Day 8 - Baby steps to Base Camp (5140m)

Today was the hardest day EVER!

We woke up really early to get to Gorak Shep, which is the highest point to stay unless you are part of a summiting expedition. We hiked for 2 hours. We got rooms in the lodge in Gorak Shep and then had lunch. Lunch took too long, which then delayed the departure for the hike to the base camp, which was 6 hours total.

Normally, hikes are supposed to shorter coming back, but this was not. As we walked towards the base camp, it seemed like we were supposed to be getting closer, but it never came. We hiked over a glacier with rocks and streams and small crevaces all over. It was very challenging. Ever step we took was treacherous.

We got to Everest Base Camp (EBC) after 3 hours. There was one expedition team setting up and one that had been there for a few days. The one that was already set up was a South Korean team. One guy brought out some popcorn and tea for us. Alex and Elron brought whiskey to drink, and then gave some to the South Korean. It was really cool talking to them. They were going to be there for 2 months. One guy had summited the year before also. They even said we could stay at their camp for the night. We really had to leave though because it was still a 3 hour return hike and the sun was also going to go down in 3 hours. We said goodbye to the SK team, got some pictures and left.

The hike back was awful. Again over the ice and rocks, but with an empty belly and the stress of knowing it was going to be dark soon. Every step took so much energy. We finally got back to the lodge as it got dark. I inhaled a snickers bar cause I was going to pass out. Denise was so out of it and tired that she couldn't make a complete sentence. Elron, Christofer, Hannah and Kimi all got sick too from the elevation. I went to bed fully clothed and without brushing my teeth. It was so friggin cold.