After a freezing cold night sleep in just about every piece of clothing I have brought on this trek, we woke up extra early to another amazing scene and headed out for Gorak Shep. Gorak Shep is the starting point to head out to EBC and to another summit called Kala Pathar. We plan to conquer both. Gorak Shep is an extremely popular destination among trekkers, hence our early departure from Lobuche. Today, after arriving in Gorak Shep at around 10am, we frantically searched the village for any possible indoor lodging. Apparently we were three hours late. The last room was booked at 7am, so, we opted for the second option, which was to sleep outside in a tent. Couldn’t be that bad right? I mean there will be four of us huddled together in there and between our body heat, our -20 degree sleeping bags we should be good. Right?
After resting for about an hour, nurturing ourselves and lightening our packs a bit in the tent, we decided to head out for Everest Base Camp, which was only three hours trekking from Gorak Shep. Our excitement to get there had us trekking at our fastest pace yet. It was in our sights now. We could see the yellow tents that lay below this enormous giant. Some of the world’s greatest climbers reside in these tents, waiting, praying for good weather to summit this giant. Alas we had arrived. The moment I have been awaiting for so long now. The moment I had trekked seven, arduous days for. The moment I bared through all of the mountain sickness for. The day I made it to Mount Everest. I don’t think I realized how much of an accomplishment this was for me until I actually made it there today. I was completely overwhelmed as I stood before THE tallest mountain in the world. The same mountain that claims so many lives each year. Standing in the same camp that some of the world’s prestigious climbers have stood, where so much history has taken place was incredibly humbling. This moment was what this entire trip was all about for me and I didn’t even know it until I found myself standing there. It was hard to leave this magical spot. We explored the camp for hours, walking all around the glacial valley and even went down to the glacial stream that ran right over the top and through solid ice. This was one of the most unique places I have ever been. Nothing I have ever experienced was like this place. EBC was completely foreign to me in every way but was one of the most intriguing destinations I have experienced.
With the sun beginning to sink in the sky, we decided to head back before it got too cold. Talking with a few guides later that evening, they spoke about how only half of the people that intend to go to EBC actually make it there. It’s altitude sickness, injury or lack of will that deters people back down the mountain. I was surprised at how many people spend so much time, money and effort on this trek and don’t make it. Most hirer guides to lead them, porters to carry all of their belongings. We decided to do it solo and it was that much more rewarding.
Walking around outside tonight gave me a kink in my neck from not being able to take my eyes off of the billions of stars that lit up the sky. Because we are at over 18,000ft the moon doesn’t rise until very late in the night, which allows stars and galaxies to shine in all their glory. I have never seen a sky like this before. It was incredible! This place truly is majestic, beautiful, heavenly.
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