Adventure Magazine Feb 2020

EVEREST BASE CAMP
A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR (PREPARED) KIWIS
What is it about Mt Everest Base Camp (EBC) at
5380m above sea level that is such a draw card for Kiwis?
Thousands of New Zealanders pay good money and trek
over one hundred kilometers (in wintertime, in sub-freezing
temperatures) seemingly to visit a collection of rocks and
prayer flags at ‘base camp’. Granted, in the climbingseason
EBC is the staging point for summit attempts of
the tallest mountain on earth, however interesting fact,
trekkers to EBC never actually step foot ‘on’ Mt Everest.
Why bother then?
Prepared by Robert Bruce,
robert@gottogetout.com +6421 238 7758
Founder Got to Get Out /
Trip leader Nepal 2019 expedition
Adventure Magazine talks with Robert Bruce, founder
of Got to Get Out who just completed his fourth group trek
to the region, this time leading thirty (mostly) Kiwis to EBC
return while also navigating some drama at 5,000m above
sea level. He explains the draw card and why he believes
EBC is an educational and cultural rite of passage for
Kiwis, if you are prepared.