The Team XPD Beyond Asia headed toward the Mount Everest Base North Face camp on Day 15 in the early hours of Wednesday while it was still dark. "The mountains looked eerie and stunningly beautiful.
The Team XPD Beyond Asia headed toward the Mount Everest Base North Face camp on Day 15 in the early hours of Wednesday while it was still dark. "The mountains looked eerie and stunningly beautiful.
After an hour of driving, we stopped at the entrance of the National Park to buy tickets to proceed further and unlike the slushy roads that we crossed in the past few days, the roads here were fabulous. Our first stop was for a quick breakfast and then we reached the highest pass for the day, at 5198 mts (16824 feet). It was freezing and from that point on, we could not see Everest at all and felt disappointed.
However, our guide did say that we might get lucky as we move closer to Mount Everest Base camp. The drive was beautiful with the mountains magically changing colours and shapes. About 20 km before the base camp, we had to board a bus to take us further since private vehicles were not allowed.
The bus ride was short but comfortable, and we got offloaded at the Rongbuk Monastery," detailed Meenakshi, the team Captain.
The team had to trek for 500m on a tarmac road and then onto a gravelled road to reach the Everest Base Camp. To their surprise, they found 4G network and Meenakshi grabbed the opportunity to share the momentous experience of being at Mount Everest, live through Facebook broadcast.
The Mount Everest Base Camp is built on a small, steep mound that is covered with streams of prayer flags.
Further ahead, after a 300m stretch, the team finally had an unobstructed view of the snow-capped Mount Everest in all its glory and the desolate valley that leads up to the mountain. "We had to stop to take pictures of the magnificence of the mountain range. The air was extremely thin and a couple of our team members from the team had headaches but nothing could stop us from persevering at the Mount Everest Base Camp since it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us," exulted Meenakshi.
The team also visited the Rongbuk Monastery which is said to be the highest-located monastery in the world at 4980 m. The Monastery is located smack dab in the desolate alpine conditions of Mount Everest's base and has served as a refuge to Tibetan and Nepalese pilgrims since the early 1900s.
"The giant white stupa adorned in colourful prayer flags standing in front of the modest monastery structure made us realise that we had made it to the end of the road. The Monastery was simple, with around 30 nuns and monks who live there and practice Buddhism, and welcome visitors who visit Mount Everest Base camp to their simple guesthouse, opposite to the Monastery.
After a quick visit inside, we were back on the bus which took us to where our cars were parked. Our lunches were dehydrated but we found hot water to make food in a tent that was pitched for travellers to rest.
We then drove back a 100 km to New Tingri and lodged at a decent hotel which had many more travellers. Tired and exhausted, we are still at 14500 feet but it was a day worth remembering for the rest of our lives!" added a tired but happy Meenakshi.
After an hour of driving, we stopped at the entrance of the National Park to buy tickets to proceed further and unlike the slushy roads that we crossed in the past few days, the roads here were fabulous. Our first stop was for a quick breakfast and then we reached the highest pass for the day, at 5198 mts (16824 feet). It was freezing and from that point on, we could not see Everest at all and felt disappointed.
However, our guide did say that we might get lucky as we move closer to Mount Everest Base camp. The drive was beautiful with the mountains magically changing colours and shapes. About 20 km before the base camp, we had to board a bus to take us further since private vehicles were not allowed.
The bus ride was short but comfortable, and we got offloaded at the Rongbuk Monastery," detailed Meenakshi, the team Captain.
The team had to trek for 500m on a tarmac road and then onto a gravelled road to reach the Everest Base Camp. To their surprise, they found 4G network and Meenakshi grabbed the opportunity to share the momentous experience of being at Mount Everest, live through Facebook broadcast.
The Mount Everest Base Camp is built on a small, steep mound that is covered with streams of prayer flags.
Further ahead, after a 300m stretch, the team finally had an unobstructed view of the snow-capped Mount Everest in all its glory and the desolate valley that leads up to the mountain. "We had to stop to take pictures of the magnificence of the mountain range. The air was extremely thin and a couple of our team members from the team had headaches but nothing could stop us from persevering at the Mount Everest Base Camp since it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us," exulted Meenakshi.
The team also visited the Rongbuk Monastery which is said to be the highest-located monastery in the world at 4980 m. The Monastery is located smack dab in the desolate alpine conditions of Mount Everest's base and has served as a refuge to Tibetan and Nepalese pilgrims since the early 1900s.
"The giant white stupa adorned in colourful prayer flags standing in front of the modest monastery structure made us realise that we had made it to the end of the road. The Monastery was simple, with around 30 nuns and monks who live there and practice Buddhism, and welcome visitors who visit Mount Everest Base camp to their simple guesthouse, opposite to the Monastery.
After a quick visit inside, we were back on the bus which took us to where our cars were parked. Our lunches were dehydrated but we found hot water to make food in a tent that was pitched for travellers to rest.
We then drove back a 100 km to New Tingri and lodged at a decent hotel which had many more travellers. Tired and exhausted, we are still at 14500 feet but it was a day worth remembering for the rest of our lives!" added a tired but happy Meenakshi.