You have seen the pictures: high snow-white mountains, winding paths through rhododendron forests, and the legendary top of Mount Everest. An expedition to Everest Base Camp is a fantasy tour for all the global travelers.
However, there are unsung heroes of every great adventure. The Everest porters are the people behind all successful trekkers on their way to Mount Everest and whose spirits, strength, and smiling faces make it all possible.
At Nepal Outdoor Expeditions, we are of the view that your expedition must be fruitful for all. It is a tribute to these amazing men, and a kind of view of how picking the right agency will has a positive impact on the local community, both morally and with respect to the people.
Who Are the Everest Porters?
The Porters in the Everest trail are mainly of the Sherpa, Tamang and Rai origin families that are indigenous to the mountainous areas of Nepal. They have been in the high Himalayas since time immemorial, and they have acquired an instinctive ability to withstand the high altitude, which appears miraculous to the outsiders.
Nevertheless, they are much more than mere big backs. They include fathers, sons and students who are trying to earn a living to take care of their families. They are country people living in isolated villages and carriers of a rich culture. When you see your porter, you are seeing the heart and soul of Nepal.
More than Baggage Carriers: The Important Role of the Porter
A simple description of a porter as being a mere baggage carrier is a gross understatement. Their role is multifaceted and essential:
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Lifeline of the Trek: They carry the stuff you are not able to find on the mountain, such as food, fuel, camping equipment, and your duffel bag.
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Mountain Experts: These are the people with a natural, generations-old intuition of the trails and the weather, and the moods of the mountain.
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Your Support Crew: A jovial Namaste! or "You can do it!" A steep ascent on the shoulders of your porter may be the best incentive you shall have all day.
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Cultural Ambassadors: A smiling face or even a moment spent will come as a true encounter with the Nepali culture beyond the tourist experience.
A Day in the Life: The Porters' challenge
A porter begins his day earlier than yours. They rise at daybreak to make their loads ready and start at a slow pace to see that they arrive at the next tea house before the party. And they have to contend with the same thin air, the same freezing conditions and the same uphill grinds as you do.
Their carrying weight is a burning question. And it is not always confirmed, even though the international ethical rules suggest a maximum load of 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs). This is where the influence of your decision with regard to your travel agency comes in as a strong force.
Trekking Ethics: Our Support for the Porters
We have formulated it to cover the cost of your guide and porter in Nepal Outdoor Expeditions, as we do not consider fair treatment of your guide and porter as an extra service, but rather as a prerequisite. We will ensure that we maintain the utmost ethical practices on the trail.
Our commitment includes:
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Fair Wages: We pay our porters a decent wage that they can live on and that is essential.
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Proper Steaming: Our porter group is equipped with the necessary items that ensure their safety and comfort, such as heavy-duty boots and clothes that are weather-safe.
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Proper Lodging and Food: Our porters will be served well-rested with the best of food at the tea houses and this will keep them active and full of energy.
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An Environment of Helping Hands: our guides, porters and trekkers work as a team. We create an environment of mutual respect and appreciation from the first day to the last day.
How to Be a Responsible Trekker
You play a major role in this equation of ethics. The following is how you can make a positive contribution:
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Pack Light: Each kilogram that you drop makes the work of a porter easier. Be merciless about your packing list.
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Know a Little Phrases: A greeting of abundance with ridicule, Namaste (Hello), Dhanyabad (Thank you), or Bhat khayo? Camaraderie is created immediately with (Have you eaten rice?).
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Give a Compliment: A smile, a thumbs up, or just clearing a path on a narrow path would be regarded with great respect.
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Generously tip: Tipping is the norm and a normal aspect of the revenue of a porter. Towards the end of your journey, make no scrim, tip well and hand over. A guide can recommend an adequate quantity.
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Listening and Learning: Ask your guide, given an opportunity, to assist you in chatting with them. The most memorable part of the trip is also usually their stories.
