EVEREST BASE CAMP-PT. 3- YAK PACKING TIPS

DRIED YAK POO FOR HEATING,
& POTATOES FOR EATING

Click on Picture and it will enlarge.
Hi everyone, this post is for people getting ready to go to Everest Base Camp or any altitude in the Himalayas, it includes some extra strategies for packing, etc.  Plus at the bottom of the blog if you want to see some National Geographic quality photos of our journey taken by fellow traveler Wesley Cronk- click on his website-- the one of the Milky Way and the lighted block building is stunning!
If you forget some gear, u can always enjoy Yak stuff along the way, like a stove fire with Yak Dung,- great way to clear your sinuses, but at least you are warmer when you are hanging in a guesthouse at meal time.
PACKING TIPS- ETC. The packing list from REI was great-follow that, here are some other ideas that might help.
1. Compression bags---get the good ones with straps, this can reduce the space needed by your clothes or sleeping bag tremendously.
2. Sleep with your electronics--sorry honey! batteries, cameras, Iphones, etc.  For cameras, headlamp, etc. - use lithium batteries, -my initial ones lasted the whole trip.- keep them warm. Plus my Iphone 5 took great pictures the whole trip.
3. Charging phones and cameras--there are charging stations at most all the Guesthouses,  for a few dollars-although you need to bring the right international adapter for Asia
4. Bring a Vest: not on the packing list--I bought a "knock-off"one in Kathmandu for $17.00-worked fine-still using it.
5. Diamox: take the dosage the guide tells you--125 mg in the morning and 125 mg at night, most tablets our 250mg just break them in half.
6. Since Diamox is a diuretic--drink 3-4 liters per day- the tea and soup they give you along the way-should add up to at least one liter a day.
7. Drink only warm water!!!. cold H20 can upset your digestive tract at altitude.
7. I brought 2- 1 liter Nalgene  bottles + a camelback (2 liters) this way I could choose what worked best, since you can't put hot water directly in your camelback--these can be used to cool the H20 down. Buy the dust cover for the camelback to cover your mouthpiece (although it does fall off- it's a good reminder to keep the mouthpiece out of the dirt)
8. Handi wipes & wash rag- they gave us hot water for cleaning, but handi wipes work just as good.
9. 2 or more Clothes Pens--to hang clothes on tent or on the occasional clothesline
10. Blow-up mattress and string--They give you an excellent mattress-- but I was still cold, and could feel the bumps in the ground, so when we tied the 2 together it worked great.
11. Bag liner--If you can afford to get a -30 F sleeping bag- go ahead. 0 F degree is fine, --u can buy bag liners, cheap- in Namche. (probably just need this during fall and winter travel time)
12. Ginger Tea--might want to bring your favorite tea or coffee--since u get hot water as an option. The Ginger tea was great for nausea. And don't forget you have to try to eat even if you have nausea.
13. Trekking poles- really helped on the rocky sections and climbing Kala Patthar
14. Our guide Thupten said if you experience any 3 altitude symptoms at the same time and they don't go away, you must come down in altitude--tell your guide all your symptoms: for example: nausea, headache and lightheaded, and if rest, fluids, and advil or tylenol don't alleviate they will have you head down. Most of these symptoms will go away when you are sleeping or you take a nap.
15. Excellent altitude book: Altitude illness Prevention and Treatment by Stephen Bezruchka, M.D. 16. Train at altitude if you can--good time to see Colorado and do a 14teener.
17. If you suffer from dust allergies, bring a mask or hanker-chief for Kathmandu
18. 30lb limit on your duffel bag to fly to Lukla- actually they'll take 32 lbs- I would buy an XL Northface duffel bag--it's lighter.
19. In my opinion the best day pack on the market is the Gregory Z30 liter, perfect size for this kind of trip, huge pocket at top with easy access, + it comes with a rain fly.
20. Try to climb Mt.  Kala Patthar no matter how bad you feel-it's amazing!!!
21. Get ready for one of the greatest adventures you will ever go on!

One of our trekking buddies: Wesley Cronk took some unbelievable pictures on our trip and look like professional quality: here is his link to enjoy: http://arasian.com/pics/places/himalayas2013/

OVERALL COSTS: I highly recommend Rei--2013 cost $3,500 + $500 for a single supplement-
Hotel in Kathmandu: Marshyangdi-great + nice garden terrace and centrally located for shopping. The hotel was included with the trek, plus comes with a great buffet breakfast, including omelets.
Hotel in Hong Kong: Butterfly on the Pratt--booked through Booking.com @ $200.
Season: October, November is the clearest and the least likely to have rain, but colder
Take extra $--shopping, shopping everywhere is great! and a deal, they will barter on most items
Flight: let Rei book it- around= $2,000. Cathay Pacific + get travel insurance as soon as you book.
*City tip: Always get a business card from your hotel in case you get lost walking, this way you can give the card to a taxi or rickshaw driver.
Streneous level: Between 4 and 5 stars ****--need to train, and at altitude at some point.
Another travel agency: Ace Travels- I ran into a guy from California, that swore by these guys, stay in Guest Houses, includes a guide too, and less expensive than REI: http://www.acetravels.com/#

NAMASTE-AMA DABLAM PEAK

YAK BYE!