Everest Base Camp / home for the next couple of weeks

April 16

After a fairly leisurely start (departure at the very civilised time of 8:30), we walked fairly flattish but through lots and lots of rocks to EBC. Spectacular scenery on our right as the route is along the khumbu glacier (culminating in the well known Khumbu Ice Fall which is the first real challenge when scaling Everest), with obviously the mountains growing up and up and up some more from there. Base Camp was visible from very early on and we even reached the entrance ("welcome to everest base camp", meaning "trekkers please do not go any further") after a mere 1hr 30 of walking but to get to our camp within base camp took another 30 mins...and we are not even furthest along - base camp very stretched out.

As we walk in we pass the well know expedition groups such as Himalayan Experience, International Mountain Guides, Adventure Consultants and Jagged Globe. Our camp is situated about in the middle of the camp off to the back. The whole camp is situated on layers of rocks covering the extension of the glacier. As the glacier moves, at night you hear the ice cracking below. There is a spacious mezz tent, a kitchen for cooked food three times a day and each of us has their own tent. The climate is shifting by the minute. During the day it can reach a comfortable 10 degrees but once the sun disappears for a moment it chills and at night drops to minus 10-15C.

Tomorrow Tuesday is a rest day at Base Camp.