Everest Base Camp - TNT 06th-23rd April

Hi Andy,

Nice to see someone on here! I'm also going on this trip along with two frinds of mine (Ross and Anto). We've been talking about the trip for months (I've been thinking about it for years) but finally took the plunge and booked about 6 weeks ago. We make up a Scotsman and two Northen Irishmen all  based in Glasgow. We're really looking forward to this. Some of the pictures look absolutely mindblowing.

How about yourself. Are you travelling with anyone or flying solo? Have you done anything like this before?

 Hopefully a few more people will get involved with this in the next few months.

Hello Ally, nice one for the reply.

Really looking forward to this one. I have been trying to do this for about six years but there has always been a reason each year why I couldnt.  Finally got that window.

I have actually just spent the weekend with friends who have trekked to base camp. They did it the hardcore way by just turning up in Kathmandu with a backpack and a map. They spent two months on and around Everest. The photos are un-believable. 

Have not done anything like this before however I do a fair bit of walking and fell running in the usual places, Snowdonia, The Lakes, Highlands. Just very small bumps on the landscape compared to the Himalaya. For me its all about getting out there for the day and that pint or three of Guinness at the bottom

Travelling on my own but really looking forward to getting to know the group and properly getting involved with it all.  

Regards Andy

Yeah, getting to know a new group of folk is half the fun of these trips. I've done a couple of trips with Exodus before and the groups in both cases were excellent. Really adds to the trip.

I admire your friends bravery but I think I prefer the idea of turning up and being told where to go and when! Takes all the stress out of it so you can just walk, enjoy and give the brain a rest.

Here's hoping for a few decent beers in the tea houses along the way!!

Hey Chaps, just joined up myself and am trying not to count down the days until the trip starts..................I Actually went to base camp on the Tibetan side earlier this year but felt like i'd cheated as it's only like an hours walk from where the bus drops you, i vowed to comeback and do it the right way after much mickey taking from friends who've done it properly! The scenery is something else, i can't wait to experience the runway at Lukla also, that looks interesting to say the least.

Greg

Hello Greg, sorry its taken a while to say hello. Looking forward it and meeting you all. Could I pick your brains please mate? What time of year did you go and what was the temperature like. I have, what I thought was a warm North Face jacket but was advised it might not be up for the job. I know the nights are fairly cold but am I'm going to be freezing my @rse off every night. If so, might have to make another purchase. 

Cheers Andy

Hi Andy, i went earlier this year at the end of April some roughly the same sort of time but i'm not sure how my experience will compare with what we'll be up against next year. We stayed in a yak hair tent near base camp overnight and it was freezing! (-19 was the rumoured temperature outside) i'm not sure how typical this was though as there was a pretty heavy snow storm as we arrived. I'm not sure what the places we'll be staying in on the way will be like but i'd imagine whilst we are actually on the move we'll be warm enough if we dress in a sensible fashion. I'm pretty disorganised so i'll probably end up throwing a few things in my backpack and hoping for the best as normal!

Greg

Nice to see you look young and fit coz I think you'll be carryin me. I'm a 49 year old x smoker who's havin a mid life crisis! Flyin solo from Bangor in Northern Ireland along with a male friend from the gym. I'm also sportin a North Face goose down anorak but I got mine from a second hand shop and all the feathers are comin out, I look like big bird when I take it off! We're not stayin in tents though remember we're in lodges so I hope it'll be ok. I see that you're teetotal so we should have a laugh!!!

Hi folks! Thanks for the info Greg. I'm expecting it to be pretty cold based on a few reports I've heard. Having said that, I have a couple of friends who did this trek without the use of a proper down jacket. I don't think they're essential provided you are careful with layering up (I'm still looking for a second hand one mind you). Good thermals a must though! I have also been told that the lodges on the way are extremely basic. Down sleeping bag is a neccessity I think.  I guess a few beers will keep the temperature up :)

The lodges will be fine i'm sure but for what it's worth i think you can rent most things in Kathmandu, so if you don't want to splash out on a down jacket you should be able to get your hands on one there for the 2 weeks. Footwear is my concern at the minute, i'm not sure whether to splash out on some decent boots or to go in my trekking shoes as i've heard these will probably be ok if your just carrying a day pack at that time of year. Better decide soon as any new boots will need a decent working in!

Hi all, I'm Rachel. Can't wait/terrified :-)

Live in the Peak District, coming on my own. Anyone else travelling from the Manchester area?

