Everest Base Camp

While one could argue that the main destination for this adventure is EBC, I would counter that EBC was just a piece of the trip.  It was so neat to finally arrive here more to say that I've been there, had lunch there hung out and wandered about a bit.

Due to our schedule adjustment from the Cho La pass weather, we did not spend the night at EBC.  Our original schedule had us spending two nights here which I think would have been awesome.  This location accommodates approximately 1,000 people during the peak climbing season (which is while we where there).  Once spring season is over in June, the camp is broken down and almost completely vacated until the next spring.



EBC is stretched along the west and north side of the moraine on top of the Khumbu glacier.  It is village of tents setup for all of the different expeditions in the area which includes medical, scientific and other support groups in addition to summit teams.



We arrived at the SNT camp area close to lunch time and while that was being prepared for us, we hung out, wander around, etc.  People living here for several months get used to the routine and living conditions.



For me, seeing the notorious Khmubu Ice Fall up close was the most interesting thing.

It is hard to get a sense of the scale of this ice fall in the photos but there are people crossing it behind me.



I've got several zoomed in photos of the ice fall showing people crossing it.  Yes, those little black dots are people with backpacks climbing down over seracs and crevasses using ropes, fixed ladders and crampons.

They climb up through the ice fall in the middle of the night when it is most solid.  As the sun comes up and warms it during the day, the glacier moves a lot more.  Those blocks of ice called seracs are the size of small buildings and they fall over.  The route has to be constantly maintained and fixed because of this.

From EBC, there are avalanches every day happening, I saw and was able to photograph two small ones.





Yep, the yaks are here too.

We sported t-shirts for a photo op to help promote the non-profit The Food Group that Keri is the Executive Director for in Sheridan, Wyoming.



And a scouting group photo with the Troop 113 flag.  Myself and David (right side) are both ASM's in Troop 113. Boz is an Eagle Scout (1987) so he is gets to be in the photo too.



There are helicopters constantly flying in and out and past EBC.  Caught a couple interesting photos, amazing how well they are able to fly at this altitude.







Boz made the trek (>110 miles) wearing flip-flops the entire way (except when he was bare foot) and shorts most of the time.  He is a machine!