Has anyone trekked to Everest Base Camp

I've done it. It will be cold in December, but should not be too many trekkers by then. You can actually do it on your own cheaper than going through an agency, but you might need a few more days when you to KTM to make the arrangements (they'r not hard). Most people do not actually go to the BC because you cannot see Everest from there. Kala Patar & Gokyi Ri are the preferred viewing points. If you go on your own, you may want to verify that the teahouses above Tengboche (particulary Lobche & Gorak Shep) are still open then, I believe most of them close at some point after the main trekking season. If you are in HK and can wait till later in the spring, you could consider doing it from the Tibetan side.

The Annapurna circuit is a really nice trek also and I actually enjoyed it more, but getting over Thorung La may be sketchy by December.
 
any thanks and I will PM you. My window is december for various reasons.

Have a buddy going too. Less cocnerned about the money aspect than making it hassle free so likely to go with a guide team - can your eccomend one (for either way)

I am 39 and a long distance backpacker but no mountanier - can you comment on a training regime starting now?

Anymore advice/links appreciated
 
We trekked the Annapurna Circuit and I know people that have done the base camp. We loved it, and I think it's meant to be a better trek, but might take you longer.
 
I've not trekked with an agency in Nepal so could not really make a good recommendation. You might try the one associated with the Kathmandu GH (www.ktmgh.com/ ); the KMG is right in the center of Thamel and would be very convenient. For rafting I would highly recommend Ultimate Descents. If money is not a major concern, my only advice would be just go with one that gives a good feeling, and not the absolute cheapest. I went on a trek in Ladakh in northern India some years ago in which a girl that was with us insisted on bargaining to get the absolute cheapest. At the time I was like OK, that's fine, but we wound up with total crap for food.

As far as training, walking up and down hills with a pack should be good. If your are a long distance backpacker as you say, I'm guessing you are relatively fit already. If you are flying into Lukla, you cut out a lot of ups and downs. There is a steep ascent going up to Namche Bazaar, & another to Tengboche, but other than that it is mostly a steady, gradual uphill grind. After Tengboche, most people just walk, 1/2 day and rest in the afternoon to allow easier adjstment to the altitude. This point I cannot stress enough; you will be topping out at around 18,000 feet; this is serious altitude that can make your very sick and even kill you if you do not know how to deal with it. If you do not have experience with this, read as much as you can about AMS (Accute Mountain Sickness) and listen to your guides. Not trying to be dramatic, but a few people get in to big troulble with AMS every year in the Khumbu.

Starting at Jiri, gives you more time to adjust to the altitude, but this makes for a long, very physically demanding trek with a lot of ups and downs. If you start here, you will total over 30,000 feet of gross ascent; 4 days into the trek you cross a 10,000 foot pass and then descend to a point lower than where you actually started 5 days earlier.

One last thing, expect it to be very cold at night (below 10 deg F). I did this trek in November and it was already dipping into the teens.

It is an unforgettable experience, however. The mountain scenery is incredible and the Sherpas are really friendly. In December you will also miss the peak trekking season which can make it even nicer.
 
I don't think I could ever do this because I would always look up at that mountain, and wonder if I could make it to the top. The problem with this is it would eat at me forever, and I couldn't let it go. I would become obsessed with it, likely give it a try, and since I would refuse to let it beat me probably die up there. Everest is one of those things that I wonder if I could do, but know deep down it is probably in my best interest to stay away from all things concerning it. I would be the idiot who would get summit fever, and make a push to finish. If somehow I even got close and didn't make it I don't think I could live with that either. It is simply my nature.

I do think this would be badass though, and if you do it please post lots of pics.
 
I am going to do this and if I dont get too sick I ay try everest who knows. It wont eat me alive with regret if I dont but I can see why that might happen.
 
I'm with you 007. I've always wanted to run with the bulls; however, I'd be the idoit that gets gored. As stupid as it may be, I'd want to be front and center.
 
Acclimating to the altitude will be important. I have never been to Everest base camp, but I have been to that altitude, and you will really feel it. The air at 18,000 ft makes 14,000 ft air (the highest in the continental US) feel like molasses.

It helps to keep drinking water (even if you don't really feel like it), not drink alcohol (sorry!), get used to a slower pace ('slow your roll'), and especially, make sure you have several days for your body to adjust. It is harder to handle the altitude when you are asleep, hence the mountaineering strategy of 'climb high, sleep low': During the day, hike up to higher altitude, then come down to sleep. After a day or two of this, spend the night higher. Repeat as needed.

Gingko Biloba is supposed to help with altitude acclimatization, take a couple of caplets a day, starting a few days before the trek, and continue during.

Carrying a heavy pack up and down hills while training will help of course, it won't do anything for *altitude*, but the idea is that you will be fit enough so that altitude is the only thing you are having to adjust for when you are there.

BTW - The mountain I would really like to get a look at is Ama Dablam, which is not far away. In my dreams, I would love to get to the summit of Ama Dablam, at 22-23 k feet, and look at the summit of Everest a mile above. That would be cool.

Also - Try and read 'High Adventure' by Edmund Hillary. The book of course talks about his reaching the summit of Everest, but most of it is about various exploring of the passes etc. around that region.
 
The trek to Everest BC literally goes right by Ama Dablam; it is a stunning peak. I know there are a few commercial expeditions that climb it each year, but it is more technical than some of Nepal's other peaks.

Also, from Gokyo Ri, you can actually see the summits of 4 of the 6 highest peaks in the world (Everest, Lhoste, Cho Oyu, & Makalu).

There is a pass called Cho La that leads from the Khumbu valley and Kala Pattar to the Gokyo valley. It is not that hard (mountaineeing experience not reg'd), just a little boulder hopping and walking along the edge of a snowfield, so if you are interested you make ask whatever agency you chose about it. I did it in mid-November though, so cannot testify how it may be in December.
 
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