Thanh Hang, an office worker in Ho Chi Minh City, said she had just successfully conquered Everest Base Camp with a short preparation time. Many experienced climbers told Travellive that she should prepare for 6 months to train physically. However, Thanh Hang only had 2 weeks before the trip to prepare everything carefully.
"Wonderful. The moment I reached the milestone was very touching and honestly I just wanted to return to Vietnam right after that moment because I was so tired," Thanh Hang replied when asked about her feelings at the end of the trip.
Lift weights to improve endurance.
Thanh Hang exercises her lower body to prepare for the mountain climbing trip.
Based on her own experience, Hang believes that October and May are the climbing seasons in Nepal. May is warmer but also more crowded because that is also the time when professional climbing groups arrive. She chose October because although the temperature is a little colder, it is still generally less crowded than May.
Within 2 weeks before leaving, Thanh Hang maintained a continuous daily workout routine. Every day, she spent 15-30 minutes jogging or walking on the steepest terrain such as stairs. After that, Thanh Hang practiced her lower body with simple exercises such as squats, deadlifts... to train her thighs and calves. She did cardio to build her physical strength. Next, she also spent time practicing breathing regulation to cope with the distance and weather.
"You should not practice too hard and challenge your endurance because if you get injured while practicing, it will affect your upcoming trip," Thanh Hang shared.
Besides physical training, preparing yourself mentally is also an important factor. Thanh Hang tries to keep a relaxed mind while preparing for other steps. She believes that Everest Base Camp is not as complicated and dangerous as conquering Mount Everest, this is a commercial trekking route so the rescue work here is also relatively fully equipped.
Sleeping bags, hair dryers, sanitary pads for shoe lining... are items you should bring to cope with harsh weather.
Always bring anti-altitude sickness medicine, vitamins, cough medicine, cold medicine... to help you adapt to cold weather conditions.
"The important thing is that you need to focus on your goal. If you are tired, go slowly because this is not a race with others but to win yourself, so sooner or later you will get there," this office worker commented.
Before departure, visitors should spend time searching online and consulting the tour company about the items to bring. The most indispensable items are warm clothes and scarves. In particular, visitors should bring special medicines such as: altitude sickness medicine, fever reducer, cough medicine, cold medicine, vitamin supplements. Note that you should bring the ones that can dissolve in water.
When asked about instructions for dealing with altitude sickness, Thanh Hang said there is almost no way to treat it while climbing. Tourists are forced to descend quickly by helicopter. The cost of using a helicopter for transportation will range from 500-600 USD. If not descending quickly, the condition will worsen, leading to pulmonary edema or cerebral edema and death soon after.
Therefore, climbers need to take anti-altitude sickness pills (pressure-regulating pills) about a day before starting the trip and continue taking 2 pills a day until the trip is completed.
In just 2 weeks of preparation, Thanh Hang conquered Everest Base Camp.
"When taking antihypertensive drugs, you will experience symptoms such as numbness in the hands, numbness in the feet, and dizziness, but rest assured because these are normal signs when the drug takes effect. You should drink lots of water and eat bananas to supplement potassium. When you reach high altitudes, these symptoms will decrease," Thanh Hang said.
A suitable backpack to wear during the entire climbing journey should be carefully selected. According to Thanh Hang, when climbing, tourists only need to bring a small backpack (with a support belt) of about 20 liters. Inside this backpack are necessary items such as medicine and drinking water.
"You should limit the amount of things you carry as much as possible because a backpack that is too heavy will affect your breathing. Someone will carry the other items for you," Hang said.
