EVACUATION FROM THE BASE OF EVEREST

Last issue we talked to Robert Bruce, founder of the adventure group Got to Get Out, who'd just completed his fourth group trek to Nepal, this time to Everest Base Camp (EBC). With 30 mostly Kiwis (or people with strong NZ connections) they headed into the Nepal winter enduring temperatures of -20 to -40, while we enjoyed the NZ summer.

As leader of this large group, Rob learned the hard way no matter how prepared you are, at altitude there's always a chance that things can go wrong. He shares what it was like arranging an emergency evac from the foot of Mt Everest..

Some guests got altitude sickness, tell us about that? What happens up high? Altitude sickness is an unfortunate reality of trekking at altitude, and despite EBC being considered relatively 'easy' by some, it should not be underestimated. I've done EBC three times now as well as Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal, and I can confirm the risks are real. Trekkers to EBC are climbing five hundred or more vertical meters a day for up to eight hour a day, for fifteen days (there and back). With reduced hygiene facilities, extreme cold in winter, unusual foods and fatigue added in.. there's certainly a risk of altitude sickness, as I have now experienced first-hand.

I must start this answer by saying that in my opinion our group of trekkers were highly