From Yoga to Everest: My Gear Checklist and Reflections for the EBC Trek

Another Himalayan adventure awaits—this time, to Everest Base Camp (EBC). My Kundalini Yoga mentor is celebrating her 60th birthday this year and she chose to honor this milestone by trekking to EBC.  I’m grateful to join her on this journey. Our trek begins this May 1, 2025 and ends on May 18, 2025.

The excitement is real, but so is my anxiety. For the past two months, I’ve been hitting the gym and climbing Mt. Makiling, hoping to prepare my body for the challenge. Still, I wonder if it’s enough. One requirement is 100 burpees daily; I’m not there yet! I manage 50, three times a week. But maybe, as with most things, progress matters more than perfection.

Jump off point is at Lukla Airport (2,860 meters) Source: Elite Exped

About Everest Base Camp

EBC sits at 5,364 meters (18,225 feet) on the south side of Mount Everest in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park. It’s the launching point for climbers aiming for the world’s tallest peak at 8,848 meters (29,031 feet). Our route starts at Lukla Airport (2,860 meters), then winds through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Debuche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep, and finally EBC, before retracing our steps. The slow pace is necessary for acclimatization, and every step brings us closer to the mountains and ourselves.

Training and Preparation

Preparing for EBC isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about mental readiness, too. The trek involves long days, steep trails, and high altitude, so building endurance, flexibility, and resilience is key. Conditioning hikes, like my Makiling climbs, are recommended, as is getting used to your gear and carrying a loaded backpack. It’s normal to feel unsure and like me, most trekkers wonder if they’ve trained enough. What matters is starting early, staying consistent, and listening to your body.

The destination: Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meteres (18,225 feet). Source: Elite Exped

EBC Gear Checklist

Here’s the gear list I’m packing, compiled from our organizer and seasoned trekkers:

- Packs: 65-liter duffel (carried by sherpa) and a 30-liter daypack

- Bottles: 1-liter Nalgene bottle and a thermos flask for hot drinks

- Shoes: Waterproof, ankle-supporting boots (broken in), trainers for evenings, flip flops for showers

- Head: Merino wool buff, baseball cap, beanie

- Clothing: Waterproof jacket with hood, windproof pants, 790-filled lightweight down jacket, fleece midlayer, thermal base layers, trekking pants (lightweight and fleece-lined for the evening)

- Gloves: insulated gloves and liners

- Underwear: Moisture-wicking underwear

- Socks: wool and liner socks

- UV-protective sunglasses, trekking poles, head lamp

- Sleeping: Down sleeping bag, sleeping pad

- Snacks: protein bars, trail mix

- First aid kit (Band-Aid, blister care, ibuprofen, antihistamine, antibiotics, Diamox)

- Others: hand/toe warmers, SPF 50 sunscreen, lip balm, ziploc bags, Swiss Army Knife, travel insurance, Nepalese rupees (USD 250 for tips)

Reflections

This trek is more than a physical feat—it’s a celebration of life’s milestones, a chance to embrace uncertainty, and a way to reconnect with nature and myself. I’m excited, nervous, and determined to take it one step at a time. As a yoga teacher, I see this journey as a living practice of balance, endurance, and being present.

If you’re planning your own EBC adventure, may your gear serve you well and your spirit stay strong. Every mindful step brings you closer to the summit—of the mountain, and of your own dreams. 

Hiking in La Mesa Nature Reserve

It's good to be back in La Mesa and see it thriving! The first time I visited was way back in the early 2000s for the Save La Mesa Watershed project of the late environment advocate Gina Lopez. She had multiple projects as head of ABS-CBN Foundation, and La Mesa was one of her projects under Bantay Kalikasan.

The Watershed is 2,700 hectares, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir, and 2,000 hectares is the surrounding forest. This forest is the last remaining one of its size in Manila and serves as its carbon dioxide sink.  

The project started as reforesting and replanting to cover the almost denuded Watershed through the 'Adopt a Hectare' and 'Adopt a Tree' programs. A portion of the reserve was later redeveloped and refurbished as an Eco Park to support the watershed reforestation project.

I'm so glad that they opened up the La Mesa Nature Reserve for hiking and mountain bike enthusiasts. It's open every day from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The entrance fee is P1,000 for a group and P200 each for more than 5 persons. Each group is assigned a guide. To get there, follow Waze to La Mesa Nature Reserve. Book 3 days in advance via 0928-798-5698 or 0949 397-6059. Walk-ins are discouraged! The park has a limit of up to 100 persons. If you want to avoid the crowd, go after 8 am.

 

Day hike to Mt. Batulao (new trail)

Our destination, the 12th peak 

Brrrrr!!! It was freezing when we arrived at 7:30 am to climb the new trail of Mt. Batulao in Nagsubu, Batangas. Karen and Kebo, who just arrived from Geneva, were garbed in their winter coats while Marge and I were wearing bonnets, scarves and fleece. We didn't expect the cold weather, especially the winds.

