Everest Itineraries 2009 (Revised)
The process of trekking in to Everest Base Camp serves several purposes. First, it gets you there. Second, by taking things at a methodical pace, with periods of rest, your body is able to slowly acclimate to the ever-decreasing air pressure and available oxygen.
Done properly, by the time you reach Everest Base Camp at 17,500 feet, you should be able to function. Scott Parazynski requires the most acclimatization since he will be going even higher – to the summit. Before he does that , he will make a series of climbs up and down the mountain so as to further acclimate. Keith Cowing will be living and working for a month no higher than Everest Base Camp. The NASA Trek Team will only spend a day or so at Everest Base Camp, so they can afford to take a slightly faster trek in to Everest than either Scott or Keith take. These days, most treks begin after a short flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Scott’s, Keith’s, and the NASA Everest Trek Team’s trek itineraries are listed below:
Scott Parazynski’s Itinerary (tentative or “notional” for you NASA folks)
22 March Departure from Houston
23 March Enroute (lost day/cross International Date Line)
24 March Arrive in Katmandu
25 March Kathmandu
26 March Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding
27 March Trek to Namche
28 March Namche – Acclimatization day
29 March Namche – Acclimatization day
30 March Trek to Tenboche
31 March Tengboche – Acclimatization day
01 April Trek to Dingboche
02 April Dingboche – Acclimatization day
03 April Trek to Lobuche
04 April Lobuche– Acclimatization day
05 April Trek to Gorak Shep
06 April Trek into Everest Base Camp
07 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
08 April Rest day and tour of Everest Base Camp
09 April Ice climbing and ladder crossing practice, EBC
10 April Trek to Kala Pattar; Rohan arrives at EBC
11 April Walk on Ice fall to Back to BC
12 April Trek to Pumor Ri Camp I with Rohan
13 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
14 April Climb to Camp 1, spend night
15 April Descend to Everest Base Camp
16 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
17 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
18 April Climb to Camp 1 to stay overnight
19 April Hike 1 hour above Camp 1, then to Everest Base Camp
20 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
21 April Rest day in Everest Base Camp
22 April Climb to Camp 1 to stay overnight
23 April Climb to Camp 2 to stay overnight
24 April Rest day at Camp 2
25 April Hike to base of Lhotse Face > back to Camp 2
26 April Descend to Everest Base Camp
27 April Rest day in Base Camp; NASA trekking team arrives!
28 April Rest day
29 April Climb to Camp 2 to stay overnight
30 April Rest day at Camp 2
01 May Climb Everest’s west shoulder above Camp 2
02 May Rest day at Camp 2
03 May Climb to Camp 3 to stay overnight
04 May Climb to Yellow Band on Os, descend to Camp 2
05 May Descend to Everest Base Camp
06 May Rest day in Everest Base Camp
07 May Rest day in Everest Base Camp
08 May Descend to Gorak Shep for lunch, return to Base Camp
09 May Rest day in Everest Base Camp
10 May Climb to Camp 1
11 May Climb to Camp 2
12 May Climb to Camp 3
13 May Climb to South Col
14 May Summit to South Col
15 May Down to Camp 2
16 May Down to Base Camp
17 May Base Camp
18 May alternate day
19 May alternate day
20 May alternate day
21 May alternate day
22 May alternate day
23 May alternate day
24 May alternate day
25 May Trek to Lobuche
26 May Trek to Pangboche
27 May Trek to Namche
28 May Trek to Lukla
29 May Fly to Kathmandu
30 May Kathmandu – Celebration
31 May Departure for home
Keith Cowing’s Itinerary
12 April Depart Washington DC
13 April In transit via Qatar
14 April Arrive Kathmandu
15 April Kathmandu
16 April Fly to Lukla, trek to Lukla, trek to Phakding
17 April Namche Bazaar
18 April Namche Bazaar
19 April Namche Bazaar
20 April Trek to Tengboche
21 April Tengboche
22 April Dingboche
23 April Dingboche(meet up with NASA Team)
24 April Lobuche
25 April Lobuche (meet up with NASA Team again)
26 April Gorakshep
27 April – 26 May (est.) Everest Base Camp
31 May Arrive in US
NASA Trek Team Itinerary
16 Depart US
17-18 April in transit
19 April Fly to Lukla, trek to Lukla, trek to Phakding
20 April Namche Bazaar
21 April Namche Bazaar
22 April Tengboche
23 April Dingboche (meet up with Keith)
24 April Dingboche
25 April Lobuche (meet up with Keith again)
26 April Gorakshep
27 April Everest Base Camp, trek back to Lobuche
28 April Dingboche
29 April Khumjung
30 April Phakding
01 May Lukla
02 May Fly to Kathmandu
03 May Contingency flight day (Philanthropy at PA Nepal Orphanage)
04 May Depart Kathmandu
05 May Arrive in US
