Travel Guide to Everest
George Everest, Surveyor General of India, discovered Mt. Everest in 1841. Ever since it has been the dream of many mountaineers to conquer this peak. Standing tall at 29,035 feet, the allure of Mt Everest brings us back time and again.
Mt. Everest has been called by several names. Most popularly known as Mt. Everest, the Tibetans call it Chomolungma meaning ‘mother of the universe’ while in Nepal it is known as Sagarmatha meaning ‘forehead of the sky.’
This daunting peak is so high that even the trek to its base camp at 17,590 ft is an adventure of the highest sorts. The journey to its base camp has many varied flavors such as visually stunning region, incredible cultural diversity, monasteries, and not to mention the most genuine people you will ever encounter, the Sherpa people.
PREPARING FOR THE ASCEND
The preparation begins months before one embarks on this adventure. However, packing for this trip can be quite intimidating. So many questions go through one’s mind — What to pack for the trek? Will the weather be good? Are my clothes warm enough? Do I need one more jacket? Will my bag be heavy? Are these socks warm enough? How many water bottles should I carry? Etc.
Packing is just as important as your physical and mental strength. What you pack in your bag will determine how warm you will be during the trek. Unpredictable weather in the mountains makes packing extremely important.
So we have put together a list of packing essentials that may otherwise slip one’s mind.
THE COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF PACKING ESSENTIALS
Clothing
Layering is essential during the trek. The temperature will drop suddenly one day, and the next day you will see the sun shining brightly. Hence, warm clothes are necessary. Here is a list of a few clothing essentials:
i. Kosha’s Thermal top and pants
ii. Kosha Woollen Sweater
iii. Soft-shell insulated jacket
iv. Hard-shell breathable windproof jacket
v. Kosha Woollen Pants
vi. Kosha’s Waterproof pants
vii. Full Sleeve Merino Bamboo Tees
viii. Kosha Merino Wool Liner Socks
ix. Kosha Technical Socks
x. Monkey Cap or Balaclava
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xi. Fleece / Woollen Gloves
xii. Waterproof Gloves
Backpack
The kind of backpack you carry depends on the type of trek that you are going for. If you carry all your gear on your own, then you will require a big pack of 60 / 70 litres but if you’re going to hire a porter, a 30 / 40-litres pack will suffice.
Trekking Gear
Trekking gear will support you during the trek. Such as:
i. Trekking Poles
ii. Sleeping Bag
iii. Head light
iv. Glacier Sunglasses
v. Swiss Knife
vi. Map
vii. Water bottle
viii. Compass
Hiking Shoes
Always look for lightweight and comfortable hiking boots, which offer stability and comfort.
Other Essentials
i. First Aid Kit
ii. Camera
iii. Sun block with SPF 50+
iv. Lip balm
v. Trail mixes, dry fruits, energy bars
