Readers of our blog should note that I’ve made a few changes to my last what-to-drink-on-the-trek post, dated August 23rd.

Regulations concerning the use of iodine are changing from the 1st October this year from which time you will no longer be able to buy iodine tablets for water purification. Chlorine-based products will be available instead. Please read about more about it in the relevant Everest Experts section.

Hope that’s helpful,
Cheers,

Kirsty

Hi all,

There was an interesting question recently asked by Jez in the comments to Rosanna’s “kit list for the everest base camp trek” post. I thought I would reply to it thoroughly and post the answer for all to see. Jez asked about how many iodine tablets he would need for the Everest Base Camp Trek, and how much water he can expect to get through.

If you are trekking with a responsible local crew and leader you may well find that you don’t need to treat your drinking water as they should ensure that all water you drink in the tea houses is boiled for a sufficient length of time.  However, it is a good idea to take additional precautions to be to be absolutely certain of avoiding waterborne bacteria and viruses.  It is also a useful to have a supply of purification tablets handy for the occasions where you want to top up your water bottle from an untreated source.

Generally, your water bottle/s will be filled each night with boiled water and this will cool overnight and become your main source of drinking water for the next day.  It is up to you whether you carry one large bottle or two smaller ones or even use a water pouch instead.  Metal water bottles do have the added advantage of doubling up as hot water bottles overnight which can be very welcome!  How many tablets you need to take with you will therefore primarily depend on the size of your bottle/s, the length of the Everest trekking route and the make of tablets or drops you are using (read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully). Please note that from 1st of October iodine-based tablets and drops will no longer be available and you should look to use chlorine dioxide products instead. 

It is very important to remain hydrated whilst on an Everest trek so don’t ration your water intake and take full advantage of the seemingly endless flasks of black tea (or instant coffee) that are available at every tea  house stop along the route.  You are likely to drink as much tea as you do water.

Other general advice we give regarding food and drink is:

• Do not drink tap water or use it to brush your teeth.
• If there are jugs of water in your hotel room, we advise you to purify this.
• Avoid ice cubes, milk and ice cream.
• If possible, wipe your plate and cutlery with a paper napkin.
• Carry a small bottle of anti bacterial hand gel.
• Do not buy cold food from street vendors - only eat in town if it is cooked in front of you.
• Eat only fruit that can be peeled.

Hope this is helpful, Jez - have a great trek in October.

Kirsty

I spotted a post about the “world’s highest photography” the other day. A photographic workshop is running
a programme for cameramen who want to shoot footage of the amazing Everest trekking environment.

The photographic trek culminates at Everest Base Camp, where the tour is timed so the participants can take
pictures of mountaineers descending from Mount Everest after a summit bid. Sounds dramatic.

Hopefully our own trekking photographer, Rosanna, will get some of her amazing Everest trek pics sorted soon, so we can show them to you. It could take a while: she took hundreds! Watch this space.

Last night, I went out for an ‘authentic’ Indian meal with my family to prepare and get in the mood for the journey ahead. I had just one hour’s sleep before the taxi came to take me to the airport (at 2.30am!)…so, I arrived at the terminal exhausted and met the rest of the Everest trekking group there.

It was pretty weird everyone all getting together for the first time – a lot of us hadn’t ever met each other before. I spent a fair while talking to one of the guys, Andy, who runs the Leeds Student Television Channel. He had decided to make a documentary of the Everest Base Camp trip for the LSTC channel and Childreach! Pretty cool.

The flight was delayed so we sat in the departure lounge getting to know each other, but we were all so knackered we could barely hold any conversations.

The flight was not direct – we went via Paris. The flight on the way to Paris (once we got started) was quick and I slept the whole way with the aid of my velvet, padded, lavender-smelling eye mask – I fully recommend one!

The connection to the plane for Delhi was smooth on the whole even though the first plane was delayed – Pardeep managed to leave his passport on the plane to Paris, but fortunately he got it back in time for the next plane! Read the rest of this entry »