Welcome to Show the Receipts, a brand new collection the place we ask fascinating folks to share precisely how a lot it prices to get shit carried out. Regardless of the duty, we’re monitoring each final greenback from begin to end.
Just a few years in the past, I checked my telephone to discover a message from my aunt: “I’m trekking to Everest Base Camp. Are you in or out?” She had not too long ago trekked to the Base Camp of K2, the second highest mountain on the planet, and had her sights set on her subsequent vacation spot.
Though this invitation was out of the blue, it wasn’t essentially stunning. My aunt and I had spent many summers mountain climbing in western Washington; she had a bent to choose 10+ mile hikes and never inform me till we have been on the trailhead, one thing I realized to embrace. We had additionally trekked throughout the Scottish Highlands collectively proper earlier than I began my full-time job, so this felt like a strategy to proceed that spirit of the journey. So as to add.
That first message was again in early 2020, so you may think about the place this story goes. The trek was delayed till September 2022, one of many months specialists say is an efficient time to climb Everest (should you’re , plan on going between March to Could or September to November, FYI). The pandemic delays gave me extra time to bodily, mentally, and financially put together. I targeted on cross-training and happening long-distance hikes to construct my endurance – and to go to REI and Ascent Open air to buy gear. The hike will surely be extra taxing than our day hikes given the 17,598 ft elevation achieve – and dearer than a $30 annual mountain climbing go and the fuel to get there. However we have been prepared.
Right here’s the associated fee breakdown.
Process: Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Occupation: Freelance author and product advertising and marketing supervisor
Location: Nepal
Timeline: 5 months of planning, 10 days of precise trekking
The Receipts
Roundtrip flights from Seattle, WA to Kathmandu, Nepal:$1,370
Everest Base Camp trek package deal with Himalayan Wonders. Consists of information and porter charges, meals and lodging within the Himalayas, trekking permits and charges, and resort keep in Kathmandu earlier than and after: $1,399
Visa for touring to Nepal (paid upon arrival): $50
Money for information and porter tip and on a regular basis bills like bottled water, charging, laundry, and many others. whereas within the Himalayas: $1300
Clothes gear (jackets, rain pants, leggings, socks, and base layers): $1,337
Climbing boots and spikes: $215
Climbing passes (Annual Uncover Move and Northwest Forest Move): $60
Health club and Peloton memberships: $190 (whole at some point of my coaching)
Traveler’s insurance coverage by World Nomads: $84
Two helicopter rides, to and from the Himalayas on account of low visibility: $125 (it might have been $1,000, however one $500 journey was coated by insurance coverage and the second was cut up 4 methods)
Complete: $6130
How I Did It
Trekking to Everest Base Camp is tough to do on a whim. Right here’s how the journey and the funds got here collectively so I might really feel ready for the longest trek I had ever carried out.
My Largest Expense
We booked our trek by Himalayan Wonders, which is among the prime corporations that gives treks. Their payment was the most important single expense of the journey (by a slim margin), however it was comparatively all-inclusive, masking our keep in Kathmandu earlier than and after, the tea homes we stayed in alongside the trek, three meals a day, airport transfers, Everest trekking permits, farewell dinner, and charges for our information and porter, who carried our luggage between tea homes. We have been fortunate to get a a lot decrease charge for this trek as a result of we booked pre-pandemic, although our journey was delayed for 2 years, and the trek and flight prices could be a number of hundred {dollars} greater now. Plus, we didn’t have to fret about getting our personal permits or arranging lodging, which meant we might deal with the trek itself.
Prep Prices
Getting myself prepared for the trek to Everest Base Camp was a mix of bodily and psychological preparation. My brother and aunt had trekked to K2 within the years prior, they usually really helpful that I spend at the least an hour on the treadmill with a deal with walking with a very high incline. I used to be in a position to get a fairly nice low cost for a month-to-month membership at a neighborhood health club, and I additionally bought a Northwest Forest Move and Uncover Move so I might hike in western Washington each weekend. These prices have been negligible in comparison with the quantity I spent on gear, although. Which brings us to …
The place I Splurged
The most important splurge was all the gear that I had to purchase, although I knew that I’d use every little thing for future hikes and treks. Since I had by no means carried out a trek with such a excessive elevation, I wanted to buy wool base layers, sock liners, rain pants, jackets, and extra. I even purchased my first “actual” pair of mountain climbing boots, which I broke in throughout the months earlier than the trek. My now spouse drove me to a number of REI places and helped me pack – and repack – every little thing that must match within the 22-pound duffle bag I’d deliver to the Himalayas.