Are any of you doing any particular training? What size day packs are you taking?

Look forward to meeting you all - I will be the one shaking in the departure lounge .

Hello Rachel, no need to be terrified, its going to be amazing. Nothing a couple of gin and tonics wont sort at the airport. 

Training wise I have always said to myself that I would start running two or three times a week from the new year. You live in the perfect place for getting out there on long walks, very jealous. Its all very flat in Windsor.

I use the OMM Classic Mountain Marathon 32L pack. Very cumfortable and very light. I have found it to have all the room ive needed for a day on the mountains for any wet weather clothing, food for the day and also can hold a hydration pack.

Its going to be great, look forward to meeting you.

Merry Christmas

Andy

 

Hi Andy,

I am hoping I will be able to hire a couple of yaks with wine box attachments to deal with any nerves :-) Seriously, can't wait!

I bought a Deuter 24 + 3 and think its just slightly too small which is a pain. I will have a look  at the one you use.

Yes it is a great area for walking and even got snow at the moment.

Happy Christmas to you too. Have a great one, Rachel.

 

 

Merry xmas to you all. I'm glad I'm not the only girl Rachel. Have a good one.

Look forward to meeting you Pauline. Have a great Christmas, see you in the new year.

Andy 

 

Hi All. Steve here.

Nice to hear from you.Live in Accrington Lancs.  Done two trips to Nepal its a great place to see. There is no needed to have any fears.I am in my early 50s and I known I will be fine. So you younger one will be ok. Get in lots of training and it will be easy and lots of fun. Only thing you can't train for is how far above sea level we will be but we have time to get use to it as we go along. Plenty of Del Bhat is a great help. Tranfers at Dehli airport are madness so make sure you don't need to go to the loo when you get off the plane. It may a great idea to meet at Heathrow and have a drink together. Looking foward to meeting you all and having lots of fun with you.

                        take care Steve 

Hi Steve. Great to hear from you. That's some sound advice on the Delhi transfer and meeting up in Heathrow sounds like a great plan. I think the way the flights work we'll have to fly down from Glasgow stupidly early so a couple of drinks to pass the time would be ideal!

Have a great Christmas everyone!

Cheers

Ally

It's nice to get involved in the forum! I'm one of the two other blokes travelling over with Ally. I'm from Northern Ireland but have (probably) attained honorary Scots status after being here for 7 years. Looking forward to meeting you all! 

Ross

Hello Steve and Ross,

Have a good Christmas, see you at Heathrow for a beer or two.

Andy 

 

Small world Steve, I was born and bred in Accrington but haven't lived there for since I was 17, my parents are still there on Water Street. I went to Peel Park and then Moorhead and we're about the same age so you never knows our paths may have crossed. Its a small world. Its a good idea to meet up for a drink in Heathrow guys. I'm flyin in from Belfast in the afternoon along with my friend Robert, it would be nice to all get to know each other.

Hi all. It is a small world Pauline you have got me thinking which is a bit hard at the moment for I have a hangover. Fiinished work yesterday and made a b-line for the pub. Anyway looking foward to meeting you Pauline and the rest of you. We can sort out the meeting at heathrow nearer the time.  There is a good bar in the terminal were we can meet.

                   Take care all of you and have a great xmas 

Hi Pauline, me too :-). Hope you have all had a great Christmas. 101 sleeps till we go! I notice there is only 1 space left. I wonder if all our group has posted on here so far. There are some great You Tube videos of the trek. So excited. Happy New Year all x

Hi all. Hope you have all had a great xmas and looking foward to the New Year. I have just booked my flights to and from Heathrow on baby bmi the flight to heathrow is at 11am from Manchester returning  on the 2130 flight from heathrow. Rachel you may be interested and would like to book the same flights?. I know the outward flight is early but I would rather be at heathrow. One thing I am thinking of doing now is. There is a  village about  1 mile from T5 where there is a nice little pub I will go there for a couple of hours.If any of you are down early you may  like to go to this pub. If any of you are not sure what to take on the trip the exodus trip notes are very good.I will not be getting my visa until we get to Nepal it is very easy to obtain there. Any way get training and think  of the great time you are going to have .

                                Take care Steve

Hope everyone had a good festive period and new year ;) Talking of you tube Rachel, have you seen the flights into Lukla on there?! i really must stop watching them as it's making me a little nervous...............

