Trip Reports

DHL Everest Base Camp Quest

DHL Everest Quest team trekkers
Trip Report

Written by Leader Mungo Ross, April 2019

To support Roland Thomas' attempt to carry the DHL flag to the summit of Everest coinciding with 50 years in business, the company put out a challenge to it's global workforce - trek to Everest Base Camp. The three criteria for application were a strong personal story, commitment to a team effort, and to raise money for charity. The 14 members of what became the "DHL Everest Quest Trek Team" were selected from over 1700 applicants, and this was the group that assembled at the Summit Hotel earlier this month. Unfortunately we were one down right at the start due to last minute administrative issues, but after checking kit in Kathmandu we were off in two mini-buses for the drive to Mulkot, a diversion made necessary by the resurfacing work being carried out at Kathmandu airport this spring.

After not enough sleep it was back on the buses at 5am for the drive to Ramechhap, to get the flight to Lukla; it certainly felt like a good omen that we were all having breakfast at the Tara Lodge on a beautiful morning, most folk having landed in Nepal from all around the world only the day before. The trek progressed up the Khumbu Valley following the well established itinerary, providing the usual spectacular and awe-inspiring experience; a night in Monjo, three nights in Namche Bazaar, through Thyangboche to Deboche - where the effects of altitude took it's toll; the onset of HAPE necessitating the helicopter evacuation of the one unfortunate slow-acclimatiser, a stark example of how unpredictable depriving ourselves of oxygen can be, still under 4000 meters.

Onwards and upwards through Pangboche, Dingboche, Chukung and Lobuje, to Gorak Shep; overseen by Thamserku, Kusum Kangru, Kangtega, Amadablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, the summit pyramid of Everest herself - all the ingredients of what is indeed one of the great walks in the world. Roland was there to meet us in Gorak Shep, and it would have been odd if it hadn't been an emotional moment before he took himself off back to base camp where the Everest climbing team had established themselves only a couple of days before.

Five of the group elected to dress for the 4am start up Kala Patar, ignoring the hill fog set off anyway, and were rewarded with a very atmospheric panorama of the Upper Khumbu mountains appearing through breaks in the clouds with the dawn. Back to the lodge for breakfast, the whole group then made their way to Everest Base Camp, by now on the 15th of April, a sprawling village of tents spread over the Khumbu Glacier. An hour or so for lunch and photos, to take in the scene and appreciate having successfully completed the Quest, it was time to return to Lobuje for the night. The arrangement to be shuttled by helicopter to Lukla for the onward flight to Ramechhap early in the morning - an arrangement begging problems even without the terrible influence of a departing aircraft crashing into parked helicopters at Lukla only yesterday morning - was perhaps the highlight of the "trek", and meant we were back at the Summit Hotel within hours of being at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall!

All credit must go to every member of this group, who have put themselves up for the challenge to demonstrate the power of positivity, the ability to be team-players, and to raise money for good causes - their target of $100,000 is looking very likely to be exceeded. That we had Dawa and his team to support us and Jagged Globe behind the scenes, the weather gods in our favour, and perhaps the good karma of the Khumbu Valley flying off the kata scarves and prayer flags has made this a most rewarding and enjoyable Trek to Everest Base Camp.

Mungo Ross

 

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