EBC trek acclimatisation schedule check + minor questions

Assuming that you are physically fit and that you acclimatise in an average way, then your schedule seems fine to me. I would be inclined to build in an extra day before crossing the Cho La to allow for bad weather/stomach, etc. You could always do a walk to the lakes north of Gokyo if you and the weather are OK. If you need to cut a day after the Cho La, it is possible to go from Gorak Shep to Tengboche or Pangboche in one day, and then to Namche the next day. However if you are in a group you will probably not be able to change the itinerary.

If you are traveling in a group which has hired porters then the porters will expect a tip at the end of the trek. The tip is usually one day's wage per porter for every seven days of carrying, and pro rata. A daily porter wage is about USD15. If you have ten porters for your group, then the total tip for your seventeen days would be about USD375. The whole tip is usually given to the head sherpa/porter, who then distributes it to the rest. Members normally divide the total tip equally between them, although some may choose to give more. You could agree with your fellow trekkers not to contribute but they would then have to make up the difference. Even if the porters do not carry any of your stuff, they will expect the same tip. It works on the number of days and the number of porters, not on what they actually carry. IME failure to provide the expected tip will probably produce some ill feeling.

IMO the simplest thing to do is just contribute to the tip. Compared to the other costs of your trip it seems an insignificant amount.

Many people in Nepal carry knives of various sorts openly, including the famous Kukri. I have never done so but I cannot see why you could not.

I typically carry a 10-22mm and a 17-85mm lens for my 1.6 factor Cannon 550D. Many people carry a longer lens but I find that I rarely use one. I never carry a macro lens but then I am not interested in macro subjects. What subjects do you want to use one for?

Thanks for your response! That was really helpful.

However if you are in a group you will probably not be able to change the itinerary.

Yes, unfortunately I would be tied to the group itinerary. If the weather at Cho La is really bad, we would follow an alternate route though. Anyway, just wanted to make sure everything looked fine before actually booking.

If you have ten porters for your group, then the total tip for your seventeen days would be about USD375.

Oh, so those $375 is something you give as a group? :D I don't mind contributing then.

For some absurd reason I thought everyone would have to tip all the employees seperately according to the "1-day wage for each week" principle. Oops, brain fart. :)

What subjects do you want to use one for?

I didn't really have any specific subjects in mind, but figured there might be some interesting fauna and flora. That being said, I'd need to limit the weight of my backpack as much as possible.

Already good info from post #1.

I suggest you spend a night at Mong La or two nights at Machhermo for acclimatization before you are pushing to Gokyo Lake. You can make training: go high (1to2hrs around Machhermo) and sleep low an acclimatization day. The volunteer doctor talks about altitude at Machhermo porter house in busy season (October/November and April/May) in every day at 3PM. You can learn more about altitude sickness, precaution and prevention from doctor if you are heading in busy season.

Also, consider the EBC on first than Gokyo Lake because there is shorter climb up to Cho La from Dzongla than Thangnak/Drangnag. You will visit villages with monasteries and also better chances of acclimatization on EBC route than Gokyo Lake. Follow proper acclimatization rules and then your trip in Himalaya should be safe and rewarding.

If you are on a group trek you really can not do much to change the itinerary. Here are some points anyway:

• Go EBC first, much better and more interesting places to spend the slow acclimatisation period: real villages, monasteries etc. Phortse Thenga, Dole and Machermo are just a collections of lodges on potato fields not villages, quite boring places to kill the time. Daily hiking distances are just a few miles.

• Phortse Thenga is low, gloomy place, difficult to understand why anybody would want to spend a night. Rather stop 30 minutes earlier at Mong La with splendid views, it is also higher giving better acclimatisation. Or make a 30 minute detour to Phortse proper, the most original Shepa village along (or next to) the route.

• Certainly porters (and agencies) would like trekkers to think everybody tips 15% to everybody! But do not fall into this trap, proper tip is about 15% or one day's salary per week, collected from the whole group together. It is safest to buy enough envelopes from Kathmandu or Namche and place tips in those, with the staff members name on top. Distribute these to the porters and guides at the apes-trek party, this way you can be fairly certain that everybody actually gets the tips, not just the guide or the agency.

Also, consider the EBC on first than Gokyo Lake because there is shorter climb up to Cho La from Dzongla than Thangnak/Drangnag. You will visit villages with monasteries and also better chances of acclimatization on EBC route than Gokyo Lake.

• Go EBC first, much better and more interesting places to spend the slow acclimatisation period: real villages, monasteries etc.

Hmm, good to know. I'll look around some more for possibilities to do the reverse trek like you both suggest. Thank you.

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