People who have been to Everest Base Camp or have researched the trek know the highlight of the trek is not Base Camp but is the climb to Kala Pattar above Gorak Shep to view Mount Everest from the closest and highest viewpoint on the main EBC Trail.
The trek is not particularly long, but it is uphill and at altitude. Kala Patthar has an elevation of 5,644.5 m (18,519 ft). It’s an extremely popular trek and you’ll see many other trekkers at the summit, especially in high season. But to make a FKT on this trek is pretty challenging because of the altitude.
Start of the route - Lobuche Helipad, 4930m. Finish of the route - the Kala Patthar Summit.
The route can be broken out in two main sections. The first is the trek between Lobuche and Gorak Shep. The second part - to Kala Patthar from Gorak Shep. From the start the sandy and rocky path will slowly gain elevation as you walk alongside the Khumbu Glacier with the Nupste face out in front of you. There will be certain sections that require a bit more of a steeper incline, as you make your way from one section of trail to the next. As you continue your way up, you will get better and better views of the Khumbu Glacier down below alongside the surrounding mountain landscape. Throughout the way you are also sure to pass several Sherpa flag monuments as you are now getting closer and closer to Everest Base Camp.
Soon the trail will head onto the glacier, the last section of trail before reaching Gorak Shep. Here is where there will be some additional inclines and declines on a more rocky and uneven path.
You will want to be super careful here and watch your step as you don’t want to hurt yourself as you make your way across.
It is then just a bit more until Gorak Shep finally comes into view with Kala Patthar and Pumori sitting behind the village.
Right behind the village of Gorak Shep you will see a winding trail up the rocky mountain. This mountain is Kala Patthar (translated to “black rock”), and is one of the highlights of the overall Mount Everest Base Camp trek.
As you get higher along the trail, you will find that it does get rockier and trickier to navigate. Just be sure to watch your step during these portions as you don’t want to hurt yourself going up or coming down the mountain. During the trail, you may be asking yourself where the peak actually is since you will not be able to see it for most of the trek. Don’t get your hopes up with any false peaks up there! You will know when you are approaching the summit only when those Sherpa prayer flags alongside the wind/weather reading device come into view.
Soon enough you will reach the summit of Kala Patthar. From here you will get breathtaking views of Sagarmatha National Park in every which direction. The main attraction here is of course Mount Everest itself. While you wont be able to see the entirety of the mountain, this will be the best view there is during the entirety of the Everest Base Camp trek. Below Everest will be the famous Khumbu Icefall that then feeds into the Khumbu Glacier. And that large mountain to the right, is the face of Nuptse. The view will also have some small lakes right down below, giving you one of the best shots in all of the Himalayas.
This last portion of trail will be especially rocky as you are making your final push to the summit. While the top of Kala Patthar may seem close, just take your time and don’t rush through the terrain.
