Morning rush hour exiting Everest Base Camp - Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal ©theexplorerslens.com

Here’s a list of ten(ish) trivia tidbits that are bound to cross your mind at some point during your journey to Everest Base Camp:

There’s Something Odd About that Flag

The Nepali double pennant is the worlds only non-square/rectangle national flag.

World’s Highest…
In additional to claiming the title of the earths tallest peak (29,035″/8050m), the Everest region also boasts the worlds highest:

Glacier, (Khumbu) originating at 24,900″/7,600m;

Weather Station, located on the Southern Col (~26,250″/8,000m) and;

Webcam, located atop Kala Patthar (18,192″/5,545m.)

Summit Statistics

Apa Sherpa has summitted Everest an astounding 21 times!

The oldest person to summit Everest – Min Bahadur Sherchan age 76. It was his first attempt.

As of the end of the 2010 climbing season Mount Everest has been ‘conquered’ 5,104 times by 3,142 individuals.

Surprisingly only 219 climbers have lost their lives on the mountain (2011 data). 1996 was the single worst year with 15 fatalities.

In 2005 a modified AS350 B3 helicopter touched down on the summit. These advanced performance helicopters are now seeing increased use on the mountain.

If you’re feeling spry, only 17km of ice, rope, and ladders separates the Nepali Base Camp from the summit.

Yakkity Yak

Most yaks on the trail are not true yaks, they’re dzo a yak-cattle hybrid.

Your ‘Yak-Burger’ is most likely water buffalo. Yaks are too valuable to the locals.

Ten(ish), no one said we could count.

Fort Bokor (Zvjezdan) - Dubrovnik, Croatia ©theexplorerslens.com

Walking the fortified walls of Dubrovnik was a pleasant surprise and highlight of our trip to Croatia. If you had to do one thing in Dubrovnik we’d recommend spending the 10 euro per person and take your time exploring the city’s history and archecture along this 2 kilometre wall walk.

Bonus Tip: Hold on to the ticket you receive for the wall walk, it also allows you to enter the St. Lawrence Fortress opposite the fortified city free of charge. Great views overlooking old Dubrovnik.

Overlooking Jasper townsite from atop the Whistlers - Jasper National Park, AB ©theexplorerslens.com

The days are growing longer and warmer.  Time to start thinking about our favourite summer hang out – Jasper National Park.

Here’s Ten Free Things to do in Jasper Nation Park this summer.

1. Go for a Hike

With 1200km of hiking trails Jasper National Park offers something for everyone of all abilities.  The Parks Summer Trails Guide is a good place to start.

2. Visit the Jasper Information Centre National Historic Site

Loacted off the main drag, across from the train station, this building is not only an architectural gem, it also is home to one of two Parks information centres within Jasper (the other is located within the Columbia Icefield Visitor Centre). If you’re looking for information about the Park this is where you want to be.

3. Watch Wildlife

While not as easy as a safari, most wildlife within Jasper National Park can be viewed from the comfort and safety of your car. Bighorn, elk, mountain goat, black bears and deer are often found roadside foraging. A visit to the aforementioned Information Centre will give you an ideal of where the critters are ‘hiding’. Safety first – please drive carefully and obey posted warnings – Keep the Wild in Wildlife.

4. Climb a Mountain

Our favourite – Mount Wilcox

5. Photograph Wildflowers

We consider the Edith Cavell area as one of the best areas for stunning wildflower photography opportunities within the Park.

6. Watch a Glacier Calve

Watch Angel Glacier along the Cavell Meadows Interpretive Trail calve house sized chunks of ice. Don’t get too close!

7. Take in the Local Art Scene

A number of truly remarkable artist take inspiration from Jasper’s beauty. Check out their work at the Jasper Artists Guild.

8. Go for a Swim

Horseshoe Lake, approximately 25km south of Jasper offers tranquil blue waters with a bit of a twist for the adventurous… cliff diving. Adult supervision highly recommended.

