Introduction
Kanchenjunga is one of theremote destinations of Nepal. It preserves natural landscapes and authentic mountain culture. The trail flaunts panoramic views of Mount Kumbhakarna, Kabru, Pandim, and many more. The mixture of giant peaks, glacial ridges, and lush valleys comprises a stunning trekking route. Moreover, it offers views of vibrant rhododendron forests, traditional villages, rivers, and suspension bridges. On a few occasions, trekkers can encounter wildlife of the region like red panda, himalayan tahr, musk deer, himalayan black bears, etc.
It is a high-altitude trekking region and reaches the maximum height of 5,143 meters at Pangpema for both the Kanchenjunga Circuit trek and the base camp trek. This increases the difficulty of the trek and poses a few dangers and health issues. Trekkers can experience signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and minor health issues. To tackle such a situation, you have to be prepared in every way possible.
At Nepal Eco Adventure, we prioritize your safety above all else. All of our guides are licensed and have years of experience helping trekkers conquer challenging mountain treks, such as Kanchenjunga. Well, what actually happens if you get sick on the way? We provide immediate medical help on the trail itself for mild illnesses. Escort you to a lower elevation and provide medical help if it is more serious. In case of an emergency, helicopter evacuation is arranged as fast as possible.
Common Reasons Trekkers Get Sick on The Kanchenjunga Trek
There are several primary reasons that usually get trekkers to fall sick on the trail, such as remote settings, altitude, and rugged terrain. Likewise, a change in food and water can result in mild sickness and digestive issues. During the winter season, you could also face risks of frostbite, symptoms of a common cold, and hypothermia due to harsh weather conditions.
Altitude Sickness
The maximum elevation of the trek reaches 5,143 meters at Pang Pema. Above 2,500 meters in elevation, symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are common. Similarly, risks of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and Cerebral Edema (HACE) significantly increase as you trek above 3,000 meters.
HAPE is a serious medical issue where fluids leak into your lungs, causing breathlessness. Likewise, HACE leads to fluid buildup in the brain. It is extremely dangerous and can even be life-threatening. In such situations, we pause trekking temporarily. You are immediately taken down to the lower area. If need be, we will provide oxygen support at an additional cost.
Since the trek passes well above these marks, trekkers need to try to avoid these health risks by acclimatizing sufficiently. After all, prevention is better than a cure. The journey continues once you stabilize and feel prepared to trek again. To the contrary, if symptoms get worse, we arrange emergency helicopter evacuation with the help of your insurer.
Non-Altitude Sickness
Health issues like indigestion, food poisoning, and other stomach problems can occur due to changes in drinking water and diet. On the trail, make sure to consume purified water only. Likewise, stick to freshly cooked teahouse meals. Some other concerns while on the trek are physical strain and muscle fatigue.
Environmental and Logistical Contributors
Immediate medical help is limited due to the remoteness of the Kanchenjunga trek. However, this does not mean that there is no medical assistance available. Our guides will always be right beside you, providing basic health support. Higher regions may experience a slight delay in helicopter evacuations and other emergency support services. But rest assured, you will receive the necessary assistance.
Early Detection: How Our Guide Observes and Assesses Your Condition
Our staff are well-trained to follow necessary safety protocols. During emergencies, they are very quick to act and help you. Likewise, from years of experience, they are quick to notice early signs of uneasiness.
Moreover, you are asked a few questions that help us understand your health better. We use an oximeter to check your oxygen level. Based on the information received from the questionnaires and our observation, we decide to move forward or take a rest.
Trekking days maintain a safe and steady pace. This ensures gradual and easy elevation gain, reducing the chances of altitude sickness. Moreover, to assist your needs, we even add extra acclimatization days. The rest of the itinerary is adjusted accordingly.
What Happens When You Fall Sick
Here is a thorough explanation of what happens after you get ill on the Kanchenjunga trek. And how our team caters to you.
Assessment on the spot
Our guides check your symptoms and determine how severe they are. They first check your oxygen level, heart rate, and overall body situation. In case of mild symptoms, guides provide basic first aid treatments. Rest right where you are until you feel stable. In the meantime, you will be hydrating and taking energy-giving foods to feel better.
Slow down or stop the trek
We can decrease the trekking pace so that your body can adapt well to higher altitudes. Light illness is treated with over-the-counter medicines like Diamox and paracetamol. Our guides check in with you and add a few more days to acclimate if needed. Finally, if observations show positive signs, we move forward slowly. Otherwise, we stop the trek.
Descend to a safer location
The most efficient way to treat altitude sickness is to descend to the lower regions. In the highlands, oxygen levels are low. Similarly, the atmospheric pressure is also lower. Therefore, getting back to the low lands increases oxygen availability. This allows the body to absorb more oxygen and reduces risks associated with AMS, HAPE, and HACE.
Stabilize and observe in the lower region
We constantly monitor improvements for about 24 hours after the descent. Then, if the symptoms of illness disappear completely, we hit the trail again. However, if you feel even more uneasy, then, unfortunately, it is unsafe to keep going. Similarly, if the symptoms reappear with a gain in altitude, then the trek stops.
Local Medical Support. What Is Available on The Trail?
Less commercialization of the treks, unfortunately, means less and sparser accessibility to the medical support. Along the route, the nearest hospital to Kanchenjunga is in Taplejung.
