trekking

Total Budget : Around $2200 from Dubai.

Activities : Trekking

Rating : 8/10

Difficulty : Shaolin Monk

 

Born and raised in the UAE its hot and humid climate that reaches up to 60C in summer and minimum 12C in winter. Taking a decision to go to Everest base-camp alone was not simple. I read stories about the risk and the trekkers who got missing…etc. But that made me more eager to do it. Telling my pears and friends about it sounded like a joke, till the day i was posting photos from Nepal.

I needed to get my fitness back in shape before indulging into this trek. I starting hitting the gym daily on the treadmill with increasing inclines. Ended up to go on a trek in Oman (nearly 2,000m elevation trek) in a moderate hike one week before my trip to Everest with a trekking group called trekkup.

Most of the nationalities gain visa on arrival in Nepal, but me as Palestinian was excluded from this. So i had to take the visa before going to Nepal from the Nepali embassy in Abu Dhabi. The process was very easy though and i got it in a couple of hours. Nevertheless, it was good for me. i advice to take it before you go to Nepal. The on-arrival visa queue in Kathmandu Airport was really long, and I was the first one to get out of the airport.

I carried for my trip very few things, just a back-bag and a small handbag. Mostly trekking gears, protein bars, oats, books, power pack and mp3 player. Winter cloths were a must, but what i brought with me was no match with reality. I realized later, you can buy all these winter and trekking gear from Kathmandu or Namche Bazaar later in low prices. So I will share my experience in what you need to get with you (as a photographer) to start this trek.

I went to this trek with my guide only Pasang Dendi Sherpa which I highly recommend ( he is funny, honest, good in English and a life saver) . I think it would be more enjoyable if you have some friends with you to share the time, as the time slowly passes. The day feels like a week. and the cost of this trip was not high (almost $2,000 overall including the flights). Beside, this trek could be dangerous and accidents do happen (as it happened to me) and a helping hand could mean life.

My trip started 27/March/2015 till 10/April/2015 . Almost 14 days in total. ( 2 weeks before the devastating earthquake). I had the fun, in the way up it was winter and in the way down it was spring. So i highly recommend this time though the weather is really treacherous there.

Here are the things I learned the hard way. I modified the common list found on the web with extra notes based on the season i stated earlier (end of winter, start of spring) :

The Trekking Equipment & Packing List (for photographers)

 

Photography :

 

Smartphone :

• I used it to take selfies, and short mobile videos. Enable the GPS and keep the location stamp on the photos you take. Useful to upload on google photos and get a story done on the maps.
• Also, you can make use of some apps to record the trail, distance how many calories you are burning.

Chargers:

• Take all your chargers with you, you can charge in the lodges on the way. there is electricity but you will need to pay for it.

 

Trekking Gear

Head:

• Sun hat or scarf
• Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
• Sunglasses with UV protection (get extra one just incase)

 

Upper Body:

• T-shirts
• Light and expedition weight thermal tops
• Fleece jacket
• Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof shell jacket
• Down vest or jacket
• Windstopper jacket (optional)

 

Lower Body:

• Under Garments
• Lightweight cotton long pants
• Light and expedition weight thermal bottoms
• Fleece or wool pants (seasonal)
• Waterproof shell pants (optional)

 

Feet:

• Thin, lightweight inner socks
• Thick, warm wool hiking socks
• Hiking boots with spare laces (preferable with ankle support and water proof)
• Camp shoes (sneakers and/or sandals) (good to move around in the camp/lodges)
• Gaiters for hiking in winter to the base camp (optional)
• Anti-slip Ice Cleats

 

Hands:

• Lightweight gloves ( preferable one to use for clicking photos )
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens with a waterproof shell outer

 

Accessories:

• Headlamp with extra batteries
• First Aid Kit
• Plastic bags – for keeping items dry inside trek bag and trekking back water proof cover
• Day pack (about 2500 to 3000 cubic inches) (optional)
• Trekking Poles (optional)
• Knee support (optional)
• Camel bag to keep you dehydrated (1 liter at least) and electrolytes (powder or tablets)
• Toiletries (Small wash towel, Toilet papers etc, these is very precious, carry extra)
• Ear Plug (who knows, some people on group are snoring, and the lodges are really noisy)
• Lip guard ( 75% protection or more , i got lips dry and bleeding i used 50%)
• Passport copies
• Pocket knives
• Flash light (optional, you can use your headlight instead)
• water proof waist bag to keep your important papers/passport ( very important specially when accidents happen, like falling in the river)

 

Toiletries:

• 1 medium-sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable, you will use it to wash your cloths and hands)
• washing rubber gloves (to use it when you wash your cloths)
• Deodorants ( taking showers could be really a big challenge)
• Nail clippers (optional)
• Face and body moisturizer (optional)

 

Personal Hygiene:

• Wet wipes (baby wipes, very important, carry extra one)
• Tissue /toilet roll (very important carry extra)
• Anti bacterial hands wash (a must)

Extras for time pass (time is very slow up there, unless you plan to meditate get these):

• Books
• Journal & Pen
• MP3 player with your fav songs/audio
• Pencils and small notebooks

Good luck, and send to me if you have any questions or inquiries.

My Everest base-camp story is coming soon ( Everest 2 weeks before the Earthquake )