We watched the "10 most dangerous airstrips in the world" on Sky. Guess which was number 1!!!!

Ha ha! not good for morale those types of shows are they? should be an experience (hopefully a good one) if nothing else though! Can't wait!!!!

Hi everyone.. Good to hear from some of the other peeps that'll be on the trip. Now I know I'm not the only scared person !!... I'm travelling alone and have never even been to Heathrow before. Not that I have the first clue how to use any of the other airports I've been to but anyway... Look forward to meeting you all. If anyone wants to meet in the airport let me know =)... Lee.

Hi Lee, nice to speak to you. You're more likely to get lost in Heathrow than the himalayas lol. I think we're all gonna meet up at Heathrow somewhere so keep an eye on here and we can exchange mobile numbers nearer the time. Mr friend Robert wants to know if you're all taking rucksacks to Katmandhu or suitcases, he's worried about gettin stuff nicked in Delhi as you can't lock a rucksack.

Welcome aboard Lee! Sounds like we could be having a wee party in Heathrow before we go!

Pauline - I'm intending to take my kit bag and one rucksack (day sack). The kit bag will go in the hold. It's not quite as secure as a suitcase but you can at least fit some kind of rudimentary padlock to the main zip.   

Cheers Ally. What about everyone else? Its sounds like we're all gonna be pissed before we even get on the plane!!! lol

 

My kit bag will go in the hold and that will be full of Stella, my daysack will be full of gin. Thats how i roll. See you all in the bar in heathrow.

 

Hi all and welcome Lee. I'm not a stella or gin lover. Bitter is much better.It sound like its going to be a right pissup. If any of you fallover before me I will not be happy.

I will be take a day sack with me and a main bag which I will have a exodus kit bag in it with everything I will need on the trek. I will leave my main bag with some clean clothes and other thing in the safe room at the hotel for when we get back.

 

                                                     Take care Steve 

HI all, not long to go. So excited. I have a suspicion that none of us are going to be able to remember this trip. Ha.

Steve - haven't booked my flight yet. Will let you know as soon as I have done. Are you flying at lunchtime?

The Lukla flight videos on You Tube are interesting.

I'm taking my daysack on the plane and probably a suitcase.

Hi Lee.

See you all soon.

 

 

Hi Rachel. My Flights are with bmi 11.00 from Manchester returning at 21.50 from Heathrow. I have add a problem with these fights bmi decided to change my flight times which did not suit my other flights. It took me a hour to sort it out this morning any way it has worked out better. I hope you are leaving your suit case at the hotel and taking another bag on the trek. Besides your daysack you will need another bag with your belonging in for the trek which is taken from one teahouse to the next when we are walking we need to be carrying as little as possible.

I have done the Lukla fight once before and it was ok so all of you don't worry. In fact if the wether is clear it is a Fantastic fight. The mountains are breath taking and is best fight you will ever do.

Looking foward to getting pissed with you all Take Care Steve 

.

 

Well, that's it, no turning back now, i've just paid the balance of the trip........ I feel as disorganised as ever, everyone else is talking about packing and i have not even purchased a suitable coat yet!!

Steve, how long is the flight to Lukla? i'll be keen to get out of Kathmandu, not my favourite city!

I'll certainly be around Heathrow for a cheeky beer or three before the flight, which reminds me, i better book my train up from sunny Cornwall soonish!

Steve, you've done this sort of trip before, is it worth taking a flask for carryin tea during the day?

HI Steve -booked my flights - I'm on the 13.25 from Mcr - the earlier one had gone up massively. Return flight - 21.50 0n the 23rd. what time is yours?

Pauline -surely you mean flask for carrying gin? :-)

I jokingly asked the Exodus lady if there was enought weight to carry 2 sets of hair straighteners, there was a long pause and she informed me I would probably have bigger things to worry about. I assume she was meaning wine choices!!!!!!

 

Just watched a lovely You Tube vid - Hike from Lukla to Namche - it looks superb. Not long to go now folks. X 

Hi all. Rachel looks like we are both on the 21.50 flight but not the outward flight together.

When I get to Heathrow I am leaving my bag there and going to the pub until about 5.00 so any one care to join me let me know and I will give you the location. Its better than staying at the airport.

A flask is a great idea I will have one with and a jar of coffee.

The Lukla fight is about 50min.

Oh Rachel gin is bad for you when we are high up Tia  Maria is better.

