Day-Wise Notes

The Beginning

It all began with a casual line in our college alumni WhatsApp group towards the end of 2024:“Shall we plan a trek to Everest Base Camp?”

At first, it felt like just another ambitious idea—exciting, but unlikely to materialise. Then one of our batchmates, who had completed the EBC trek a few years earlier, shared his experience. His stories, his conviction, and a simple line—“You must do this once in your lifetime”—changed everything.

Interest snowballed. More than a dozen signed up initially. As months passed, reality stepped in. Health concerns and personal commitments reduced the group to six. By then, however, the decision was firm. We were going.

Finding the Right Guide

The first real step was choosing a trek agency. Advice from seasoned trekkers was unanimous: go local. Through a trusted batchmate, we were introduced to Alpine Ramblers, a Kathmandu-based agency he had trekked with in 2024.That choice proved crucial. Our first conversations with Dil Gurung, or Dil as we fondly called him , our trek organiser, were reassuring. His warm “Namaste”—whether on calls or messages—set the tone for what would become a wonderfully personal trekking experience.

Kathmandu: Where the Journey Truly Begins

Flying into Kathmandu for the first time is unforgettable. On a clear day, about an hour before landing, the Himalayas slowly emerge into the blue skies vast, silent, and humbling. If you’re lucky enough to have a left-side window seat, the view is priceless.

Our small team of six—two from India and four from the USA—came together in Kathmandu. At the airport, we were welcomed with garlands and smiles and a ride to our hotel - all arranged by Alpine Ramblers. For some of us, this was the first in-person meeting despite years of friendship. There were hugs, laughter, and exchanged goodies— like the college kids again, standing on the brink of an adventure.

The excitement peaked when twelve more batchmates, fresh from completing the Khopra Ridge Trek, dropped in to meet us at the hotel. An impromptu reunion followed, marked by stories, laughter, and a celebratory bottle of Champagne.

Briefings, Bags, and Reality Checks

Amid the reunion, we had our Pre trek briefing with Dil at Hotel Thamel Park. Payments were settled, expectations clarified, and we met our main guide, Dilman, who would lead us to Everest Base Camp.

Then came the gear. We were issued sleeping bags and large blue duffel bags—our world for the next twelve days. With a strict weight limit of 10–15 kg (plus a small daypack), tough choices had to be made. The duffel itself weighed 1.5 kg, the sleeping bag another 2.5 kg. Minimalism was no longer optional.

A short stroll through Thamel followed—Kathmandu’s buzzing tourist hub and a trekker’s paradise. Last-minute shopping, quick fixes, and a lot of window-shopping later, we returned to the hotel.

The night dissolved into a familiar ritual: packing, repacking, weighing, and re-weighing.

On the Edge of the Himalayas

Just weeks earlier, sleep had seemed impossible for another reason. Our Lukla flight was initially planned from Ramechhap, requiring an overnight road journey of eight hours or more. Thankfully, Alpine Ramblers managed to secure a direct Kathmandu–Lukla flight, sparing us a gruelling start.

Now, with bags packed and nerves humming, anticipation filled the room. The Lukla flight awaited us the next morning—the real beginning of the Everest Base Camp trek.

Some of us slept. Some stared at the ceiling. All of us knew one thing: the mountains were calling.

Note to the Mountains: Day 0

Today you welcomed us softly, not with trails or peaks, but with your promise. Kathmandu was our first whisper of your presence—the distant Himalayas peeking above the city, the air tinged with anticipation. You reminded us that journeys begin long before steps are taken, in thoughts, conversations, and the courage to say “yes.” Tonight, as we rest before our first ascent, we feel your call, quiet yet insistent, urging us onward.

Your trekkers, readying for the climb.