The plan was to hike to the 12th peak, to the summit (812 meters in elevation) using the new trail  (left photo) and be back by noon to head to Tagaytay for lunch. That's two hours up and two hours down.

Mt. Batualo is easy to get to. It is located right at the border of Tagaytay and Batangas, about two hours drive from Manila. The jump off point is in Everest Golf and Country Club.


Warning though the climb can be pretty challenging. Most of the trail was made up of loose soil and at times, sandy gravel which made it quite slippery. Towards the summit, the last 2-3 peaks, we were clambering over boulder rocks. In case you don't want your hands to get cut or injured, wear gloves. We were  trying to grab anything that we can hold on to - weeds, plants, protruding rocks, name it -  just to get a grip and help pull us up.

loose sandy trail

clamber over rocks

It was particularly windy that day. We had to stop a few times to find our balance and even duck from the wind. Honestly, if I were a few pounds lighter, I would have been blown away and be rolling down the cliff!

at the summit with Karen, Kebo and Marge

The view from the summit was breathtaking! It offered a 360 degrees view of the whole of Batangas - the rolling green mountains, the blueness off the coast (my favorite dive site) and even Tagaytay Ridge.

After soaking in the view and inhaling the fresh mountain air, we settled by the rocks to enjoy some snacks. We chatted to a family seated next to us - note that they had in tow an 8-year old girl. The family said that they were going to traverse the mountain. This is, climb down using the old path. If the 8-year old can do it, anyone else can.

The downhill was easier but more treacherous because again, it's so slippery that one can easily slide and fall off the cliff.

Kebo rappelling down

Karen negotiating the descent

We got back right on time around 12:30.  The climb was manageable except for that day's windy condition. Marge though was surprised that trail was very slippery. She said that when she climbed last December, she could still get some ground traction. Now, it's all sliding down the trail.

I guess this is due to the number of people climbing Batulao in recent months. That day, there were over a hundred registered climbers. Note that the fee for climbers is P20 for the day and P30 for overnight campers. If you traverese the mountain, that's another P20 fee to pass the other side (or the old trail).

Antonio's Reuben sandwich 

After the climb, we drove to Tagaytay and stopped at  'Breakfast at Antonio's' along the ridge for some recovery food. The place was packed when we got there and had to wait for an hour to get seated.We ordered their signature green salad with balsamic dressing, fresh corned beef as main and salted caramel cheese cake as dessert.

On the way home, we dropped by Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm to shop for

the working bees of Ilog Maria

natural. organic bee products like soap, bee proposlis,  honey lemon vinegar, liniment, leather wax, beeswax candles, mosquito repellent,  etc.  The farm is located at Km. 47 along Aguinaldo Highway in Silang, Cavite. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8 am to 5:30 pm.

As a side note,  if you're wondering why it's uncharacteristically cold right now here in the tropics, this strange phenomena is caused by the polar vortex.  According to Dr. John Holdren, President Obama's Science and Technology Adviser, "a [polar vortex] pattern that we can expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues... the waviness means that there can be increased larger excursions of cold air southward in the mid latitudes".  I stumbled upon his 2-minute explanation on youtube which I want to share with you:

Nakasendo hike from Tsumago to Magome

Explosion of colors along the Nakasendo trail

Absolutely breathtaking! God was truly on our side when we planned our trip to Japan. As early as May, we - Tonyboy, Jun and Bettina - earmarked the first week of November to visit Baby who made Tokyo her home a few years back and to check out the temples in Kyoto.

The trip became a sort of reunion since it was ten years ago that we (sans Bettina) all climbed Mt. Annapurna in Nepal. Of course being mountaineers, we squeezed in a hike in between to Nakasendo.

The timing was perfect! This is the season when the leaves change colors and when the Japanese flock to the mountains and even to Kyoto to see the leaves, particularly the leaves of maple trees, turn red. The practice is called momijgari, which means hunting of red maple leaves.  So, we were lucky that we confirmed early because when we got there everything was fully booked.

Nakasendo or "path through mountains" is the ancient highway used by the shogunate and the samurais during the 8th century to travel from the imperial capital Kyoto to Edo (now called Tokyo). The road is 533 km long and cuts through the central mountains in the Kiso Valley. There are actually 69 stations or posts along the highway.

Since we allocated two days to hike, we chose the popular ancient post towns of Tsumago and Magome which are the 42nd and 43rd stations.

Our entry point was in Nagiso and exit point  in Nakatsugawa (refer to left map). The train ride took about 3 hours, two hours from Tokyo via shinkansen to Nagoya where we changed trains and took the express train to Nagiso in 55 minutes. Note that we purchased the JR Pass in Manila so we could just hop in and out of any JR line.

