Wednesday, February 24, 2016

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

Winter East Himalayas Self-Guided Solo Ascent to see the World's Highest Summit
November 27 to December 15, 2015

"People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things." - Sir Edmund Hllary, the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest

This mountain adventure is considered as my 4th major hike abroad. 

To summarize Nepal's famous 3 trekking routes (Everest Base CampAnnapurna Circuit and Lantang Valley) based on my self-guided solo winter hike adventure in comparison to each other; E​VEREST BASE CAMP (5,364masl) and KALAPATHAR (5,550masl) trekking route is costly because of the Lukla flight, trekking difficulty is hardest (but much rewarding) because of the series of ascent/descent trails from Jiri and the high elevation challenge, and nothing beats the view of the world's highest mountain peak. Mount Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmatha, is Earth's highest mountain at 8,848masl. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first climbed it in 1953. Everest Base Camp (EBC) is used to describe two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest. South Base Camp is in Khumbu, Nepal at 5,364masl, and North Base Camp is in Tibet, China at 5,150masl. The Everest Base Camp trek on the south side is the most popular trekking route in the Himalayas mountain range.

There are two jump-off points to trek Everest Base Camp; (1) Short Route - flying from Kathmandu to Lukla, then start trekking from Lukla. Usually on 12-14 days depending on trekking pace and acclimatization requirements. and (2) Long Route - bus from Kathmandu to Jiri, then start trekking from Jiri. As per Nepal Tourism Board, there's around 10-days walk from Jiri going to Namche, estimated to have 25-28 days if goes back to Jiri. I chose the long route trekking because somehow I wanted to help by means of visiting the affected village of April 2015 Earthquake and be their guest. Also I want to make my own version of Himalayas trekking inspired by movies "Into the Wild", "The Way", Secret Life of Walter Mitty", "The Wild" and "Everest".

Please take note that I have previous hiking experience in Mt. Pulag, Philippines (2,922masl), Mt. Fuji, Japan (3,776masl), Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia (4,095masl) and Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (5,895masl). Also, I have some local minor climbs in the Philippines before I took those international treks listed above. Despite of this records, I am below average hiker because I'm always the last one arrived on every designated village, I have breathing problems even by just taking a 10km fun-run and I saw most of the trekkers can shortened the 18-days I did.

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to EBC (5,364masl) - Mt. Everest Summit seen in Kalapathar

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to EBC (5,364masl) - Mt. Everest Summit & Base Camp seen in Kalapathar

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

This another race against time, Himalayas backpacking researched in somehow detailed manner has a compressed itinerary designed as follows; 

Day 01 Nov. 27, 2015 Fri: Kathmandu by ordinary bus to Jiri (1,955masl)
Day 02 Nov. 28, 2015 Sat: Jiri (1,955masl) to Shivalaya (1,770masl)
Day 03 Nov. 29, 2015 Sun: Shivalaya (1,770masl) to Kinja (1,630masl)
Day 04 Nov. 30, 2015 Mon: Kinja (1,630masl) to Lamjura Pass (3,400masl) 
Day 05 Dec. 01, 2015 Tue: Lamjura Pass (3,400masl) to Salung (2,960masl)
Day 06 Dec. 02, 2015 Wed: Salung (2,960masl) to Jubhing (1,680masl)
Day 07 Dec. 03, 2015 Thu: Jubhing (1,680masl) to Paiya (2,730masl)
Day 08 Dec. 04, 2015 Fri: Paiya (2,730masl) to Ghat (2,492masl)
Day 09 Dec. 05, 2015 Sat: Ghat (2,492masl) to Namche (3,440masl)
Day 10 Dec. 06, 2015 Sun: Namche (3,440masl) to Tengboche (3,860masl)
Day 11 Dec. 07, 2015 Mon: Tengboche (3,860masl) to Dingboche (4,410masl)
Day 12 Dec. 08, 2015 Tue: Dingboche (4,410masl) to Lobuche (4,910masl)
Day 13 Dec. 09, 2015 Wed: Lobuche (4,910masl) to Gorakshep (5,140masl)
Day 14 Dec. 10, 2015 Thu: Gorakshep (5,140masl) to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)
Day 15 Dec. 11, 2015 Fri: Gorakshep (5,140masl) to Kalapathar Peak (5,550masl)
Day 16 Dec. 12, 2015 Sat: Gorakshep (5,140masl) to Pangboche (3,930masl)
Day 17 Dec. 13, 2015 Sun: Pangboche (3,930masl) to Namche (3,440masl)
Day 18 Dec. 14, 2015 Mon: Namche (3,440masl) to Lukla (2,840masl)
Day 19 Dec. 15, 2015 Tue: Morning Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

TOTAL BUDGET: $566.5 (include permits, bus/plane ticket, lodges, all meals)

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to EBC (5,364masl) - my very dependable trekking partners

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT EVEREST BASE CAMP:

Peak Season is from February to May (fairly stable, dry) and September to November (occasional rains).
Off-Peak Season is from November to January (winter, dry season) and June to August (rainy season). 

ADVANTAGES OF TREKKING EVEREST BASE CAMP DURING WINTER SEASON:

1. no crowd, trail is widely open for both Trekkers, locals and animals.
2. accommodation is available anywhere and some items are at very low prices.
3. no photobomb and waiting time for summit mandatory photo-ops.
4. clear sky from morning until early afternoon, zero rainfall and snowfall.

DISADVANTAGE OF TREKKING EVEREST BASE CAMP DURING WINTER SEASON:

1. temperature reach down to -10'C plus windchill especially on the summit, and at night.
2. bed, blanket, jacket is moisten due to extreme coldness especially in very high altitudes
3. drinking water will become ice at an overnight duration only even during trekking to Kalapathar Peak.
4. prone easily to sickness

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

18 Days Winter Solo Hike from Jiri to Mt. Everest Base Camp (5,364masl)

Anyways, I divided this wonderful journey into different set of posts to be more specific on its content;




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