I used to be additionally fortunate that the timing of my trek enabled me to buy gear at REI and Ascent Outdoors throughout their annual gross sales, which helped me save 10 to fifteen % on the acquisition worth of some gadgets. Lots of the gadgets I purchased as base layers have been made with merino wool, which is dearer however tends to last more and is nice for lengthy hikes because it’s breathable, odor-resistant, and quick-drying cloth. My hiking boots have been additionally one of the crucial costly gadgets I bought for my journey, however I discovered them to be a terrific funding since I wore them earlier than and after throughout my summer season hikes.
The place I Saved
As a result of my brother and aunt had not too long ago gone on a giant trek, that they had a good quantity of drugs and provides that I might borrow. My brother loaned me his mountain climbing backpack and mountain climbing poles, which saved me just a few hundred {dollars}, and my aunt had a good quantity of non-public cleansing provides, granola bars, blister bandages, and filtering water bottles. I’ve additionally spent half of my life mountain climbing in Washington State, so I had a good quantity of mountain climbing socks and clothes that I might use as a place to begin.
The place I Needed to Make Sacrifices
To trek to Everest Base Camp, I needed to take 5 days of unpaid depart from my job as a result of it didn’t supply limitless day without work on the time, and I used to be one week quick on trip time. I’m fortunate that I had the choice to take depart so I might nonetheless go however consequently, I misplaced about $1,000 in wages, one thing I made a decision was value it as a result of this was a once-in-a-lifetime expertise that I needed to have with my aunt. I used to be additionally in a position to make this a refund and extra by writing tales about my trek to Everest Base Camp, masking every little thing from what to pack to which wellness products I brought with me.
My Recommendation to Future Everest Base Camp Trekkers
Convey money, for one. Throughout the trek itself, we have been in a position to make use of the money for a porter and information tip, and we additionally paid for Wi-Fi, gadget charging, bottled water, laundry, and sizzling water at a lot of the tea homes the place we stayed alongside the best way. To scale back among the prices, I might typically pay to cost my transportable battery after which use it to cost my telephone and Apple Watch whereas mountain climbing. One thing else value noting is that the price of these items sometimes get greater as you rise in elevation and if you get excessive sufficient, it’s too chilly to bathe in any respect.
Additionally: go for traveler’s insurance coverage. We purchased it earlier than arriving in Nepal, and this greater up-front price helped cowl incidentals that got here up throughout the trek. For instance, flights from Kathmandu to the Himalayas are regularly delayed on account of inclement climate, which led us to ebook a helicopter to get to the Himalayas after a day’s delay. Fortunately, this price was coated with insurance coverage, however we did find yourself needing to take one other helicopter the day after reaching base camp on account of inclement climate; we didn’t need to danger getting stranded on account of low visibility. The second journey wasn’t coated, however we cut up the associated fee 4 methods.
Remaining Ideas
Trekking to Everest Base Camp was a once-in-a-lifetime expertise that I’ll cherish perpetually – in any case, how many individuals can say that they’ve been 17,598 ft above sea degree? However as a queer Pakistani girl, among the best elements about doing this trek got here throughout the aftermath. After returning residence, quite a few ladies of colour messaged me that they felt impressed to ebook their very own trek, and others talked about how they felt impressed to discover a hike of their metropolis or take a solo journey they’d been desirous about. This meant extra to me than the price of the trek itself. And when life will get difficult, I discover myself considering, “It could possibly’t be as exhausting as trekking to Everest Base Camp – and I already did that.”
Associated: The Best Outdoor Gear to Invest In, According to a Professional Hiker
Aleenah Ansari is a queer Pakistani author based mostly in Seattle. She covers journey, entrepreneurship, psychological well being and wellness, and illustration in media for PS, Insider, The Seattle Instances, Byrdie, and extra.