One of the trail posts to Tsumago

Nakasendo was surprisingly easy to get to and likewise, the path was easy to hike. At first we were afraid that we might get lost with our DIY (do-it-yourself) plan. And considering that I just recuperated from dengue, I was not too sure that I would be able to hike the distance. Tonyboy was kind enough to load my stuff in his backpack as well as load Bettina's and Jun's too (who had some kind of back problem at the start of the trek).

The trail was well marked with sign posts every kilometer or so and trail maps were readily available at the Tourist Information office at each postal town. The first leg was a 4 km hike to Tsumago and the jump off was behind Nagiso train station. The trail led to rice fields and through the forest which was dotted with maple trees.

bumped into Alfonso  

We got to Tsumago in time for lunch. Being one of the smaller postal towns, the restaurant selection was quite limited and after seeing two or three places, we chose the one where there were lots of people. The menu offered three types of ramen - vegetarian, ebi (shrimp) and a very interesting yam concoction. Expect to shell out as much as Y1,200 per bowl.

While we were having lunch, we were interrupted by a Caucasian-looking fellow who asked if we were pinoys. It turned out that he grew up in Manila and coincidentally enough, is a cousin of a friend of mine and attended the same elementary school as TonyBoy. Alfonso. who is now based in Australia, speaks fluent Japanese and guides tourists, specifically bird watchers and photographers around Japan.

Magome trail

After lunch, we headed out for a bit of sightseeing. We spotted a historical museum and several souvenir shops along the road. We then stopped at the tourist information office to get a trail map to Magome, 8 km away.

The first 5 km of the hike was an easy, gentle ascent to the crest of Magome Pass (2,500 feet in elevation). We passed through forests, waterfalls and stopped to rest at a little hut where we were served matcha (green tea). There were some tourists inside who warned us of the steep climb up to our next stop.

True enough the climb was indeed steep. When we got to the peak, we were greeted with a clear blue sky and a fantastic view of the snow capped Mount Ena. Several photographers were there readying their zoom lenses and waiting for the sun to set.

Mt. Ena behind the marker

After a few snaps, we walked to Magome where we spotted more zoom lens-toting photographers along the road. We found out that the town was celebrating its annual lantern festival that week and thus, there were several tourists

Our accommodation in Tajimaya was a typical ryokan (inn) where the rooms were divided by shoji screen sliding doors, futons laid out on tatami mats and the bath and toilet facilities were shared (separate male and female though). The cost of the room comes with a sumptuous kaiseki dinner and breakfast.

Before dinner, I decided to try out for the very first time the piping-hot onsen inside the female bathroom. It was soothing especially after a long hike under the rain. The onsen is supposed to have healing properties. (Tip: best to soak in the onsen, after dinner, before going to bed).

At dinner, we donned the traditional yukata (kimono) and we were served small dishes in small plates - appetizer, sushi, pickled vegetables, tofu, fish, soup and fruits. The gohan (rice) was served in a wooden bowl.

some sake in our Japanese style room before dipping in the onsen

typical Kaiseki dinner

follow the yellow-dotted paved road

The next day, after breakfast, we set off to Nakatsugawa, 10 km away, to catch the train to Kyoto. The hike would take us to the towns of Shinchaya and Ochiai and finally to Nakatsugawa.

Be warned - this section of Nakasendo is not popular among Western tourists. Most of the hikers we met were Japanese and also the trail signs were in Japanese. We would stop and ask the local residents where to go and they would point to the road and say 'follow the yellow-dotted road.' Thank God Bettina who reads hanzi (Chinese) which is also Kanji (Japanese), could make out the characters and led us to the right direction.

The hike was downhill all the way. The first town Shichaya, 2 km distance, consisted mostly of farmlands. We passed several shrines and  gorges along the way to the next town, Ochiai. As we neared Nakatsugawa, it was getting to look more of a city with more cars and flat roads.

one of the Shinto Temples along Nakasendo

Jun posing infront of one of the gorges

If we continued following the yellow-dotted road, we would probably have ended in the next postal town. There were no signs leading to the train station. Jun decided to randomly knock in one of the homes to ask for directions. Luckily, someone came out to help. He even went out of his way to walk with us to the main road, explaining the tourist spots along the way and finally, directed us to the train station.

boarding the shinkansen

We made it to the train station and had time to get some ramen next door. The trip to Kyoto was much shorter, an hour and a half, 55 minutes to Nagoya and 39 minutes via shinkansen to Kyoto.

Note that the best time to go to Nakasendo is when the season starts to change.  However, be warned. From our experience, this is also when the locals take the time out to witness the changing of the leaves (momijgari) and I'm sure Spring will likewise be busy for the hanami when the cherry blossoms from the sakura tree bloom.