Personal Journeys
The first mountains
I viewed the first mention of Ebc trek in the alumni forum with skepticism - an unfamiliar trail in a remote part of the globe. But to celebrate being 50 the urge to do something I had never done before - the uniqueness aspect of it all - made me take the leap even though clearly this would be physically and mentally the most challenging thing i had ever done. Alumni spirit i had seen in previous treks were also an inspiration.
There were plenty of discouraging factors surfacing in all sorts of forms and shapes from all over the place - Initial headcount dwindling to a mere six, falling sick with covid in august 2025, workplace mandating 5 days of minimal 8 hours on site thus giving me hardly any time to train, elevated HR during activities.
What it took me to get ready:
I did not do a lot of cardio but hiked most weekends. I never joined a gym. Breathing exercises daily and Core workouts at least 2-3 times a week were done at home. Jogs and walks occurred too once or twice a week I climbed a 14er in Colorado a few months before ebc and experienced high altitude and the altitude sickness preventive medications But this is not a mandate for Ebc prep. If i try EBC again i will make sure i go better prepared with more strength training.
The challenges to be expected like cold weather, the less than basic living conditions in tea houses, the dust on the trails, the recommended vege diet, the effects of altitude etc - extensive details of those were available from videos and blogs of folks who went earlier. Several helpful packing lists were available online as well. The batchmate who had trekked ebc in 2024 was a valuable source of info and moral support as well.
The experience:
Even with all that skepticism in mind, once the feet started moving on that trail and once the mountains were close to sight everything felt right The trails i often hiked on before were all wilderness, mostly passing through woods and rocks. But ebc trail had a mix of everything - inviting peaks, creamy blue rivers, lush forests, suspension bridges, cobblestoned paths, pavements, prayer wheels, stupas, hardworking and kind people, strong animals transporting heavy goods, farms, ridges, glacier lakes, snow fields, Sherpa villages developed into townships, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Felt like moving through a dreamy painting. The charm and cultural immersion was way beyond what i expected - did my soul and oxygen-deprived body much good.
The team makes a difference - The support and service provided by the guides and porters were an immense factor in us making it to base camp. Our trek group of six were also folks with a well-balanced approach to focus, grit, fun, independence and team spirit. To not let any inconveniences or struggles get to you, taking slow steps and listening to your body, staying well hydrated etc were guidelines we followed every step. None of the six of us rushed for anyone or slowed down for anyone. Each at their natural pace but in unison.
For any reason if I had to pause or turn back during this journey i did not want any of the others being impacted. I opted for a personal sherpa/ porter. Nema was assigned as my personal porter to walk beside me the entire trek. Though most of our communication was through a mix of multiple broken languages, hand gestures, head nods and sign language, he proved to be of big help. For the entire trek that cost $288 - worth every penny.
The severely cold mornings and nights, persistent runny nose and congestion the last two days before summit, tea houses with no plumbing or running water, the non-vegetarian me sticking to veg food for so many days, the burn I felt in the legs and the lungs even when climbing steps of tea houses from day 3 - glad i didn’t let those discourage me - standing at the base of the Mighty Everest with an indescribable feeling, every struggle felt worthwhile.
Salute and gratitude to the mountains that kept calling me even when i doubted myself, the people who walked with me and the spirit that friends and family from afar lit all around us, keeping us warm, safe and strong. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime journey, which I hope to go on again!