Everest Base Camp & Kala Pathar Trek

As I write from my cosy and comfortable home, I know only too well that a lot of people have worked behind and in front of the scenes to make the mission of my first ever trek become a reality. I owe a big thanks to Sneha for addressing every little query that I sent across before the trip. I can only appreciate how hard the Tamang family porters and assistant guides worked and of course Rishi bhaiya, our guide, who knew in two days that I want warm water at wake up, masala chai with my breakfast – that is usually omelette and toast! To say the very least I would say that he looked after me very well.

I really can’t say that the trek was an easy experience for me, but I am taking comfort in assuming that it is probably what will leave me amongst a small segment of the world’s population that attempts and completes this trek – the support of the crew and my fellow travellers was critical in making me put my next foot ahead every day and every hour of the walk and I am grateful to them all.

I can also not thank Mingmar, our assistant guide enough for looking after me at Gorak Shep when I was hit with altitude sickness on the day we were to go to EBC. I appreciated not only his care-taking abilities but also his sensitivity to the fact that I was unlikely to do this trek again and therefore descending to Labouche would be a lost opportunity for me. He gave me every chance to feel better so that I didn’t have to abandon my planned climb to Kala Pathar the following day – without allowing me to put myself through any risk. And to Kala Pathar I did go, thanks to him!

There is a very good reason this trek is rated amongst the top 10 trekking experiences in the world – it is challenging, it is adventurous! It is not easy, but it is not impossible! It allows you to take in amazing sights and appreciate a world and its people that is little known to us. It makes us push ourselves to the limit so we can return with a lingering feeling of accomplishment. As T.S.Eliot said ‘Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go!’

And finally Naba, let me compliment you on building the great team that you have. I can see that each one of them love working for the company and put their work before everything else. The best advice I got from a friend of mine who had trekked to the EBC a few months ago was that I go with a group. It was the most sensible advice and without doubt I made the best choice when I chose to go with HGT.

Best regards
Gauri