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Trekking In Everest
The Everest
region may be reached by STOL (short take-off and landing)
airstrips at LukIa (2.800 metres), Shyangboche (3.700 metres),
or Phaphlu (2364 metres) or by an eight-day trek from the
road head at Jiri, 188 km from Kathmandu. Those who fly to
Lukla miss the historic and culturally fascinating route
followed by the Everest expeditions of the ''50s and '60s
although the trek has changed substantially in the past 30
years. It is best to take the time to walk from Jiri, then
after acclimatization and conditioning afforded by the trek,
visit base camp or climb Kala Pattar and either fly out from
Lukla or walk back by an alternative route to Kathmandu.
Those who insist their time is limited can fly to Lukla and
spend as little as six days to visit Namche Bazar and
Thyangboche. It is ill advised to attempt a quick visit to
base camp, because of the lack of time for acclimatization,
if you fly in to one of these airstrips. You should allow at
least eight or nine days to reach the base camp region if
you fly to Lukla; the return from base camp to Lukla can be
made in as few as four or five days, so an absolute minimum
of two weeks is required for a safe trek to base camp. The
timing is further complicated because flights to LukIa often
do not work as planned, so those with a tight schedule would
do well to allow a few spare days for both the flight in and
the flight out. |