The Butterfly Effect of the Choice You Made
Trusting an agency that places a high value on its staff makes a difference beyond providing them with a sense of wellness. It adds value to what you are going through. You are able to walk knowing that your adventure is not relying on the suffering of another. You get involved in a good chain reaction that helps the local families and also respects the Himalayas' spirit.
You cease to be a mere tourist and become a responsible tourist. And the mountains are a good means of paying off that plan with a more profound, significant adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
1. How much weight do porters carry?
The organizations, such as the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), suggest a limit of 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs). At Nepal Outdoor Expeditions, we have incorporated these standards to ensure that the health and safety of our team is safeguarded.
2. What shall I give my porter to tip?
A porter is an income earner with an essential value on tipping. One of the most common rules is to pay between $5 to $10 USD per day, per porter. This will amount to a tip of between 60 and 120 dollars for a classical 12-day trek of the EBC. You usually present this in a ceremony after the trek, at which you can present it to them in person.
3. Where do the porters eat and sleep?
In the case of ethical companies, porters share the same rooms with trekkers in various forms of a dormitory or separate porter rooms. They are given the same healthy foods (such as dal bhat) to ensure that they are energetic.
4. What is the distinction between a guide and a porter?
A guide is your leader, your guide, and cultural interpreter. They are educated, English-speaking and handle logistics. A porter has a duty of transporting the gear and equipment. They are both indispensable to your trekking team.
5. Are the porters insured?
Good agencies give insurance cover on emergency helicopter evacuation and medical care to all the staff. We do not leave our whole team uncovered where their safety and yours are concerned.
6. What kind of gear do they have?
This is one of the major indicators of ethics in a company. Our porters are properly equipped. Unscrupulous businesses can permit porters to walk in sandals and without the right jackets, which is risky on elevated areas.
7. Is it possible to speak with my porter, who does not speak Nepali?
Absolutely! Although the English language might be minimal, communication occurs in the form of smiling, gestures, and a few words learnt. Your escort will be glad to translate. An expression of interest is universally accepted.
8. What are the greatest health hazards to porters?
The dangers are also comparable to trekkers, but they are increased: Altitude Sickness (AMS), hypothermia, frostbite (because of improper equipment), and long-term joint complications because of excessive weight. These risks are mitigated by way of proper policies.
9. Do porters summit Everest?
No, the porters on trekking routes are not the same as high altitude porters on an expedition team or Sherpa climbers. The support of the Base Camp journey is provided by the Trekking porters. Mountaineers who are of a high level of expertise are summit climbers.
10. What will make me certain that I am contracting with an ethical company?
Get straight to the point before you make your reservations: "What is your porter's weight limit? Do you have insurance and equipment for porters? A responsible corporation will be public and proud to post its policies.
11. Are there any female porters?
This is very uncommon even on the Everest trail because of cultural practices and physical requirements. The sector is a male-dominated one. But we are witnessing a growing number of female guides and lodge owners and this is a good change.
12. Is it possible to offer my porter equipment or attire at the trekking end?
Yes, this is a great and very welcome gift. In case you have good pieces that you do not intend to use in the future (base layers, fleeces, socks), donating them is an excellent idea. Make sure that things are in proper condition.
13. Why do I want to go with an ethical company on my trek?
It will make sure that those who are to make your dream come true are treated with dignity. It has a direct effect on the safety and well-being of your support team and ensures a superior quality and a greater positive experience on your part.
14. Do your packages include the porter cost?
Yes. At Nepal outdoors expeditions guide and porter will be included in your trekking package. We think that their happy pay is a component of the service; we do not see an additional expense to that effect.
15. What does Nepal Outdoor Expeditions do outside of paying salaries to porters?
We will also respect the entire team as they are considered family members of our company. This involves the provision of a positive team atmosphere, provision of proper meals and accommodation as well as the encouragement of a culture of mutual respect in the trail.