9. Spend a Night Star Gazing

If the daytime views aren’t enough look skyward after dark. Jasper National Park is the worlds largest dark sky preserve. Great for smores and star gazing. The Park operates special programs May through December with the Jasper Dark Sky Festival showcased in October – Parks Canada/Jasper National Park website

10. Touch a Glacier

The toe of Jasper’s Athabasca Glacier is easily accessible from the Icefields Parkway at the Columbia Icefields Interpretive Centre. Please take care and DO NOT climb on the glacier itself.

Bonus – Go for a Pinic

A hot summers day and Lake Annette go together like peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Located less than 10km from Jasper townsite, adjacent to the Jasper Park Lodge.

We Don't Climb Sign at the base of Uluru - Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT Australia ©theexplorerslens.com

Our traditional Law teaches us the proper way to behave. We ask you to respect our Law by not climbing Uluru.

What visitors call ‘the climb’ is the traditional route taken by ancestral Mala men upon their arrival at Uluru in the creation time. It has great spiritual significance.

After reading the above message Cam was quick to remind me that I tend to get a little curmudgeon-like when kids walk across our lawn, and it has no spiritual significance. Needless to say the decision not to climb Uluru (Ayers Rock) was made then and there.

The one thing we’d recommend to those visiting Uluru is do some research and soul searching before arriving and decide whether or not climbing is for you. It’s far too easy to show up and convince yourself that you’ve travelled too far and spent a considerable amount of money to be ‘denied’ by ‘someone else’s superstitions’. Enjoy the natural wonder that is Uluru for what it is.

Our two cents: It’s about respect. Please stay off our lawn and don’t climb Uluru.

Trail Diva Bob and the explorer's lens at the Everest Base Camp marker - Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal ©theexplorerslens.com

One year ago today we were at Everest Base Camp!

- Here’s Cam’s take at the time -

April 5/11 KALAPATAR & EBC

too f-ing cold to write… will update tomorrow.

A big shout out, thank you, and Happy Anniversary to those that shared the trip with us.

On safari in Tanzania © Jenine Gantz

Jenine, a fellow Kilimanjaro veteran and friend of the explorer’s lens just returned from safari in Tanzania. Needless to say we were insanely jealous when she told us she was returning to Africa… then we saw her photos!

We were smitten with the one above as it just screams ‘Africa’ and ‘Safari’. Jenine has graciously granted us permission to post it.

Thanks Jenine for letting us live vicariously through you. Awesome capture. Still jealous.

Porter nearing the summit of Uhuru Peak - Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania ©theexplorerslens.com

Airfare – $1200. GoreTex jacket, fleece jumper, and glacier glasses – $695. Four sleepless nights with a throbbing headache, wretching your guts out, and missing your summit opportunity – Pricey.

If we were to recommend one thing regarding selecting the best route up Africa’s highest peak it would be take your time, acclimatize properly and spend at least 8 days on the mountain.

As economical and efficient as shorter routes, such as the Marango (aka ‘the coca cola’ route) appear, recent studies have demonstrated “budget” routes are associated with poor summit success rates and higher occurrences of acute mountain sickness, a potentially debilatating condition caused by poor acclimatization due to ascending too quickly.

Consider the following excerpt from a study following trekkers on the Marango route:

The incidence of AMS for all trekkers was 77%, which is among the highest incidence rates of any trekking location in the world. In addition, only 61% of trekkers reached the summit (5895m).

Davies – Determinants of Summiting Success and Acute Mountain Sickness on Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m) Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 20, 311-317 (2009)

Odds are this is something you’re only going to want to attempt once.  As the old adage goes – if something is worth doing then do it right the first time.

Leopard on a Kill - Serengeti National Park, Tanzania ©theexplorerslens.com

What lenses should I take while I’m on safari in Africa?, is a common question we see many people post on various travel and photography forums. The one thing we’d recommend for those going on safari is to beg, borrow, or rent the biggest lens you can get your hands on. A good guide and a little luck will get you within viewing distance of most African wildlife. A big telephoto lens will help you close the remaining distance allowing you to capture those magical moments.

