October 28, Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp

We left Lobuje by 8AM aftering fueling up at a much better lodge/restaurant. We made it to Gorak Shep in 2 hours, elevaton 5160 meters. After having lunch and checking into a much better tea house we started the trek to EBC. We were told it would take 6 hours RT, but it was much quicker - closer to 2 hours each way.

The trek goes around the base of Kala Pattar (which is famous for wondeful views of Everest) and then goes up along a ridge, down to the Khumbu glacier all the way to the base of Everest. It isn't possible to see the top of Everest as you are right smack at the bottom, but you can see the perilous Khumbu Icefall up close and personal.

On the way there we saw a sherpa carrying ladders used for crossing the icefall, the Russian helicopter that crashed and numerous large boulders being held up by ice. Direct sunlight melts the ice all around the boulder which lowers the surrounding area - odd.

Gorak Shep was a sleepless night as the walls were paper thin. Between hearing people cough, get up to pee, and bed creaking, it was really noisy.