These boots are made for...

As I noted in my first post, I don't have the gear I'll need for this trek. So the first thing I did was start shopping around for boots, as that will be (I'm told) the most important piece of gear for this type of trek. Mel at Tusker Trail was helpful in giving me guidelines on what I'd need: definitely waterproof and medium weight to support carrying a 20 to 30 lb backpack. She said I would not need full leather boots; they would probably be too heavy.

I went to REI a few times, trying on different boots and talking to the folks there (who at least appeared pretty knowledgeable). I also looked at their online reviews, and online reviews on L.L. Bean and other sources.

The boots meet the beach.

I ended up getting the Gore-Tex Asolo Drifters from REI, and three pair of REI Merina wool trekking socks. I wore the Drifters to work for a few days to see how the fit was, and they seemed fine. With no opportunity to do some real trail hiking—I was going to be in Wilmington NC Saturday and Sunday so Val could attend  a UNCW soccer camp—I decided to do a real break-in test as opposite from Everest Base Camp as I could get: Wrightsville Beach, NC. After getting Val to camp on a cold Saturday morning, I was on the beach about 9:40. I started at Johnny Mercer pier, headed around the south tip of the island near the inlet, then backtracked north against the wind and a couple miles past the pier and back - 9 miles in total.

I had Wrightsville Beach pretty much to myself on a 25 degree breezy morning.

I really like these boots. The reviews all said they did not need a break-in, and I think it's true. I finished with no blisters, no sore spots, no discomfort at all!

When I said “opposite of Everest Base Camp”, I meant it. Here is my Runkeeper elevation map of my nine mile hike that day:

Most of my time was spent at 0 feet above sea level,
with occasional excursions into that treacherous 3-to-4 foot elevation.

My next training hikes will (I hope) be on trails such as Umstead Park near Raleigh. But I know I've got a good pair of boots to get my through it. I think I'm off to a good start, even if it is “all uphill” from here!

Tusker itinerary

Here is the itinerary of the Tusker Trail Everest Base Camp trek. Our trek will be Nov 2 - Nov 18, 2013.

DAY 1-2: KATHMANDU  4,390-ft / 1,388-m After arriving at the airport you meet your Tusker guide at the well-known Shangri-La Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in the Kathmandu, a city renowned for its fantastic shopping, cultural wonders and fascinating markets. Your two days in Kathmandu are spent wandering the narrow streets of Thamel, the bustling center of town, and on a tour of old Kathmandu City, Durbar Square and Swayambunath Stupa, known as the “monkey temple”. This is one of Kathmandu’s oldest and most important Buddhist shrines, which scholars believe dates back to the 1st century.
DAY 3: FLY TO LUKLA / HIKE TO PHAKDING 8,702-ft / 2,652-m - 5 hours trekking  After a short flight through the Himalayas we land at Lukla. Here we meet our full crew of cooks and porters, and, after a cup of Nepalese tea, start our hike to Phakding, on the chalky Dudh Kosi River. Just before we arrive at our lodge, we cross one of the famous hanging bridges across the river. After this first day “downhill”, many a trekker has been fooled into thinking that the famed Everest Base Camp trek is a simple walk in the park.
DAY 4-5: NAAMCHE BAZAAR  11,306-ft / 3,446-m - 7.5 hours Nestled in a protected corner of the Himalayas, Naamche is a centuries-old trading center between Tibet and Nepal. As we arrive on the outskirts we get our first view of Mt. Everest. Quaint with cobblestone streets and little shops, it is the last town on the trek before reaching base camp. Naamche teems with Sherpa life, while yaks roam the streets, the sounds of their bells making beautiful music. Naamche is abuzz with excitement as people from all over the globe pass through, on their way to and from base camp. We spend two nights acclimatizing here. Views of Everest, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and Lhotse are spectacular as we view them from the top of the hillside town.
DAY 6: KHUM JUNG  12,300-ft / 3,750-m - 3 hours  Commonly called the green valley, the short trek to Khum Jung is one of the most interesting hikes of the trek. You will revel in fantastic views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Kangtega, Thamserku and Ama Dablam. We visit the Khumjung Gompa (monastery) which displays a skull that supposedly comes from a yeti.
DAY 7: TENGBOCHE  12,687-ft / 3,867-m - 4 hours  Tengboche Monastery sits on a hill at the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Imja Khola rivers, with a clear view of Everest. It’s a tough hike up to the hilltop to one of the most important spiritual centers for the Sherpas, with 35 monks residing in the monastery. With a little trekker luck, we will witness the Lama (high priest) perform a riveting ceremony accompanied by monks chanting their magical hypnotic songs. We spend the night at a lodge across from the monastery.
DAY 8-9: PHERICHE  14,200-ft / 4,328-m - 6.5 hours Pheriche is situated at a critical location just a few days from Everest Base Camp and at and altitude where mountain sickness begins to bite. That’s why we spend 2 days here – acclimatizing. Our two-day stops are designed to allow our trekkers to adjust to the thinning air and have proven very successful in helping Tusker bodies adjust to the altitude.
DAY 10: LOBUCHE 16,126-ft / 4,915-m - 6 hours After a good rest and breakfast, we head out on the trail and up the broad valley of Pheriche. At Dhukla you notice the big hills of rough rock piles, which is really the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Further along the track we spend a quiet moment at the site of the stone memorials for fallen Everest climbers, called “chortens” in Tibetan.
DAY 11-12: BASE CAMP / GORAK SHEP / KALA PATTAR  Gorak Shep: 16,942-ft / 4,915-m - 3.5 hours Base Camp: 17,585-ft / 5,360-m - 2.5 hours Gorak Shep: 16,942-ft / 4,915-m - 2 hours Kala Pattar: 18,513-ft/5,643-m - 4 hours
On this exciting day up to Everest Base Camp, we stop at Gorak Shep to freshen up and have lunch. We hike along the Khumbu Glacier moraine to our goal – Everest Base Camp. After celebrating our success, we trek back down to Gorak Shep for the night. Back in 1952 Gorak Shep was used as the base camp for the Swiss Expedition up Everest.
Early in the following morning we take a 4-hour climb up Kala Pattar, at 18,513-ft/5,643-m. This climb gives us extraordinary views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. We may only spend one night at Gorak Shep, depending on how strong the group is. In this case we will spend an extra night on our descent, to be determined by our guide.
DAY 13: DINGBOCHE  14,114-ft / 4,302-m - 5.5 hours  We start our descent through the Khumbu Valley. DAY 14: PANGBOCHE  13,078-ft / 3,986-m - 3 hours  We spend the night to break up the long downhill trek to Namche.
DAY 15: NAAMCHE BAZAAR 11,306-ft / 3,446-m - 6.5 hours  It’s a full day hike, but you’ll appreciate the oxygen. You browse the maze of streets, picking your way through the local shops for Nepali handicrafts. DAY 16: LUKLA  9,384-ft / 2,860-m - 8 hours Our last day hike finds us back at Lukla for the night. DAY 17: KATHMANDU 4,390-ft / 1,388-m Check in to the Shangri-La hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around town. Group dinner at our favorite restaurant. DAY 18: FLY HOME Transfer to Kathmandu airport.