Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, Apr 9 : Seven members of Mangalore Unit of Youth Hostel Association (YHAI) will begin their trekking expedition to Everest Base Camp beginning April 14, 2012 which is one of the most popular and challenging trekking routes in Khumbu region in the Everest. Thousands of enthusiastic trekkers trek in this trekking route every year which will test the endurance and energy levels. For the first time a group from Mangalore unit of YHAI is undertaking trekking journey to Everest Base Camp. They will fly fromo Kathmandu to Lukla, Nepal, from where they will begin their trekking journey to the Everest base camp.
All the seven participants are prolific trekkers and members of YHAI and have been making hectic preparations to undertake this grueling trekking. The seven participant members are Manohar Shetty, SBI employee and Secretary of YHAI’s Mangalore Unit, Keshava Suvarna, KIOCL employee and former President of the unit, Dr Sathish Rao, Head of the Psychiatric Department of K S Hegde Medical Academy, Chennakeshava Suvarna, newly elected president of the association, Florine Roche, a Transmission Executive with All India Radio, Srihari, a financial consultant and Rithesh, a businessman.
From Lukla these trekkers will move upward to Namche Bazar which is about 11,290 feet above sea level and to Dingboche (13,980ft) to the final destination Kalath Pathar (18,192ft) with Mt Pumori in the background. Kala Pathar provides the most accessible point to view Mt Everest as the peak cannot be viewed from base camp due to its structure.
“As we are required to trek for 8 to 10 hours a day in varied terrain which has steep uphill climbs and downhill slides, we need to be physically fit and also withstand sub-zero temperatures. With oxygen level becoming less as we climb upwards after 15,000 ft above sea level even the fittest persons can be prone to altitude sickness. That is why this trek is quite challenging” says Manohar Shetty, one of the participants.
To enhance their fitness levels all the seven members have been trekking every Sunday for the last four weeks in different trekking destinations . Fitness is important because they will have to trek with minimum quantity of water and food which may become expensive as they climb higher. “A liter of water may cost anywhere between Rs 200 to 300 and one can only imagine the cost of food at higher altitudes. Even charging a mobile or camera for an hour may cost Rs. 100/- per hour or even more. So we have to be fully prepared for such a strenuous journey”, says Keshava Suvarna.
Dr Sathish Rao, at 57, is the oldest among the 7 members of the team going to Everest Base camp. “Age is not a problem at all. I am fit and confident and I can’t wait setting my foot on Kala Pathar”, he quips.
The trekking expedition calls for hectic preparations as the members are required to carry a whole lot of trekking trekking accessories, warm clothes and dry fruits to sustain them in those cold weather conditions. Having put their physical fitness to test, they are just waiting for the D day eagerly.