Advanced health care infrastructures are not present throughout the trail. There are a few health posts in urban areas offering only basic first aid treatments and handling minor injuries. However, they are not well-equipped to offer emergency services.
This highlights the need to have a licensed trekking guide during the Kanchenjunga trek. Experienced ones coordinate with teahouses and arrange warm meals and shelter for faster recovery. Likewise, local guides are familiar with the most common health issues. So, they can provide basic remedies to treat you even in the higher regions.
Internet and mobile network coverage are pretty inadequate in the higher elevations. So, fast communication and coordination can be a problem. To handle this, Nepal Eco Adventure opts for satellite phones. They provide services throughout the trail. Additionally, our team consists of local and experienced staff. Therefore, they can quickly obtain urgent assistance from the locals.
High Emergency Situations
Trekkers are considered to be in a high emergency when they fall sick to the point where their symptoms can be life-threatening. Quick and strategic rescue processes are the only solutions. Losing consciousness, feeling breathlessness, and being unable to walk properly are some of the most severe effects of altitude sickness.
Due to poor body and mind coordination, you can fall and suffer major injuries. Likewise, even after acclimatization and urgent care, if the situation worsens, it is fatal to continue trekking. Emergency helicopter evacuation to the nearest hospital is a must during a major health crisis.
How does Nepal Eco Adventure organize helicopter evacuations?
Even in difficult communication areas, our guides are in touch with our company’s headquarters via satellite phone. We relay trekkers’ information and insurance details to the headquarters during critical situations. Communicating with the rescuers from the trail can be difficult. So, our team promptly contacts the insurance company and initiates the helicopter evacuation arrangements. Guides are constantly communicating with the pilot and deciding on the safest and nearest landing point. This speeds up the rescue process. Finally, trekkers are rescued to a location with advanced medical infrastructure, like Biratnagar and Kathmandu.
Why Helicopter Evacuation Is the Last Option
Despite being the most reliable rescue service, helicopter evacuation is often considered a last resort for various reasons. The most prominent of them are the unpredictable Kanchenjunga weather and the evacuation cost. Irregular weather patterns and swift changes in environmental conditions can delay the helicopter rescue. Likewise, in low visibility and harsh weather, such rescue operations are very risky. Also, it costs a very high amount ($5,000 to more than $7,000). If you did not get an insurance policy for it, then your bank balance is sure to suffer.
Moreover, the primary concern while on the trail is to get to the lower altitude area and rest at the very first sign of uneasiness. It is essential to prevent the need for emergency intervention as much as possible. We try our best to help you feel stable with immediately available help and ample rest first. If the illness persists further, only then do we rely on rescue facilities. Hence, the helicopter evacuation is kept as the last option when symptoms are no longer manageable by local care.
Travel Insurance For Kanchenjunga
For remote treks, like Kanchenjunga, it is very important to pick the right insurance company and policy. Likewise, it is a mandatory safety precaution that every trekker needs to follow. The trek reaches high altitude, is remote, stays in seclusion, and contains challenging trails. So, getting travel insurance with emergency helicopter evacuation and rescue services is non-negotiable.
What should your insurance cover?
It must include emergency services and immediate helicopter rescue up to 6,000 meters. Most of the standard policies do not cover altitudes above 4,000 meters, so ensure that it is explicitly mentioned. Likewise, it should take care of hospitalization in Kathmandu or other major cities. Additionally, ensure that the policy covers treatment expenses. In urgent situations, they should transfer you back to your home country without any additional charges.
Our recommendation
Trekkers should be ready for unforeseen circumstances while trekking. It is good to print and carry your insurance document. This speeds up the verification and rescue process. Likewise, share all the details of the insurance company and policies before the trek so that we can coordinate with the insurers. This will allow us to ensure faster coordination and minimize possible rescue delays. Lastly, but most importantly, confirm that it covers mountain rescue services in remote regions and at high altitudes.
How Nepal Eco Adventure Keeps You Safe
We firmly believe that avoiding getting sick on the trek is better than relying on a cure. Therefore, our team focuses on prevention with a careful itinerary plan and the assistance of a local and experienced guide. Strategic planning of the route provides comfortable trekking days with no rush. We ascend gradually and let our bodies adjust to the changing environment. This approach reduces the overall risk of altitude sickness.
Likewise, our team checks on your diet. And make sure you are eating healthy meals. They let you know the importance of hydration during the trek. Before starting the trail, our team educates trekkers on how to identify early signs of AMS and how to deal with it.
Maintaining safety on the trail is our joint effort. Even after all the precautionary steps from our side. You play an important role in your own safety. Therefore, for Kanchenjunga trek preparation, go on small hikes with notable ascents and descents. Practice breathing exercises for better oxygen absorption in locations with thin air and lower temperatures. Build your core strength to avoid muscle strain and fatigue on the trail. Moreover, eat a clean diet. Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking cigarettes at all costs. In higher regions, it is better to stick to a vegetarian diet. As upper regions often lack proper refrigeration service, meat can be damaged.
You may also like:
Kanchenjunga Trek During March
Kanchenjunga Trek During April
Is Kanchenjunga Harder Than Everest
How Difficult is Kanchenjunga Trek
