The final stage to Mount Everest Base Camp

The best tourism experience of my life!

The morning

I woke up several times during the night before we would take off to our last stage of this hike to Mount Everest base camp and I couldn’t get much sleep at all. Not only because we were sleeping in a cabin in the Himalayan mountains on 4000 meters above sea level and it was freezing cold. Also, I was also super excited to start the final day of our seven-day hike challenge to the Base camp of Mount Everest.

Our group of two Scottish guys (Michael and Cody), a Canadian called Kevin our guide Badir and I set a meeting at 5:30am that day in the dining room to discuss the route and to see how we were feeling and check up on our conditions. Michael and Cody were facing altitude problems already over the last few days and decided, that they both can not go any further on this trail. Kevin also had trouble with his knee and wasn’t sure if he can actually make it to the final destination on that day but we also could not wait another day because of the weather conditions we were expecting over the next few days.

So, I had to decide whether I stay with the group, or make my own way to Mount Everest base camp that day and hope that I would get there by myself. Our guide stayed with the sick and injured part of our group to arrange a helicopter that would take them all straight back to Kathmandu. But I was feeling great and had no problems with the altitude, my body or anything else.

Taking off

Our guide agreed to my plan that I would go by myself and take the last challenge alone. He said he would wait for me at this place and walk back down with me the next day. I packed all of my stuff and started walking when it became light outside. My legs were heavy and my breathing felt a lot harder than the last few days, but the air was so fresh and clean and I was so ready and totally motivated to head up to the top. For the first time, I could hike at my own pace without waiting for others which I quite enjoyed.  It wasn’t a long way to go on that day but by far one of the hardest and most spectacular parts of this entire Everest trail.

After a steep part on a scree field and no marks for leading the track, I made my way up. I was reaching the lower part of the Khumbu glacier that would lead me to the base camp and also managed to find a path along the glacier which is the highest in the world. The ice was cracking and moving and it was a fascinating sound and expressed the power of nature and the mountains.

Almost there

After three hours of hiking, I reached the highest lodge in Nepal called Everest Lodge from where it was only one more hour to go. I dropped all of my luggage and my gear at a safe place in the restaurant of the hut, managed to warm up a bit and enjoyed my second breakfast (porridge with jam) before heading to the campsite.

The weather conditions in the mountains can change so quickly and suddenly after I left, the wind was picking up and blew right in my face. It was freezing cold and my gloves reached the end of their protection. It was really challenging to walk against that wind but I felt like nothing could actually stop me from going further and further on the trail.

The closer I got to the camp the more difficult it was to walk and the path became smaller, but I was so excited that I didn’t mind the freezing cold wind on my skin anymore. Massive blocks of ice and a sign appeared saying that the basecamp was only a few hundred meters away. Full of energy and excitement, I knew that the camp must be literally around the corner, even if I could not see a single tent from where I was standing at that moment.

Made it

Of course, it was off-season so no one would be there to prepare for an Everest climbing expedition but I didn’t expect that it would be completely empty. Anyway, I walked up to the monument where the legendary and famous Tibetan flags were waving in the wind. I almost forgot that I was hiking on an icy and slippery surface where you can easily hurt yourself if you’re not careful. The location of the base camp is right in the middle of the glacier and constantly moving. Only a few more steps until and were at the peak of my travels, my journey, my life.

It was the most special moment in my life and still can’t describe all the feelings I had when I was standing there. I felt pure joy, happiness and was so grateful for everything that happened to me in my life and how lucky I was to be the only one in our group who made it across the finish line. It was an unforgettable experience to do this hike and in my life as a traveller. I was hoping to share that moment with the rest of my group together but I also enjoyed this very special moment being surrounded by these massive and impressive mountains and having all to myself.