Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board trekking to Everest base camp in 3 weeks

I'm in a group of 15 going on the Everest BC trek with rei. Has anybody done this trip? I'm leaving october 13 and of course they recommend extreme cold weather gear. I'm wondering if the recommendations are a little over kill?

I've been hiking/backpacking in summer and winter in the Sierra's and Cascades and have had my share of cold weather (teens-20's), do they just want to make extra sure people bring enough gear? I have my basic light and mid wieght layers, then a down jacket I use. A down sleeping bag (10's). Everybody knows it can be 50 degrees and get chilly if you are just sitting around doing nothing, but hiking/climbing you warm up in any temp.

I know there are always a couple people on these trips that have never done any kind of backpacking.

Has anybody this trip or a similar one in the area?

I did a fall trip to Khumbu/Everest area incl several nearby valleys and several peaks up to 21,000.

From Lukla to Namche to Dingboche you will be fine. Mild weather there. As you turn the corner at Dingboche/Pheriche 14,000 ft and ascend to Lobuje the weather gets colder. At 15,000 ft to base camp 17,000+ you can get night fall temps down to 0 to 10 F(we did). Daytime was not problem, but:

Temperature alone is NOT the issue.Anyone can stay warm hiking in 0 F with the sun melting you. But add a cloudy day and severe wind and all is changed.

We needed the warmer gear because of our higher altitude route, but I'd recommend it for you, too. In case of bad weather, altitude sickness, other injury, then you better have the extra warmth.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Harvey

Well, I did this in April and can add a few suggestions. First, I have to say that I am a person who gets cold easily.
The main thing is layering. Be able to add many layers - up to five. That way you can adjust as the weather changes - which it can within minutes. As for your sleeping bag. If it is new you can probably get by with it because you can always put your down clothes on and sleep in the bag with them (or more layers) on.

My favorive piece of gear is my down pants. Very light-weight but can keep you nice and warm.

Also, it is better to have several top layers and two layering jackets than to have only one heavy down jacket.

Remember that you will be staying several days in one place to acclimatize (probably Dingboche) and it may be cold even in the sun (if there is sun).

Hope that helps and have a great time

When are you going and from where?? Time of year...how high will you go above base camp?? China Side?

I will be doing this trip next Oct for my honeymoon! I'd love to hear how your trip goes when you return. =)

Tif

he said REI ,they usually go to Nepal side
REI

PS my temperature comments were for early to mid Nov.

Tif, Congrats on the upcoming wedding but the "honeymoon" accommodations on the trek are - well, not very romantic.

Yep, we're very well aware of that!! Though considering the proposal came at the end of his JMT hike (literally just off the trail by the portal store - (and i literally forced him to take a shower before the drive home) I think it will suit us well. =)

RPM, I did the EBC Trek in April/May of this year. Like Cindy above, I get cold easily. Until Tengboche I hiked in a mid-weight Icebreaker, short sleeve, UV shirt and regular hiking pants. You're working and plenty warm while you're moving. Keep the hard shell/rain-windbreaker handy for the breaks so you don't chill. I had a down sweater (900 fill jacket) for evenings (I bought a huge puffy jacket and only used it for the night at Base Camp and didn't really need it then). I loved my merino liner gloves (to keep the sun off too). A fleece top and pants are nice for evening and good for layering. I never had more than three layers some combo of: base, merino, fleece, down sweater or windbreaker. The wind in the afternoon is brutal...a really good windbreaker and hard shell pants would be a good idea. As we moved up I used a heavier weight Icebreaker (I know they tell you to bring dryfit stuff, I brought one, but only used it low on the mountain.) Shifted to fleece lined winter hiking pants, then later added long underwear. Started with smartwool then to heavy wool socks as the days (mornings) got colder (used polypropelene liners-fresh every day). Bring big safety pins to hang your laundry on your pack during the day--it won't dry at night. Take two wool buffs and a wool cap. Wide brim hat mentioned above = a must--with a tie down (mine blew off in a gust on my first day (bought a replacement in Namche)). There is a lot of dust on the trail (pulverized yak poop, dirt, you need the buff for your neck and face/mouth--it will be open a lot...sucking air.) I had heavier weight gloves ...again to block the wind (and waterproof ones for rain). The schlepp up Kala Patthar was like a wind tunnel...If you use a beanie/cap, wear a hat with a brim...the UV (even with great sunglasses) sneaks in...the only time I felt crappy was from the UV headache coming off Kala Patthar. I took a - 25 Montbell bag...it was a bit toasty at lower elevations, but I was NEVER cold at night. Fill your nalgene with hot water, put it in a zip bag, and put it in your sleeping bag by your feet at night. Nice. I also brought down booties with a hard sole...let's just say the potty accomodations leave a lot to be desired. If you're hydrating properly, you're peeing at night. Daytime high temps for us were in the 40s-50s--started out colder, often below freezing, sunny mornings, but cloud cover/snow flurries in the afternoon. Nighttime...well at Dingboche, my room in the tea house was 25* at 8 PM--it only got colder higher up. Ice on the ground/streams in the morning. Honestly, I was never cold. Oh and bring more baby butt wipes than you think you'll need--even when you can take a shower/wash, it is cold and not worth getting chilled--if you don't need them toward the end of the trek, you can horse trade with your trekking buddies for KitKat and snickers. Have a great trip...it is Epic...I'm still taking it all in.

Totally agree. I think everyone should hike to base camp. The culture and views are fantasic. I did more then the trek, so the experince is still sinking into my brain bit-by-bit. It was just too much to process.

PS Down boots: good idea.