Finally we successfully trekked up to Everest Base Camp 5,360m above sea level. Few members of the Saving Mount Everest Clean-Up Expedition Team including few climbers and support staff were already in the Base Camp and were setting up the camp. Rest of the team members were on their way up. The Clean-up expedition team will camp in the Base Camp and Camp 1 and Camp 2 for following one and a half months to bring the refuse down from Everest. Everything required was carried up or being carried up to Everest Base Camp from Lukla and Namche Bazaar by the porters. To name a few items - tents, utensils, ropes, food supplies, sleeping bags, big bags to bring the rubbish down. More that 50 porters have been hired to carry the supplies. The expedition team comprise of 22 climbers and around 10 high altitude porters and 8 support staff members.

At night the temperature in the Base Camp dropped down to -20 degrees Celsius – our water in the bottle froze overnight. The wind was strong and harsh especially during the night, which seemed to blow our tents away. The level of oxygen is now even lesser in the Base Camp.

Being up in the altitude of 5,360m above sea level for over a month and going up to 8,700m and bring rubbish down is certainly a very challenging task. It requires a lot of endurance both physical and mental. There’d be no second opinion if I say that the Saving Mount Everest Expedition team are driven and determined and want their mountain clean. Motivation and support from every aspect of the society will help them achieve their goal to bring down the refuse from the Death Zone.

We the support team feel proud to be part of such laudable cause and feel fortunate to be supporting the heroic deed – to clean Mount Everest – the highest point on earth and an incomparable icon of nature’s splendor!

Blog and Pictures by: Neelima Shrestha, PR Consultant, Saving Mount Everest