How Harsh Can It Be? Everest Base Camp Trek Day Six

After a troublesome night, with bouts of diarrhoea interrupting my sleep, I wake to feel slightly more human. I head to breakfast to find out the plan for our Everest Base Camp Trek day six.

Everest Base Camp Trek Day Six

Acclimatisation walk

We have a choice of two walks to choose from. A 10 am long walk up to higher levels or a shorter walk in the valley in the afternoon. I opt for the former, wishing to test myself. Jason takes the majority of our stuff so I can walk with no backpack.

It’s a steady climb of just under 1.5 hours, to a magnificent viewpoint decorated with numerous miniature stupas and prayer flags. We sit overlooking Everest, sheltered from the biting wind and soak up the sun rays. I feel tears forming as I take in the majesty of the surroundings. It’s hard to explain the beauty of this harsh landscape and I’m in awe of the people who choose to live here.

Living in the Himalayas

Settlements exist up to around 5,000 metres in the Himalayas but this is a harsh life. Every day is a struggle to find heat, grow food, obtain clean water and maintain hygiene. Innovation is the key, with solar panels to take advantage of the strong Himalayan sun. Huge dishes, which resemble satellite dishes, also serve as a reflective heat source. A kettle stand nestles neatly on the inside and a pot of tea takes around 30 minutes to boil in this fashion.

Reading the Lonely Planet guide to Nepal, it saddens me to see a literacy rate below 50%. The rate is lower still for girls. Secondary schools are often far from home and only a small percentage of children finish their education. I wonder if there is hope for a better future for them.

Return to Bright Star

We return to the teahouse for lunch and find more of our fellow trekkers have succumbed to the bug. In fact, by the end of the day, all but 3 of our expedition group of 24 have had symptoms! Who the hell is going to carry my daypack tomorrow?

Rest time

We spend the afternoon picking up supplies, dropping off laundry and reading and writing. I struggle to sleep yet again as seems to be the norm at altitude.

Fast facts

Height change:

Around 200m on our acclimatisation walk.

Distance travelled:

3 km

Trekking time:

2.5 hours

Overnight digs:

Bright Star Lodge with communal western toilets. It has hot showers, which you will need to pay for. They cost 600 rp or $6 each including use of a quality towel.

Costs in the Himalayas

Remember costs seem expensive in the mountains but note my points about the hardships faced in the mountains. This hotel has laundry service, in a real washing machine, which means someone carried that washing machine over 20km from Lukla!!!!

Why Everest Base camp?

We trekked to Everest Base Camp to raise money for a local children’s hospice, the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. To sponsor us, please visit our justgiving page.

Read more:

Here are the other posts for our Everest Base Camp trek.

Everest Base Camp trek – day one, day two, day three, day four, and day five

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