| What it is | Main camp at the foot of the climb |
| Role | Hub: rest, acclimatize, stage pushes |
| Has | Supplies, tents, often comms/medical |
| Difficulty | Beginner concept |
Base camp is the main, established camp at the foot of a mountain or expedition objective, serving as the hub for the climb. Stocked with supplies, tents, and often communications and medical support, base camp is where climbers rest, acclimatize, and stage their pushes to higher camps and the summit.
What happens there
Resting, acclimatizing, waiting for weather, and launching trips to high camps before a summit bid.
Base camp vs high camp
Frequently asked questions
What is base camp?
Base camp is the principal camp established at the base of a mountain, from which an expedition operates. It's where climbers store supplies, rest and recover, acclimatize, wait out weather, and launch their forays up to higher camps and ultimately the summit.
How high is Everest Base Camp?
Everest has two base camps: the south (Nepal) side sits at about 5,360 m (17,600 ft) and the north (Tibet) side at about 5,150 m (16,900 ft). Both are major staging hubs, and the south base camp is itself a popular trekking destination.
What's the difference between base camp and a high camp?
Base camp is the main, well-stocked hub at the foot of the mountain; high camps are smaller, more spartan camps set higher up to break the climb into stages and shorten the summit push. Climbers cycle between them to acclimatize.
Sources
- Expedition logistics — American Alpine Club