Exercise Himalayan Bugle was a totally successful expedition to Everest Base Camp (EBC) that took place 5 – 25 Nov 13.
The primary aim of the expedition was to successfully and safely get the composite team of Regular and Reserve soldiers from 2 and 6 RIFLES to EBC, taking them to an altitude of 5364 mtrs (17533 feet).
On the 5th Nov 13 the team met up for the first time at Heathrow airport and flew via New Delhi to Kathmandu. The 9 Regular soldiers from 2 RIFLES and 3 Reservists from 6 RIFLES then spent two days conducting medical, communication and acclimatisation training before flying into Lukla airport, claimed to be the most dangerous airport in the world, to start the 12 day trek to EBC. Great care needed to be taken in what each individual person packed due to the all-up baggage allowance of only 15 Kgs per passenger. Having met up with our guide and securing our hold baggage to the very reluctant looking Yaks, we set off alarmingly downhill to our first overnight stop at Phakding. The plan was to use the tea houses (the Nepali equivalent of a B & B) throughout the trek, not surprisingly the standard of these became less and less salubrious the higher we got. The weather throughout was perfect with beautiful clear blue sky and not a flake of snow. The daytime temperatures were +5 – +20 Celsius but as the sun disappeared below the mountains the temperatures plummeted to -10 to -25 Celsius. With no heating in any of the Tea Houses accommodation, your down sleeping bag was essential and we discovered you needed enormous will power to get out of it in the morning.
The daily routine was soon established with a good breakfast of porridge and pancakes and then setting off on the days trekking as soon as the sun's warm rays broke over the mountains. Everyone in the team agreed to take the drug Diamox daily that allows the your body the acclimatise easier and reduces the risk of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS), arguably the greatest risk at altitude, and is potentially fatal. The trek is limited by the maximum ascent allowed each day (500 Mtrs), in line with the altitude profile over the nine days it takes to get to EBC. Each day you also trek 200-300 meters higher than the altitude you are going to sleep at; this again reduces the risk of AMS. We monitored our blood oxygen levels twice a day which gives you a good indication as to whether you are acclimatising properly.
With the trek coinciding with Remembrance Day, the team held its own parade with the backdrop of Mount Everest. The Bugle Major from 2 RIFLES had taken his bugle and blew last post amazingly well in the rarefied air at 4000 mtrs. The team climbed steadily each day with the scenery becoming more and more spectacular. The precarious suspension bridges across raging icy rivers hundreds of feet below proved quite a challenge in high winds. On day 7 we were at 5000 mtrs and above the snow line and were good sunglasses were essential to prevent snow blindness. On the morning of day 9 we made the final push to EBC. The route from the last village and point of civilisation, Gorek Shep, to EBC takes you along the edge of the Kumbu glacier dominated by the north face of Everest looming a further 10,000 above. At midday Sun 17 Nov 13 the whole team had made it to EBC.
The next 3 days we retraced our steps back to Lukla which, although is predominately down hill, still has 4300 meters of climb - as we discovered, Nepal is always ‘a little bit up and a little bit down’. Arriving back in Lukla we had our first beer and shower in 12 days, both of which were most needed.
On return to Kathmandu we had a full day of administration, with some time to relax, recover and experience Kathmandu. The team visited several of the Hindu and Buddhist temples and, of course, the tourist shopping area in Tammel.
The EBC trek was an amazing experience for everyone in the team but especially for the Reservist soldiers who took part. It had certainly met the true aim of adventure training by taking them outside of their comfort zone, arguably well outside. This was also a great step forward in the ‘One Army Concept’.
Finally, thanks to the Ulysses Trust for their grant of £500.00 that made this expedition viable for two very grateful reservists.
W J P KELSALL, Capt, Expedition Leader
