GT or EBC
×
Poll: Which is harder: Grand Traverse or Everest Base Camp (was ended 0000-00-00 00:00:00)
| A standard Grand Traverse |
|
4 | 80% |
| Everest Base Camp |
|
1 | 20% |
| Total number of voters: 5 ( antmanhowes, ahowes, kbresler, intrepid, ghaznavid ) | |||
| Only registered users can participate to this poll | |||
29 May 2012 10:37 - 29 May 2012 10:41 #54116
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: GT or EBC
Interesting one. The most direct way to EBC via the Khumbu Valley, staring from Lukla, is not difficult at all, and its not far, this is true. The valley is very populated and there is a constant buzz of trekkers, traders, porters and yaks (it is quieter in the off season though). Yes you can stay in lodges all the way, and portering is the norm. The Grand Traverse is a lot more physical, you're carrying heavy, exposed to the elements more and its more remote. In this sense I would say the GT is harder. Its sustained and intense.
However, when it comes to the challenge with altitude, the GT doesn't even make a dent compared to the EBC trek. And it is a major, major challenge. On a standard itinerary you spend the first night at Phakding which is about 2800m. Thereafter you are sleeping higher than Thabana Ntlenyana, culminating at either Lobuje (just under 5000m) or Gorak Shep (5100m) before you start heading back. You are sleeping much higher than a standard Killi trip even. Acclimatising can be very uncomfortable, even if everything is going well, and symptoms can so easily spiral and become life threatening if you're not careful. The nausea, headaches, appetite loss, lethargy, funky dreams and sleeplessness at 2am competes very strongly with the endurance of the GT.
And, if you don't have an iron stomach, you are normally fighting some sort of diarrhoea on top of it. This is the end of the road for many trekkers.
You can make an EBC trek more challenging if you go another route, like Gokyo and crossing over the Cho La, and there is even the so called Three Passes trek where you cross 3 passes over 5000m and do EBC inbetween. And you can sleep in tents if you want.
But there you have it. GT is more physical I think.
However, when it comes to the challenge with altitude, the GT doesn't even make a dent compared to the EBC trek. And it is a major, major challenge. On a standard itinerary you spend the first night at Phakding which is about 2800m. Thereafter you are sleeping higher than Thabana Ntlenyana, culminating at either Lobuje (just under 5000m) or Gorak Shep (5100m) before you start heading back. You are sleeping much higher than a standard Killi trip even. Acclimatising can be very uncomfortable, even if everything is going well, and symptoms can so easily spiral and become life threatening if you're not careful. The nausea, headaches, appetite loss, lethargy, funky dreams and sleeplessness at 2am competes very strongly with the endurance of the GT.
And, if you don't have an iron stomach, you are normally fighting some sort of diarrhoea on top of it. This is the end of the road for many trekkers.
You can make an EBC trek more challenging if you go another route, like Gokyo and crossing over the Cho La, and there is even the so called Three Passes trek where you cross 3 passes over 5000m and do EBC inbetween. And you can sleep in tents if you want.
But there you have it. GT is more physical I think.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
