Training For Everest Base Camp

Sounds like I don't need to be super fit then, just not a total slob!

Tagged along on a Park Run yesterday with the girlfriend, 5k in 40 mins won't see me breaking any records but I reckon a few weeks of it and I'll be able to drop a good chunk off that.

Bought some new boots last week as well, went for a pair of Scarpa Delta GTX boots, seem to fit nice so went for a 5 mile walk today.
Can feel it in my legs now though!

We did Toubkal in 3 days from Imlil.
Day 1 Imlil - Refuge
Day 2 Refuge - Summit - Refuge
Day 3 Refuge - Imlil - Marrakech

Hopefully I'll keep doing a Park Run every week now and I think that should see me ok fitness wise.
 
I did Toubkal twice in my trip. Did the standard 2 days staying at the refuge end day 1, return to Imlil day 2. Back at Imlil someone remembered they left their camera near the summit. Next day was just going to be a rest day anyway so one of the guides volunteered to go up and find the camera. After a lot of begging he agreed to take me expecting we would didn't the camera at the refuge and inwpudk get so tired I would go back anyway. Of course nkt, left at 3am and jogged and power hiked to refuge, no camera but it was rarle so we wsnt up to the summit, found the camera and ran all back to imlilm could barely walk the next day because this was before I was into ultrarunning. Next day was mostly just a trip back to Marrakech anyway.

Fun trip.
 
Sod this! you are mental. The extreme fitness levels and dedication to even attempt this are beyond most normal peoples ability. Good luck, you'll need it.
 
FlakGunna said:
Sod this! you are mental. The extreme fitness levels and dedication to even attempt this are beyond most normal peoples ability. Good luck, you'll need it.
Click to expand...
Extreme fitness to even attempt it?? beyond most people's ability??

Have a read around, most sites suggest anyone who is comfortable with walking for 5 or 6 hours is more than fit enough.

I suppose if you class being able to walk for more than a couple of hours as 'extreme fitness' then you could describe it like that
 
Kenai said:
Extreme fitness to even attempt it?? beyond most people's ability??

Have a read around, most sites suggest anyone who is comfortable with walking for 5 or 6 hours is more than fit enough.

I suppose if you class being able to walk for more than a couple of hours as 'extreme fitness' then you could describe it like that
Click to expand...

I must have got confused I thought they wanted to actually climb Everest.
 
Danm54 said:
Hey if I feel good at base camp I might pop to the summit before breakfast.
Be rude not to.

Whilst the summit sounds nice it's way beyond my ability.
Click to expand...

I am not sure how I come to the conclusion you wanted to actually climb the summit haha. I'm questioning myself now!
 
Before doing Annapurna basecamp I walked a lot in the Lake District and went to the gym on the endless stairs machine (not sure what it's called) I think that really helped as it was 6+ hour days of going up and down.

I stupidly assumed it would be like summiting a peak in the Lakes where you slog up hill for hours but it was the constant up and down that was draining especially above 3500+ metres.

It's a great experience, you'll have an amazing time!
 
Kenai said:
Extreme fitness to even attempt it?? beyond most people's ability??

Have a read around, most sites suggest anyone who is comfortable with walking for 5 or 6 hours is more than fit enough.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is suggesting extreme fitness is required but the OP has run 5k in 40 mins and just bought a pair of boots with 8 weeks to go.......It does sound like he's very unprepared for this in terms of what he's potentially having to deal with. Like someone has said, walking around at 300ft is fine, it's a different story at 3000m.
 
Thanks for that, think the girlfriend was watching those a few months back, I'll catch up on the rest of the vids.
They looked fairly comfortable and they're both wearing sandles but I guess it gets worse further up.

I'm led to believe the pace is quite sedate most days and you're encouraged to take it steady which will make it easier.

@booyaka
I'll run the 5k on my own this week and see how long it takes me, we ran together last week and I'm sure I can run it quicker. Maybe not a huge amount but we'll see how it goes.

Also 8 weeks is plenty of time for new boots, I'm breaking them in not wearing them out.
I can wear them every day if I need to, they're not just for the weekend :p
 
Interesting videos, watched a couple, they must make their living from that so the imposition of making a film must not be too great.
You obviously already have nice camera gear, but it would be difficult not to invest in a nice SLR before heading out there.

As one of the comment also remarked, they did not take walking poles - the descent impact is fun on your knees if you don't have them in your kit.
 
jpaul said:
Interesting videos, watched a couple, they must make their living from that so the imposition of making a film must not be too great.
You obviously already have nice camera gear, but it would be difficult not to invest in a nice SLR before heading out there.

As one of the comment also remarked, they did not take walking poles - the descent impact is fun on your knees if you don't have them in your kit.
Click to expand...

They started the travelling for fun and did the videos for friends and family but now they do it full time.

I’ve been watching them since the beginning, they seems honest and has lots of tips for travelling although at the start they were very green, especially in south east Asia, I laughed a lot of the innocence of it all.
 
It was 1 degree outside this morning with a slightly icey rain falling.

Went and completed my second park run though. There's a muddy down/uphill bit that caught me this time so I went for a little slide.

Time was 32.40 and I'm happy with that, see how much I ache later!
 
Hey mate, I hope you have a great day. I can tell you, with 12 weeks in advance you can get fit easily. What you need to do is train in the gym a good strength workout for legs; I recommended to you to buy a mask, which simulates the altitude, I've got one, I can tell you it's amazing, it helps a lot. The workout 2/week could be enough for that. Also, I recommend to you to go for a run, I know you said you are not fun of it, but it is what it will help you, I recommend to do it with a heavy bag, but however be careful, don't do long stretches, that could injure yourself. Run by ground. This will help you to take confidence on you, and your resistance will be great, try to do it in the mornings, on an empty stomach. It so important as well, the diet, eat between 2.000 - 2.500cal per day. With that, you'll destroy your girlfriend. Cheers mate, and I hope you'll get it!
 
Rifte said:
I have done it twice, a benefit of living here in India.
It's easy. Just enjoy the scenery and the hike..it's absolutely epic.
Click to expand...
so living in India, can you organise it yourselves, like we could for European 'hikes' in the French Alps, (eg the haute route)
so make reservations for accomodation, and do it yourself with a group of friends - much cheaper too, I imagine.
 
jpaul said:
so living in India, can you organise it yourselves, like we could for European 'hikes' in the French Alps, (eg the haute route)
so make reservations for accomodation, and do it yourself with a group of friends - much cheaper too, I imagine.
Click to expand...

I have never considered it when I lived back home in the UK so I have nothing to compare it against.

However if it helps, I usually pay around 400 GBP for a 12 day trip. This includes low level training and a very very very pleasant and slow pace to the base camp.

This is a commercial trip so obviously I have to buy/rent some of my gear and I usually approach the base camp from Nepal so there are flights involved as well.

Its cheap and its heavily subsidized to Indian nationals. I am not an Indian national but because my wife originates from India I am an overseas citizen of the country and this ticks the box.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom