{"id":622,"date":"2015-05-08T03:31:52","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T10:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/?p=622"},"modified":"2016-03-13T21:31:21","modified_gmt":"2016-03-14T04:31:21","slug":"hump-to-ebc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2015\/05\/hump-to-ebc\/","title":{"rendered":"Hump to EBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big move today to Everest Base Camp (EBC).\u00a0 This took us about 5 hours and gained 1,800 vertical feet.\u00a0 This was the toughest day so far, even though the amount of gain was typical, because the ending point was higher than we\u2019d camped before.\u00a0 I felt it today for sure.<\/p>\n

\"Another<\/a>
Another of our trekking friends made the right call to descend today via heli. We will miss him!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Leaving<\/a>
Leaving the LBC basin. (Photo: Justin Merle).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Conditions<\/a>
Conditions are perfect for a trek today. \u00a0(Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The medical kit always travels with us, in the hands of our trusty sherpas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lakpa<\/a>
Lakpa Sherpa sweeps nicely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Blake<\/a>
Blake sheds a tear at leaving LBC… not.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trek took us away from Lobuche and up the Khumbu valley, which is remarkably scenic and impressive.\u00a0 We stopped briefly for a break a Lobuche town, then at Gorak Shep, before pulling into EBC itself.\u00a0 Both of these towns consist of a few tea houses, a helipad, and LOTS of yak dung.\u00a0 The streets are basically open sewers, for the waste of both human and beast, and you truly do walk through feces to get anywhere.\u00a0 More disturbing was watching the water intake pump at Lobuche town in a feculent stream get clogged with yak dung as it screeched while trying to pump \u201cwater\u201d up to the tea house. Thank goodness for boiled water and UV steri-pens.\u00a0 To date, our GI issues have been very modest, a testament to our meticulous habits while moving though these places.\u00a0 On the other hand, Gorak had some 3G internet, just a little, so it was not all bad.<\/p>\n

\"Making<\/a>
Making the left turn up the Khumbu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nippiest<\/a>
Nuptse\u00a0comes into view and dominates the skyline.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Yak<\/a>
Yak train across the valley on the trail to Pheriche… this will be our route out at the end of the expedition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Pumori<\/a>
Pumori on our left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nuptse<\/a>
Nuptse gets closer on our right…. West Shoulder of Everest appears on the left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Very<\/a>
Very happy to be here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"So<\/a>
So is Blake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Andy<\/a>
Andy points out features of the upper Khumbu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Suddenly,<\/a>
Suddenly, we see the summit, in the background, between the west shoulder and Nuptse. EBC appears just in the middle left of the photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Closeup<\/a>
Closeup of the summit pyramid, including South Summit on right, cornice traverse, and Hillary Step. \u00a0Snowmass of Nuptse in foreground. \u00a0Oh yes….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"DSC00678\"<\/a>
Remarkable burden of hanging glaciers on Nuptse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Closeup<\/a>
Closeup of some of the ice on Nuptse. This is impressive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Truly<\/a>
Truly impressive…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Numerous<\/a>
Numerous sinkholes appear in the moraine. Not good for skating on…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"We<\/a>
We are easily impressed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Me<\/a>
Me and LC as we approach EBC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"IMGP3851\"<\/a>
Pumori dominates the terminal Khumbu. (Photo: Justin Merle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Me,<\/a>
Me, Blake, and LC happily to get close to EBC! \u00a0(Photo: Justin Merle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EBC sits on a glacial moraine, meaning blue ice covered in loose stones ranging in size from pebbles to the size of houses.\u00a0 It shifts and moves slowly on its way downhill, so the camp has to be rebuilt by hand each year.\u00a0 The sherpa teams that do this work are remarkable.\u00a0 I am amazed by their strength, determination, and organizational skills.\u00a0 It is not exactly an engineering marvel, but something close to that.\u00a0 Our tents sit on platforms that have been chiseled and carved out of the icy rock, and trails join the community together\u2026 personal (small) tents, cook tents, gear tents, communications tents, dining tents, toilet tents, shower tents (yes, hot showers on demand!), and the entertainment tent (an army surplus tent where we can recharge batteries and project movies on the wall).\u00a0 At night, some paths are lit by solar rechargeable garden lights.\u00a0 It is bitterly cold at night, but there is a decidedly cheerful air to this place.\u00a0 For instance, our dining tent is adorned with plastic flowers, stylish chair covers, and astroturf carpeting.<\/p>\n

\"EBC<\/a>
EBC seen from the ridge leaving Gork Shep.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Our<\/a>
Our tents have a nice view, no doubt. (Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Everest,<\/a>
Everest, the icefall, and Nuptse are at our front door. (Photo: Blake Penson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is important, because Mt Everest sits right outside our doorstep.\u00a0 It is enormous, imposing, savagely beautiful.\u00a0 Behind us, Pumori stands like a stone sentinel.\u00a0 Then a full, impenetrable cirque ends in the West Buttress of Everest, which terminates in the\u00a0 Kumbu icefall, then Nuptse immediately across from our camp.\u00a0 I have studied their photos for years, but reality is much more impressive.<\/p>\n

This will be fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Big move today to Everest Base Camp (EBC).\u00a0 This took us about 5 hours and gained 1,800 vertical feet.\u00a0 This was the toughest day so far, even though the amount of gain was typical, because the ending point was higher than we\u2019d camped before.\u00a0 I felt it today for sure. The trek took us away … Continue reading Hump to EBC<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-approach-trek","category-basecamp","expedition-everest-2015"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHump to EBC - OSM Adventures<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2015\/05\/hump-to-ebc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hump to EBC - OSM Adventures\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Big move today to Everest Base Camp (EBC).\u00a0 This took us about 5 hours and gained 1,800 vertical feet.\u00a0 This was the toughest day so far, even though the amount of gain was typical, because the ending point was higher than we\u2019d camped before.\u00a0 I felt it today for sure. 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