Visakhapatnam man treks Everest Base Camp in record time

SVN Suresh Babu completes the Everest Base Camp trek in four days, becoming India’s fastest solo trekker

The risk was high and the clock was ticking. After navigating his way through rocky terrain, SVN Suresh Babu began the toughest part of his trek — the snowy path — inching closer to his goal with his pack-strapped shoulder and soggy boots. About 48 hours later, the Visakhapatnam-based mountaineer created a record: he had reached Mount Everest Base Camp in four days, becoming India’s fastest solo trekker.

This trek usually takes anywhere between 15 to 20 days to complete, with acclimatisation days in between. Suresh Babu completed it by walking nearly 10 hours a day through challenging terrain, despite braving two heavy snowstorms in harsh temperatures of -20 degree Celsius and losing his way in the snow once.

“At the Everest Base Camp, you are breathing not even half the oxygen that you take in at sea level. But once I was there, I was absolutely elated. It was a rewarding experience of achieving what I had worked for,” says Suresh. Having completed many mountaineering courses from leading institutes in India, Suresh says he is used to trekking on tough terrain. Studying weather patterns and geographical conditions is critical. “During solo snow hiking, it is important to differentiate between a plate of ice and glacier ice,” he adds. There are layers of gigantic ice blocks that keep shifting and form massive crevasses in between them. Climbers have to be mindful of them.