How to Handle the Cold Temperatures on the Everest Base Camp Trek

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a trip of extremes. Offers vistas of the world’s most stunning landscapes, plus hospitality among the warmest from the Sherpa people, and temperatures at times among the coldest. It’s not just a luxury, but also guarding yourself from the cold and ensuring that you have a successful adventure to the Everest base camp trek.

This ultimate guide is packed with tips and tactics to show you how not only to survive, but also to thrive in the cold. From smart layering to the gear you need, we’ll set you up for one that’s right for you – not overpowering.

Your Best Defense: Layering Up Nosha Salimi knew she was dressing for safety.

On the Everest Base Camp hike, an exceptional way to maintain heat is by layering. For insulation, a layered approach helps you to add or dispose of clothes as your body temperature changes in the course of the day, ranging from a cold morning to a laid-naked sunny day and lower back round to a freezing nighttime.

Base Layer: The Moisture Wicker

Your skin’s clothing is the bottom layer. It has one job: swiping sweat away from your body. Look for fabrics like merino wool or synthetics that do just that. A damp base layer will cool you down in seconds flat, so avoid cotton like the plague – it holds onto sweat and dries at a snail’s pace.

Outer Layer: The Shell

The outer layer of your body, that is (I am not referring to husk or armor at present), keeps out wind and rain and snow so long as it does its job out there. You won’t want to forget a waterproof, windproof jacket. It should be roomy enough to fit over your other layers without looking or feeling too bulky.

The Right Equipment: Beyond the Layers!

Some of that gear needs to be layered, but there are some things you simply cannot do without when it comes to combating the cold on your Everest Base Camp Trek Itinerary.

Sleeping Bag: Your Nighttime Lifeline

So it’s no surprise that the absolute, 100% necessary piece of gear to sleeping through the night is a high-insulating, cold-rated sleeping bag. Bring a zero-degree sleeping bag, a tent, and other winter camping necessities. A good sleeping bag won’t just keep you warm, but help you recover from each day’s trek — and is an outdoor expedition essential.

Head, Hands, and Feet

A lot of body heat escapes from your mouth, and wool helps to keep it. Inside, include a warm winter hat (preferably fleece or wool beanie), insulated gloves or mittens, and thick, warm socks. But those wool socks will keep your dogs cool, lead to a thoroughly socky experience, and be more single-use than shower slippers. Never underestimate what you can do with a good pair of gloves; A couple of thin liners underneath keep your dexterity high.

Footwear: heat and Dry

Hiking boots must be waterproof and insulated. Make sure you have a perfectly fitted pair that you’ve already worn in when you set out. Really, really don’t want a frozen toe on the trail.

Teahouse Life: Staying Warm Indoors

Those teahouse rooms can get pretty cold, even inside — especially at night. Treat yourself with a good Everest Base Camp Trek package -but bring your own warth.

The Dining Hall Stove

In the evenings, teahouse dining rooms are warmed by a central stove where a nugget of Yak dung burns. This is the only room that has active heating and a great place to warm up, make acquaintances with other hikers, and dry out all of your clothing.

Hot water bottle and Sleeping bag warmer

With a hot water bottle, you can sleep warm and soundly for a cheap price. More simply, have the teahouse staff fill a Nalgene bottle with hot water and stick it in your sleeping bag for added warmth. You’ll also get an extra 10 or more degrees if you buy a fleece or silk sleeping bag liner.

On the Trail: How Not to Get Cold While Moving

When hiking, it’s as much a nuanced balancing act to stay warm as when at rest.

Keep Moving

Movement generates body heat. Turns out she’s right: If there are no complications, exercise feels just fine for both mother and baby if the weather is cold, the researchers found in tracking 130 athletes who logged every workout throughout their pregnancies. On colder days, try to avoid taking long breaks when you’re not moving. PDougherty writes for The New York Times’s At Home section.) Instead, ditch the long breaks in favor of shorter ones more often throughout the day and try not to let your body cool down.

The Hydration and Nutrition Perspective

Your metabolism naturally generates heat. But so long as you’re well-hydrated and well-nourished, it permits you to provide your body with the gasoline that it wishes to keep warm. Consume hot foods like Dal Bhat and have plenty of hot liquids like ginger tea and garlic soup. This will not only keep you hydrated, but there’s something so warming about it from the inside.

Summary: Everest Base Camp Visit as Never-Ending Memories

The EBC trek is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the cold adds character. The price tag to climb Everest Base Camp considers what you’ll take away from these challenges — and how far you (and your family) will grow amidst all the troubles. And the good news is, with a few sneaky layering techniques and some selection of gear, it’s actually possible to train your body to cope with the cold of Himalayan temperatures. The cost of all this is not just in getting to base camp, but in what you discover about yourself on the way there. (Happy lorica-versus-lorica weather, readers!) So curl up to the cold, gather warmth where you will, and hit the road, enjoying absolutely every miraculous minute of it.