Top of the world

Filled with some of the grandest views on earth, the journey to Mount Everest Base Camp is every nature and outdoor enthusiast’s dream.

However, it is not for the faint-hearted and Bahraini photographer Sara Sami and three other women realised it after they took up their once-in-a-lifetime journey.

The trio’s trip started in Kathmandu with a 40-minute flight in the tiniest plane Sara said she had ever been in.

“It might have been one of the scariest moments in my life,” she said. “You are literally flying in between mountains to get to Lukla airport which is said to be one of the most dangerous runways to land in.”

With a runway length of 528m and at an altitude of 2,845m, the plane lands right between the mountains where the first hike starts from Lukla to Phakding, a small village in Kombu at 2,610m altitude.

“Our first day wasn’t tough as the trail route took about four hours to Phakding where we stayed for the night in a cute little teahouse,” she added. However, the path ahead was thorny.

“The next day, we hiked for about nine hours ascending from an altitude of 2,610m to 3,440m above sea level, which was the most exhausting trek until then,” she said.

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, kicked in and Sara suffered from headaches, nausea and loss of appetite and had to be put on medication.

A 24-hour break was vital for recuperation but Sara and her team were determined to continue their journey. Their third stop was Tengboche at 3,860m where they stayed in a teahouse once again.

“We finally had a hot shower bath,” she said. “Most places don’t have hot water, they all depend on solar energy which was not in our favour because it was cloudy during the entirety of our trip.”

The women continued for another nine hours ascending to Dibouche at 4,410m and then Lobuche (4,940m).

The last two nights were a struggle for Sara yet again.

“We are not used to severe cold weather in Bahrain and having to stay in teahouses with no heating systems made sleeping at night really difficult,” Sara explained.

“All teahouses had little dining halls where everyone gathers for warmth from the wood burning chimneys also known as ‘Bukharis’. However, it is not recommended to stay there for long as the burning process sucks the oxygen out of the room.

“Our last day arrived after what felt like an eternity. It was our final push to base camp. We had six more kilometres to hike up to the camp, which at normal sea level would take no longer than an hour.”

It took them around seven hours to make it.

“This day felt just as difficult as my hike on day two,” Sara said.

“It took so much willpower to push through the fatigue because we were literally gasping for oxygen after every step.

“We were at an altitude known as the ‘death zone’. Nothing grows and survives here. We were surrounded by big rocks which we had to jump on to at every step.”

Three hours later, they finally made it. They could see all the tents and groups of people waiting in line to take pictures. This point marks the beginning of the trail for people who want to summit Everest.

“People stay at the first base camp and then continue to the second until they make it to the fifth, which is right before summiting the mountain,” Sara explained.

“It usually takes them no less than 45 days to complete the summit.

“All I remember feeling was gratitude for being able to reach this far, regardless of my physical and mental condition.

“I was not feeling as ecstatic though because of the condition I was in. I just remember being happy that it’s over and we can head back down!

“It definitely was one of the toughest situations I had ever been in and no matter how much people tell you that it’s a tough expedition, you will never know how tough it is until you’re in it.”

The entire hike is a 65km walk up that took nine days. It’s also the same exact return route that can be completed in three days.

Sara said the trip took a toll on their back and knees and while they managed to continue the trek down for two days, they were helicoptered out on the third as they could not continue the final nine hours with all the blisters they accumulated.

“I don’t feel bad on missing our last day of hike because I’m pretty sure my legs would have given up on me,” said Sara.

“I hope my journey inspires others to get out of their comfort zone. If I can do it, then so can you. Sometimes you just have to ignore your fears because that’s the only way forward.

“I don’t know what’s next for me at this point, the Everest trip was a one-time experience.”

For details, follow @agrilfrombahrain on Instagram.