Reaching Everest Base Camp is one of my greatest achievements to date, and there are some things the experience wouldn’t have been complete without. I’ve written a full EBC packing list, but this post covers the underrated items that I think deserve more praise. Gloves, hat and thermals notwithstanding, here’s my shortlist of 10 underrated things that made my trek to EBC way more enjoyable.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission if you make a purchase via these links. For more information, visit my disclosure page.
1. chocolate
I feel like this one goes without saying really.
Chocolate is really sparse and expensive on the EBC trek. Instead, I recommend stocking up before you leave for Lukla.
I packed a colossal amount of Freddo chocolate bars, which are a UK brand of little chocolates in the shape of a grinning frog. In fact, I packed so many that they nearly pushed my rucksack over the carry-on weight limit. Terrified of them being confiscated—I would rather have eaten them all at security than have them taken from me—I stuffed them into my coat pockets and sauntered onto the plane, desperately trying to look inconspicuous despite my bulging pockets.
It was so worth the stress. There were days, especially on the way down, that although my body didn’t need the sugar, my soul did. Freddo’s cheeky little grin became one of my favourites sights at the end of the day (before I devoured him).
I can confirm that they are also beneficial for bonding with fellow Brits across the world over the national outrage that is The Great Freddo Inflation.
2. Walking poles
As someone who considers herself a fairly practical person, imagine my glee over the last few years as practicality has become fashionable. Suddenly bike helmets, comfy trainers, sensibly positioned rucksacks and warm, puffy jackets are In. Next up will be walking poles. You heard it here first.
I had always assumed that walking poles were for people who took themselves too seriously. I’m now of the opinion that these people are the only ones who know anything about anything.
Without my trusty walking pole (only one; the other hand was free in case I needed to grab a rock or a vine as I tumbled down the mountain to certain death) I’m not sure I could have completed the long three-day trek back down to civilisation.
3. Entertainment
I was surprised by how short our days of walking were and it was nice to have ways to entertain ourselves in the afternoon. I recommend playing cards, audio books, podcasts or a kindle. You don’t want to add too much weight to your park.
The day I discovered a HP audio book lurking on my iPod I cried with joy and got straight in bed to listen to everyone’s three favourite 13-year-old wizards moan walking upstairs to the Divination tower. At this stage altitude was forcing us to hike at about 2km per hour and one of our group nearly passed out from going too fast up a flight of stairs. So stop complaining Ron.
4. Polarised sunglasses
When the sun shines on Everest, and even when it doesn’t, it is bright out there in the snow. My eyes and head are really sensitive and I normally can’t wear sunglasses for longer than a couple of hours. Fear of snow blindness prompted me to invest in glasses with a polarised lens and I was able to wear them for whole days at a time just like a normal person!
I went with this pair because they seemed the most versatile (as in I could wear them somewhere other than the Himalayas). Having done my research, they seem like a good brand for polarised sunglasses. They are also on the cheap side, without being worryingly cheap.
Note to self: remember to take them off before using your camera or phone to avoid panicking that the screen has broken (I swear it got me every time).
5. Sunglasses straps
Another item I’d denigrated; again I eat my hat. For something that’s this cheap on Amazon (free if you borrow your dad’s; highly recommend—thanks Dad) and takes up no room in your bag, the pros are many. Not only do they stop the sunglasses being blown off your face by treacherous gale-force winds, but you can also have them hanging in front of you, ready for action, when it’s not sunny. What’s not to love?
6. Platypus water bladder
Much like the sunglasses strap, the main benefit to my platypus was that it saved me from stopping and digging around in my bag every time I wanted a sip of water.
Factor in that my main water bottle was metal, and the decision to take a platypus paid off even more. It had seemed like a smart plan to bring a metal bottle: I cut down on plastic not only by eliminating the need for buying and disposing of plastic bottles, but by making sure even my reusable one was hard-wearing metal.
However, it turns out metal is a conductor (who knew?) and that carrying water in a metal bottle at -20°C is a recipe for frozen lips and general ineffectiveness. By about 4000m the bottle was painful to touch, even without water in, because it was so cold. Thankfully, my trusty platypus kept me hydrated.
This is the one I relied on: platypus water reservoir. The one litre size was perfect as it didn’t weigh me down too much.
7. Metal bottle (to use as a hot water bottle)
So metal is a conductor eh? I can turn this around! Oh how well I slept.
8. -30°C sleeping bag
This was hands down the best decision I made at the rental shop in Kathmandu—even better than getting the walking poles. When the tea houses got cold in the evenings I would bring this to the table and eat supper tucked inside. Combine it with the aforementioned hot water bottle and I was sleeping snugly and smugly in one layer at -25°C.
9. Serious willpower and determination
There’s something to be said for hiking at a slow pace for 12 days and not combusting with impatience and frustration. There’s also something to be said for being able to get up in the middle of the night to hike in the darkness for two hours at -25°C. I was lucky that my willpower was not tested as much as it could have been if I’d been hit by symptoms of altitude sickness, but it wasn’t easy all the time.
10. Good company
And I’m not just talking about Freddo bars and Harry Potter. If it hadn’t been for the company I kept while trekking, I would have probably faked a headache on Day 3 and joined the hordes that got the helicopter back down the mountain. Well, not quite–but the experience would have gone from ‘Amazing Life Achievement’ to ’12 Days of Pointless, Monotonous Hell’. Watching my friends push through much worse symptoms than me just made me want us all to achieve our shared goal even more.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, I receive a small commission if you make a purchase via these links. For more information, visit my disclosure page.
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