Navigating the Tent City of the Expedition
Everest Base Camp isn't just a random cluster of tents. It is a highly organized temporary city with neighborhoods, helipads, and hospitals. Understanding the layout reveals the scale of a Mount Everest expedition.
Camps are often grouped by operator. The large commercial teams take prime spots near the Icefall entrance. Smaller teams spread out down the glacier. It can take 30 minutes to walk from one end of camp to the other.
Located at the bottom of camp, the helipads are busy hubs. Porters carry loads here, and rescues fly out. It is the lifeline of the Everest summit operations.
Run by the Himalayan Rescue Association, this medical tent is centrally located. It treats climbers for HAPE, HACE, and the Khumbu Cough. It is the safety heart of the Everest trekking and climbing season.
Remember, the whole city is moving. The glacier shifts daily, requiring teams to constantly re-level their tent platforms.
