67March/April 2018 —PRACTICALITIES
When to go
The October/November weather window is the
classic trekking season – after monsoon but
before the bitter winter sets in. Going a little
later or earlier means less traffic at the expense
of cloudier weather, or colder temperatures
respectively. Whatever your timing, if you are
going over the passes, weather is a huge factor.
Even a modest snowfall might mean needing
ropes and other gear to be safe – at times the
climb may even be aborted.
How to get there
There are direct flights to Kathmandu from
most major Asian capitals. From there, you’ll
need to fly to Lukla, gateway to Khumbu,
where most treks begin. Alternatively, you can
fly or take a bus to Jiri, from where Hillary and
Tenzing walked, which adds a couple of days
to the trek.What to take
Any expedition outfitter should give you a
comprehensive gear list.
One specific tip though is to pack one or
more Buffs or bandanas to keep the worse of
the trail dust out of your nose and mouth. It
might just keep you healthy longer. Also, those
large Nalgene bottles double up as effective
hot water bottles when the cold really bites.
There is limited wifi in the lodges on the
bigger trails but whatever devices you bring,
remember to remove the batteries at night and
keep them against your body for warmth.Contacts
Kathmandu’s streets are lined with hundreds
of trekking company offices, some of them
barely more than a desk and a phone. If you
want to do your trek with a local company,
try to ask around and do as much research on
them as possible.
International expedition companies are
pricier but tend to offer more varied food,
more complete medical support and often
have a more sustainable approach to use
of local resources. Note that they will still
employ Nepali porters and guides so you are
supporting local livelihoods.
The author used Australia’s World
Expeditions. For details of all their treks, see
http://www.worldexpeditions.comDON'T DO IT CLAY
The photographer in euphoric
mood atop Gokyp Ri.