Witnessing the magical view of the tallest mountain from the lap of the highest peak, Mount Everest is not for the faint-hearted. You need to have an iron will! Here are some of the psychological challenges of trekking to Everest Base Camp and how to overcome them.
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The beautiful trek to Everest Base Camp involves a lot of challenges like strenuous bodily efforts, unfavorable weather conditions, high altitude sickness, and many other unpredictable circumstances. However, it does offer the delight of the unparalleled beauty of snowy mountains, biodiversity, and unique geographical attributes. Despite the trek to Everest Base Camp rewarding you with being on the lap of the world’s tallest peak (Mount Everest at 8848m), you might still hold doubts, fear, and be overwhelmed due to the hardships of the venturesome trip. The psychological challenges or mental challenges are mental conditions you bear in your mind, and they act as hindrances on your path to the Everest region. Hence, we often discuss the significance of mental fitness or resilience before trekking to Everest Base Camp.
The Psychological Challenges and Tips to Overcome Them
- Lack of confidence in the unknown: You might be confident and comfortable in the way of life in city areas; or your workspace. But when it comes to the Everest Base Camp trek, the mere thought of walking into rough mountain trails for 12-14 days might scare you and decrease your confidence. The new world you’re entering for a couple of days excludes all the facilities, privileges, and comfort of the sophisticated city life; meaning no more unlimited food options, no more luxury beds, no more social life, no more pursuit of money or materialistic goals, no more internet and social media addiction, and no more normal life.
Improve physical fitness: Different physical trainings should be done before the trek to Everest Base Camp, such as hiking, cardio, endurance, high altitude, nutrition, hydration, etc. Such preparatory activities help boost confidence levels to climb the gigantic hills of the remote Everest region, far away from the city.
2. A sense of overwhelm due to the grandeur: The trek to Everest Base Camp is a grandeur blend of all its glory, beauty, thrill, adventure, and unforgettable memories. Simply dreaming about all the exceptional beauty of the glorious Everest journey may overwhelm you, as we are talking about one of the World’s Natural Wonders.
Use the visualization technique: This technique works perfectly if you are an imaginative person by nature or if you are good at visual learning. Imagine yourself undertaking one of the trekking journeys like Everest Base Camp with different problems and hindrances coming along the way. Imagine that you tackled all the hardships and difficulties to reach the destination. When you undertake the EBC trek in real, the challenging experience will be magically easier as you would have already faced that in your mind or imagination using the visualization technique.
3. Anxious about upcoming risk: Anxiety occurs when you presume the worst possible events before they happen in the trek. Whether there is a real risk or not, if your mind is anxious, you remain worried and disturbed during the trek, preventing you from basking in the marvelous mountain beauty. You may develop anxiety about the upcoming hill, which seems a bit dangerous, maybe the suspension bridge isn’t that strong, or the shocking memory of avalanches on the news, the uncertainty of reaching the destination, tiredness after walking long distances, watching people already suffering from altitude sickness, and so on. Cut down all these noises in your head. Worrying about them will only drain your energy, which you can use to stay focused on the journey instead, making the Everest Base Camp experience the most unique memory of your entire life.
Be here and now: An anxious mind snatches the gift of the present moment out of you! How rude is that? Why not kick away your anxiety with some exercises? Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are great for focusing on the present moment. Additionally, you get to witness the rewarding views of nature and the divineness of the gigantic mountains more beautifully by focusing on the here and now.
4. Moments of frustration: Frustration during trekking to Everest Base Camp occurs when you need to reach a goal, but face obstacles. It could be the problems with challenging trials, health, or both. Walking for a long distance and feeling tired enough, you may see no signs of hope reaching the resting spot or the destination out of frustration.
Set mini goals: Instead of thinking about the ultimate destination, which might look scary at moments of frustration, focus on small goals in front of you as the milestones to reach. Your next milestone could be a big rock near the lake, a lush green tree, or the upcoming teahouse. Once you arrive there, take proper time to rest and recharge yourself. If the EBC trek frustrates you, play such games to keep yourself centered on the unique journey, and playfully interact with nature.
5. Disconnection from social life: Trekking to Everest Base Camp can be lonesome as you spend about two weeks out of the city. In remote areas with unknown people, you might miss your friends and family, especially if you’re trekking solo without a guide. Even during group treks, there is a chance that you may feel disconnected and alone in the mountains.
Stay connected: Did you know Wifi connection is available at the Everest Base Camp? To stay connected through the internet, you can buy an internet plan from Kathmandu or log in to one of the Wifi connections available at local cafes of the Everest region to keep in touch with your favorite people on chat or call. The internet has become a way of life; hence, the trend has become increasingly popular. However, if you’re more of a nature lover, immerse yourself in the mystery of the divine natural beauty of stunning mountain ranges and the diverse range of flora and fauna. There is no better way to cope with loneliness in the Everest Base Camp trek than this way.
6. Adaptation challenges: Entering into a new world of Everest arena certainly comes with a change in temperature, lifestyle, paths, and availability of amenities. Besides, you’ll meet people with unique cultures and traditions different from your home country. The main psychological challenge here is to adjust or adapt to new circumstances with an open mind.
Be flexible and open-minded: Life in the Himalayas is simpler with basic accommodation and plain food. So, learn about all the possible difficulties and dangers, and prepare yourself physically and psychologically to remain flexible during the trip. Be flexible and open-minded when facing conflicts and challenges, and the rest will fall into place.
Exclusive Tips for Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Practice meditation and yoga
Meditation and yoga are great solutions for tackling all kinds of mental challenges like anxiety, frustration, sickness, loneliness, etc. Engage in meditation and yoga practices under the guidance of a good teacher to help you concentrate on the rewarding Everest Base Camp trek with excellent mental resilience. Start your meditation 10 minutes daily in a peaceful spot to prepare for the adventurous mountain voyage. Join yoga classes with qualified yoga teachers and see your mental fitness expanding within a few weeks.
Consult a trekking expert
The experts are the ones who have already faced and handled tricky situations in trekking multiple times. If you have serious concerns, stay connected with a trekking expert who will guide you on the trek to Everest Base Camp. Let the trekking to Everest Base Camp be a memory to cherish for a lifetime, not a haunting nightmare.
Stay motivated
- “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity.” – Seneca
- “To win without risk is to triumph without glory.” – Pierre Corneille
- “The only person who has the responsibility of leading your thoughts is you, be kind to yourself.” – Maliheh Sadat Razavi
Conclusion on the Challenges of Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Mental preparation and learning tips and tricks come in handy while tackling the psychological challenges of the Everest Base Camp trek. A strong and flexible mindset is indispensable for making the Everest Base Camp trek happen.
Need help? Get in touch with one of our experts. Good luck!