Jiri-EBC trek questions

[PLUM]

We are arriving in KTM on 18-11 and plan to start the EBC trek, walking in from Jiri, around 22/23-11. Our plan is that we will stay in lodges along the way.
We have a few questions, which we would be grateful if people could help us with;

1) Will we need crampons/ice axe for the EBC or Gokyo routes?

2) Is the Cho-la pass likely to be closed in early/mid December due to bad weather?

3) We have sleeping bags that are good for –7. will this be OK (we will stay in lodges)?

4) We plan to fly back to KTM from Lukla. Can we pay for these by credit card?

5) Are flights from Lukla to KTM likely to be heavily booked up in mid December?

6) Where is the best place (easiest) to get visa extensions, KTM or Pokhara?

7) What is the typical cost of a good porter/guide per day? (including all accommodation/food etc)

8) What is the Maoist ‘situation’ like these days?

9) In early Jan we will probably also do the Jomson trek, starting from Naya Pul – any tips or advice people have will be very welcome.

Thanks very much!

[%sig%]

[Jessica]

1) Will we need crampons/ice axe for the EBC or Gokyo routes?

No!

2) Is the Cho-la pass likely to be closed in early/mid December due to bad weather?

Yes!

3) We have sleeping bags that are good for –7. will this be OK (we will stay in lodges)?
Take a sleeping bag for -20. You can rent it in Thamel, Kathmandu.

4) We plan to fly back to KTM from Lukla. Can we pay for these by credit card?

Yes!
5) Are flights from Lukla to KTM likely to be heavily booked up in mid December?

Yes!

6) Where is the best place (easiest) to get visa extensions, KTM or Pokhara?

In KAthmandu

7) What is the typical cost of a good porter/guide per day? (including all accommodation/food etc)

US$ 15 a Day

8) What is the Maoist ‘situation’ like these days?

9) In early Jan we will probably also do the Jomson trek, starting from Naya Pul – any tips or advice people have will be very welcome.

You can do Jomsom - Muktinath trek.

You may do your trek with Adventure Thirdpole Treks. Their email address is thirdpole@wlink.com.np

Jessica

[The Anti-Thirdpole]

The sleeping bags at -7 can be boosted by wearing thermals and should be adequate unless you are very cold sleepers. Beware of using your credit cards in places like these...they are experts. Maoists are common on Jiri to Lukla route but at worst you will pay NPR1000 and can even talk your way down. You pay other fees and accept the situation so this is not an unreasonable amount and will get a receipt as a keepsake for the mantlepiece.

Porter are available for NPR650 a day (and they pay their own food/bed). The ones carrying for the trekking companies bust their balls with 30kgs loads for much less (NPR350). If you like them you can tip them a couple of extra days pay at the end.

Beware of any recommendations from the Jess for 3rd pole..she is a figment of their imagination and is not a real person!!!!

[chickenplucker]

I think most of this is good advice, I would only add that it is very easy to go up too fast on the Goyko side. There are no villages or side trips to spend time in, just a few lodges. This was pretty boring to me, and I went up too fast and got altitude sickness at 4000 meters and had to descend all the way back to Lukla in one day.

I had flown to Lukla, by the way. This all was even stupider of me, as all the guidebooks warn about the Goyko side for this reason, and I had read them. Next time I would spend an extra day or two taking side trips from Namche for this reason. (I only stayed over one day there.) If you fly to Lukla, as I did, I recommend about three layover days in Namche, with day trips to the many villages in the area. If you walk in from Jiri, you probably are already in better shape, and maybe only need one layover day in Namche.