is a true statement! :p

But, I wont budge my pace for anyone, not any more, I used to, but it is just as hard to walk faster than your own pace as it is to walker slower than your own, so you just have to do what suits you! He whizzes along the trail, and I know at certain points he will wait, or the best one from my point of view is, when Escher takes photos, I just plod on by and half and hour later he has caught up with me again!!

[Linwood]

When we were trekking on EBC trail in 2004, we met an American woman in Phakding who said she was 79!! She was traveling with her guide and had been on many previous treks. She just took it slow. I hope I can spend my retirement like that!!

Regular walking (3 or 4 days a week for 1-2 hours) and a few all day hikes in the lead up to departure has worked for me.

Have a great time!
Linwood

[Petrus]

If you can walk 20 km in a day with a 10 kg pack you are fit enough for EBC. I have walked AC with a 70 year old. I am not superfit, quite normal, slightly overweight, but have done both AC and climbed Kilimanjaro (14 hour final day with 1200m up and 3000m down) in past years with no problems. 53 at the moment, planning a 6-7 week trek/climb for next year.

11 days for Lukla-EBC-Lukla is bit too fast, though. Try to get one more day at least.

[yakshaver]

If you can walk 20 km in a day with a 10 kg pack you are fit enough for EBC. I have walked AC with a 70 year old. I am not superfit, quite normal, slightly overweight, but have done both AC and climbed Kilimanjaro (14 hour final day with 1200m up and 3000m down) in past years with no problems. 53 at the moment, planning a 6-7 week trek/climb for next year.

11 days for Lukla-EBC-Lukla is bit too fast, though. Try to get one more day at least.

Yes I agree, 11 days is a bit too fast for the EBC trek. I did the Gokyo trek in 11 days (twice), but EBC takes about 13-14. Can be done in 11 or 12 but you risk it quite a bit.

[RRainey]

Petrus, Just curious why would you have a 10 Kg pack? Maybe you are carrying all your own stuff? No guide or porters? I will have closer to 5 kilos
maybe a little more including my SLR camera.

[Sharon]

By the time my Keen shoes, 3 litres of water, change of clothes (warmer or colder depending on the days destination) camera gear, etc I can't see how people have these tiny day packs.

[RRainey]

I take 3 leters of water as well and a fleece and a rain/wind jacket. In cold places maybe gloves and a hat. All of that is still 5 KG.

why do you carry your shoes?

[Sharon]

I take my keens in my pack. On a couple of trips we have waded creeks etc I also like to put my shoes on as soon as we hit camp. I even trekked part of Mustang in the Keens and had my boots in the pack.
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product_wall.aspx?cat=Women&subcat=Waterfront

[RRainey]

I just will bring my crocks, but I doubt I'll carry them.

[Petrus]

I did not mean you would have a 10 kg pack when trekking, it was just a figure for fitness test purposes...

I have something between 4 and 10 kg depending on how much clothes I might need, how much photo gear I carry and if I use a biggesh pack as a daypack because I need it for something else later.

I never carry more than 1 liter of water, at least on normal trek routes, so many lodges and roaside kiosks selling be.., eh lemon tea.

[Michael Sunkist]

I did EBC at 55 and it was a butt kicker. But I trek at high altitude in America, hump my own pack (55#) and try to run uphill when I go running to strengthen the legs. Annapurnna Circuit is so much cooler. Still a hard trek but so much more beautiful scenery. My advice, take your time, don't take on more than 1000 ft. of altitude every 24 hours, example: starting at 11000 ft. Trekking to 14000 ft. make sure you snooze somewhere around 12000 ft. Pick up some diamox at any pharma in KTM, it's not a remedy for altitude sickness but should you get it eat a pill and go back down to the last altitude you felt good at and hang there for 24 hours. Do easy trekking, take your time and enjoy the sights and villagers. Remember altitude sickness is a reality if you don't follow fundamental altitude rules and it is not enjoyable. Happy trails