Alessio’s Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch
October 9, 2014 – Back to Kathmandu on a Private Plane
This is the final episode of the Grizzled Mountain Man and his trusty sidekick Sweaty Mess. After finishing our trek when we past the gates of Lukla, we spent a quiet afternoon resting. Last night was a big celebration with our guides for finishing this trek. This celebration also included a wonderful chocolate birthday cake for Sweaty Mess.
One of trip highlights: a birthday cake for Bonnie
Not a bad way to start a new year!
This morning was the start of a new adventure. This would be the flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Picture climbing onto a giant roller coaster, and that feeling you get while it cranks you to the top of the first drop. That is the feeling of taking off at the Lukla Airport. Please note, this is not a normal airstrip as the runway is actually at about a -10% grade with a cliff on one end and a mountain on the other.
Lukla runway is always an adventure
Our original flight had mechanical difficulties, but as our guides are wonderful, they managed to find a private plane...we did not really want to share with anyone anyway.
Bonnie sitting comfortably on their private plane arranged by Berg Adventures
Upon arrive in Kathmandu at our 5 star hotel, there was a welcome sign for the "Grizzled Mountain Man" and "Sweaty Mess" congratulating us on our completed expedition.
We have had a very restful afternoon of pool time and mojitos. The grizzled Mountain Man contemplated his transition back to the pudgy old guy, I will leave it a mystery if that actually took place. However, I can say that I am able to be around other people socially now as I am not such a Sweaty Mess.
Welcome sign at the Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu
Rich back at the hotel after a nice shower
The Everest Base Camp Trek...in Summary:
Overall Stats:
- Total Km trekked: 117.5KM
- Total hours trekked: 62 hrs
- Highest elevation achieved: 5660M
- Lowest elevation: 2410M
- Summited Everest Base Camp: October 3, 2014 10:30 AM (5364M)
- Max elevation increase in one day: 800M
- Max elevation decrease in one day: 1200M
- Longest day trekked: 18 KM / 6 HRS
- Shortest day trekked: 6.5KM / 2.5 HRS
- Slips trips and falls (Grizzled Mountain Man): 3
- Slips trips and falls (Sweaty Mess): 0
- Avalanches observed in one day: 6
- Total days trekked: 16
Trip Highlights:
- Lukla airport landing and taking off
- High Suspension bridges
- Yak traffic jams
- Canadian Flats (always happy to see)
- Being off the grid in Nepal
- Inspection of Nepali Pipeline
- Having Yak Steak
- Fresh made coffee, sitting on a patio, overlooking Everest
- Khumbu glacier viewing and trekking
- Moonscape
- Kala Pattar - climbing and view (with snow storm)
- Two major snow storms
- Everest base camp
- Learning to trudge
- Meeting Berg Management Team (half way around the world)
- Slips, trips and falls (for the Grizzled Mountain Man mostly)
- Busy trail at the end (we were really lucky to have the trail mostly to ourselves at the start)
- Prayer wheels (trying to cleanse the soul)
- Avatar like vegetation
- Bonnie Birthday Cake