Spotlight
Ascent to Everest Base Camp 10
by Shriya Vishwanathan, Year 8.8
Last term, 19 students set off from Tanglin with the exciting aim of reaching Everest Base Camp. Mount Everest, or Chomolungma as it is also known, is the highest mountain in the world at 8,848 metres above sea level, quite a difference from the highest point in Singapore which is Bukit Timah at 163 metres! The challenging return trek from Lukla to Base Camp at 5,135 metres took 12 days; at 5,000m the air contains just 50% of the available oxygen compared with Singapore. I caught up with some of the students who went on the trek to find out more. Why did you want to go to Everest? Sophie Brown, Year 11.5 (SB): I wanted to go for the experience of the trek and for the sense of achievement when we, as a team, reached the goal of Everest Base Camp. Although I didn’t make it to the top, the rest of the group did and I am proud of that achievement for them. Ellen Deely, Year 11.5 (ED): I went to Everest as not only did it seem an amazing experience but I wanted to challenge myself outside the classroom. Harvey Gardner, Year 13.10 (HG): It really isn’t an opportunity that arises very often and I loved the escape, leaving the bustling city and getting away from all the noise and light pollution – it was pretty magical.
What was the best thing? SB: The evenings. Even though we were exhausted after a long day of trekking, we all had loads of fun playing cards. ED: When I got to Everest Base Camp. Throughout the hiking there were times that I doubted myself but when I reached my goal I was overcome with a great feeling of accomplishment.
HG: Every night before going to bed, a couple of mates and I would step outside and just look up. Not only is the landscape breathtaking but the stars there are one of a kind. I miss it! Were there any problems? How did you overcome them? SB: I suffered from altitude sickness quite early on in the trip and I only made it through thanks to the constant support of my group and our trek leaders. I ended up being evacuated by helicopter, which
was really scary! They put me on oxygen for three hours after a panic attack and then air lifted me out. I remember seeing the route that we had all climbed and although part of me was sad that it had all gone to waste, I then realised that it was showing just how far we had all come. HG: To be honest I can’t think of a single one, it’s the challenge this sort of trip presents that makes it what it is. Any difficulties just made it that much more rewarding.