Overview of the Athabasca Glacier nearing the summit of Mt. Wilcox - Jasper National Park ©

What’s not to like about a hike that quickly gets you above the treeline with gobsmacking views of fluffy snow draped peaks habouring an icefield that feeds 6 major glaciers? How about a quick non-technical hike and scramble up an adjacent peak (Mount Wilcox/Wilcox Peak, 2884m/9462′) for even more impressive views!

Many guide books and trail maps extol the virtues of Jasper National Park’s Wilcox Pass trail so we won’t go into that any further other than to say if you do not intend to summit Mount Wilcox the 4km hike to the pass alone should be on your ‘To Do List’ next time you visit – the views are that good.

This article focuses on accessing the summit once you have hiked to the pass trail marker.

The Trail

By far the easiest way to access the pass is to start at the Wilcox Campground trailhead and follow the well worn trail to the Wilcox Pass trail sign at approximately four kilometres into your hike, you can’t miss it. At this point you’ll have a couple of options to ascend Mount Wilcox.

Option A – An unofficial established trail to the west will take you closer to more Icefields viewing. From the viewpoint faint pathways heading northward along Mt Wilcox’s western edge will eventually intersect with a more defined trail on the south slopes of Wilcox gaining the mountains signature ridge line viewpoints. After the view point(s) the trail becomes a single braid up to the summit. This option is the easier of the two.

Option B – Continue north past the Wilcox pass marker, heading toward Tangle Creek. Hang a left (west) when your path becomes parallel with scree slopes of Wilcox. By this point you should be able to pick out trail markers (rock cairns) on the slope and adjust your approach accordingly. This ‘eastern approach’ offers a more direct route to the aforementioned ridgeline with more valley exposure.

The Scramble

Once you have reached the ridge line you have another key decision to make because the ‘easy’ hiking portion of the trail soon ends and a short scramble with a minimal amount of exposure is required to make it to the top – about 20 to 30 minutes of effort. But before you make that decision have a look to the west… peaks, glaciers, and an icefield. Pretty spectacular. If you are proceeding further now would be a good time to get your gloves out as the rock you will scramble over is quite rough and sharp. The route to the top is clearly marked by cairns leading to a false summit with a brief exposed ridge/saddle crossing to the actual summit.

Enjoy the view… you earned it!

The Fine Print

• A National Park entry fee is required to access the area.
• You are hiking in an alpine area, please take care to avoid damaging plant life and sensitive soil.
• Jasper National Park is bear country, both black and grizzly, and although not considered frequent to the area, carrying and knowing how to use bear spray is advised.
  

• This hike, particularly the scramble is NOT for everyone. If you have any doubts about the trail, heights, or your ability give this one a miss. If you choose to attempt this hike and summit bid, do so at your own risk.

Do you have a favourite trail and or viewpoint in Jasper National Park? Let us know in the comment section below.

Slow day at Mt. Everest Base Camp - Nepal ©theexplorerslens.com

If you’re looking into spring Everest Base Camp treks the one thing we’d recommend is finding an operator that secures camping permits allowing you to overnight on the glacier itself. Often this will mean the tour operator will have a separate group of clients enroute with the intention of summiting Everest during the season and has the facilities on hand to cater to trekking parties before the ‘real’ show begins. Most trekkers make it a return day trip from Gorak Shep missing the sensation of not only hearing the creeks, groans, and pops of the glacier ‘settling’ but also feeling these events as you lay in your tent at night – think of the amplified sound of ice cracking in a glass of rum and coke during the dog days of August.

It will be cold and may be uncomfortable at times, but having bragging rights that you actually slept on the Khumbu Glacier, the staging area for Everest, is something you’ll cherish for a lifetime.