                                Take Care Steve 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone. Does anybody know very roughly what time we need to be at Heathrow on the Friday and again what time we land there on the Monday we get back.

Am I right in saying Friday evening? and Monday evening?

Steve I have the whole day off so will be itching to get out for a pint somewhere beforehand si i will join you mate.  I just need to show some sort of control so I get let on the flight.

 Andy 

 

 

 

Regards Andy

Hi all Hope you are ok.

There is a pub about 1 miles away from T4 called the Beehive on staines rd Bedfont. It is nearer than the pub I was thinking of which is better.So if you early and want to get out of the airport this could be a good place to meet.If you want Andy and anyone else I will meet you there.If not at the airport latter. We don't fly until 20.45 so I thinking there is no need to get back to the airport until about 5-5.30.

 Rachel i have noticed you are down heathrow early if you want I will wait at the airpor for you and you can come to the pub with me and it is the same for anyone else let me know.

I am getting my visa when we get to Nepal it is very easy. I think it will cost 60 dollars but don't take my word for that.

It also easy to change money at the hotel so don't worry about that. 

I think there is a witherspoons bar when we get through security so this could be a good place to meet at the airport if you are not coming to the pub.

            Looking foward to meeting you all Steve 

Hi Steve. That sounds great. I should be there by half 2. :-)

Hi all. Hope you are all fit and ready for a stroll up Everest. It will be like a sunday stroll in the park.

Rachel If you want i will wait for you out side baggage reclaim. Look for the old ugly get with a yellow football top and red back pack. If you have any other ideas let me know. When i get to heathrow i will go over to t4 first and leave my main bag there and pick it up later i will get my bearig at the same time.

Andy would you prefer to meet at the airport or in the pub? Is there anyone else interested in meeting at the airport first then going for a pint in the pub if so let me know and we can sort something out.

Anyway if you are going to the pub and want to meet at the airport later the bridge bar looks the best place to meet and get to know each other first.

 

                        Lookig foward to meeting you all take care Steve 

Hi all. Hope you are all fit and ready for a stroll up Everest. It will be like a sunday stroll in the park.

Rachel If you want i will wait for you out side baggage reclaim. Look for the old ugly get with a yellow football top and red back pack. If you have any other ideas let me know. When i get to heathrow i will go over to t4 first and leave my main bag there and pick it up later i will get my bearig at the same time.

Andy would you prefer to meet at the airport or in the pub? Is there anyone else interested in meeting at the airport first then going for a pint in the pub if so let me know and we can sort something out.

Anyway if you are going to the pub and want to meet at the airport later the bridge bar looks the best place to meet and get to know each other first.

 

                        Lookig foward to meeting you all take care Steve 

hey kids,

I'll also be joining you on the trip, somewhat of a last minute addition as I only booked it last week.

I'm an old friend of Rachels, when I say old I'm younger than her...but we've known each other for over 10 years now & she's twisted my arm to join on this trek.

I'm looking forward to it, I'm scared, apprehensive, excited...all sorts of emotions! anyway I may meet up with you guys on the day of departure a little early on. I only live in Reading which is spitting distance from Heathrow compared to the miles some of you will cover to get to LHR.

I'll keep in touch with Rach on specifics

TTFN

Jon 

Welcome aboard, Jon! Better late than never. See you at Heathrow. Ross

Nice one John, more the merrier. I'm only in Windsor so not a million miles away from you. I will also be getting to the airport earlier so catch up nearer the time. 

Cheers

 Andy 

 

 

Sorry Jon, got your name wrong.

 

Hi Jon, welcome aboard. Me and Robert will be arriving from Belfast about 4.30 guys so knowing Heathrow we'll be in terminal 4 about 5. Are we definite on the Bridge bar or was it Witherspoons. No gin Rachel i think I'll stick to beer. Methinks this is going to be a very interesting trip, if they actually let us on the plane!!! lol

Welcome Jon! The Glasgow contingent (Ross, Anto and Myself) will be arriving in at Heathrow at 4 so I guess we'll see you all in the Bridge Bar. Can't wait!

hi All and a welcome to Jon. Are you coming to  the pub with us?

Pauline I am looking foward to meeting you  will be interesting  we will have a lot to talk about. I think the bridge bar is the witherspoons so we will meet there.

Got a hangover at the moment it was one of my brothers 65th last night.

                                Take care Steve 

Oh so excited. Great Steve, see you there. Andy, see you at same time. Jon, not that much older! :-). Hope you are all ok.