Everest Marathon - Nepal
Trip Details

Accommodation

In Kathmandu we stay at the 4 star Hotel Shanker, a converted Rana palace near the tourist district of Thamel. Twin rooms with private bathroom. Dinner and breakfast will be provided before the trek but breakfast only is provided after the trek as people tend to dine out in Thamel; buy your own lunches.

On trek we camp, which means sleeping on the ground in tents with primitive toilet and washing facilities. It may rain or snow and it can be very cold above Namche Bazaar. We use large two man tents with sewn-in groundsheets and fly sheets. All cooking and eating utensils, a mess tent, dining tables, stools and latrine tents are supplied. Camping equipment, food, fuel and personal gear (up to 12 kilos per person) are carried by porters (and yaks above Namche Bazaar). All meals are provided and prepared by expert cooks. The diet will be suitable for athletic activities and vegetarians can be catered for.

In Namche Bazaar we have found that people prefer to sleep and eat in lodges rather than camp. (Tents may be used if preferred, except on race night when equipment will still be on its way from Gorak Shep.) Some of the lodges in Namche offer a very good standard of accommodation with en suite double rooms and most people prefer to stay at these ‘luxury’ lodges. A generous allowance is £15/20 per day.

Equipment

A full clothing and equipment list will be supplied. Participants must provide their own 4 season sleeping bag, all clothing and a day sack for carrying items required during the day and during the race. Kitbags (for the porters to carry) and closed cell sleeping mats will be supplied. A Thermarest sleeping mat and a down or good fleece jacket are strongly recommended. Down jackets can be hired in Kathmandu or in Namche Bazaar for a small charge.

Medical Cover

The race is accompanied by a volunteer medical team to provide health and emergency care through the trip. Doctors accompany all stages of the trek. The medical team carries a very comprehensive medical kit including a pressure chamber and oxygen for treating altitude sickness. There are two good, Western medical facilities in the Everest area.

During the race there is a medical/aid post approximately every 3 miles, each staffed by a doctor or marshall who supplies medical cover and/or refreshments.

Any doctor who wishes to join the volunteer medical team should initially contact Diana Penny Sherpani at:

Bufo Ventures Ltd
3 Elim Grove
Windermere LA23 2JN
Great Britain
Tel: 01539 445 445
e-mail: sherpa@bufoventures.co.uk

We would like to thank the following agencies who have given generously to help us with the 2009 Everest Marathon:

SP Services
Hillside Medical supplies
British Association of Immediate Care
Clifton Shotokan Karate Club, Nottingham
Abbot Healthcare
Oxford University Press
Special Olympics Leicester
Queens Medical Centre Emergency Department and Plaster Room
Diane at Vidacare
Tony at Laerdal

Insurance

Insurance which covers trekking and racing is compulsory. This must cover emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment in Kathmandu and repatriation. We shall details of recommended companies and organisations. Bufo Ventures Ltd has insurance for public liability and professional indemnity which also covers the volunteer trek leaders.

Ama Dablam from the race route near Pangboche