Thursday, October 16

Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Nepal

(see map) trin: There are many trekking options in Nepal ranging from one to twenty-one days. We considered a few options but after talking with Ramez, another guest in Bandipur, we decided on the ten day trek to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) with a side trip to Poon Hill on the way.

ABC is a teahouse trek meaning we would eat and sleep at guesthouses. Not having to carry food or camping gear gave us the courage to tackle the ten day itinerary. Through our hotel in Pokhara we hired our guide, Ganga Tamang.

The plan was to hike approx. 70 miles, climb to 13,629 feet and sleep in nine different villages in the process.

And we're off

The permit checkpoint in Nayapul has yet to enter the computer age.

Villagers working together to butcher a buffalo for Dasain. Meat was being thrown onto several piles that would be distributed to the different families. I was taken aback by the amount of meat that just one animal provides.

Attacked by small children asking for sweets while climbing from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani.

Mike became a walking clothesline after we would wash key items at night.

Our guide, Ganga, waiting for us to catch up. He always wanted to swap bags with Mike to give him a break saying, "don't worry, be happy." Mike never gave into temptation and carried his large pack the whole way.

All of the teahouses are pretty basic. Most of the time the wall that divided us from our neighbor was a single sheet of plywood. When the guy next door snored or coughed it was like he was right there in bed with us.

Our lodge in Ghorepani felt a bit like a fun house. The hallway had a strange tilt to it.

On our third morning we woke up early and hiked up to Poon Hill in the dark.

Seeing the sunrise light up the entire Annapurna Mountain Range was well worth the effort.

The monsoon trickled into October this year and on the first few days we had cloudy skies and rain in the afternoons.

Hiking through the clouds.

A typical guesthouse exterior. On the patio or in dining hall trekkers would gather and share stories. It was common to see the same people each night.

A clear morning in Chhomrong followed by a rainy afternoon in Bamboo.

Taking refuge and having lunch. I guess the baby goats had the same idea.

The bridges became more and more primitive as we progressed up the trail.

A couple days into the trek, we realized there weren't going to be any "easy days." We were either going up or we were going down. There was no such thing as flat.

The day we hiked to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), Mike suffered from fatigue and the altitude. At lunch I made the call to stop for the night and proceed to Annapurna Base Camp at dawn.

Feeling better but still a little loopy.

Despite the freezing temperatures at MBC we chose flip flops over our stinky boots.

It's embarrassing. We're twins right down to our socks.

It was still dark out when Ganga woke us for the final 1400 foot climb to Annapurna Base Camp.

ABC, We made it!

Sun beams breaking over the top of Machhapuchhre onto ABC.

Annapurna South (left) and Annapurna 1 (right).

A rescue helicopter that crashed a few months ago when it missed the small landing pad. We asked around but no one seemed to know what they were going to do with it.

Volleyball at ABC. I am jumping in the top photo. Don't you think I am higher than Mike?

Reaching the camp felt like a big accomplishment but we were careful not to congratulate ourselves too much. We still had four days to go.

Seasonal shelter for the local shepherds.

Sheep and goats causing a traffic jam on the trail.

A porter carrying supplies. We never ceased to be amazed by the loads these guys carry.

Our longest cable bridge. Every time I have to cross one of these things, I can't help but think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Millet.  A main crop in the Annapurna area but we never figured out how it is prepared as food. We tried the millet wine and it wasn't that bad.

Sharing the trail with a local woman carrying water from the well.

Nepal's national dish, Dal Baht. All you can eat rice, lentils, veggies and spicy pickle. Good energy food.

We're almost done. Sunrise in Pothana on our last morning.

Machhapuchhre from the trail as we descended to Phedi.  We were rewarded with an excellent view on our final day.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, you guys are my heros. Your trip seems surreal, so far away from bustling Hollywood. Your pictures are amazing. I miss you two, can't wait to see you in New Zealand.

Love, Janelle

Michel said...

I was in the chopper when it felt !

Ananth said...

Nice Blog, informative and quite exciting too

Sky Barsch said...

hi there -- we're doing the ABC in September. That primitive bridge looks pretty ... primitive! How many were there like that? And did they feel unsafe?(This is my first trek outside of the US and I am a bit nervous :)

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Niraj Thing said...

wow you guys had an amazing experience. it felt awesome and exciting to read your content. i wish to go there was well in the near future. Also cant believe this was posted almost a decade ago. hope you guys are doing well still.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Unknown said...

Hi, reading your experiences on ABC, you made it look so easy..but I guess its not that easy..

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Jyoti Aryal said...

Wow, that's an awesome experience you guys had while trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful experience along with beautiful photographs. There are other more trekking destinations in Nepal such as Manaslu and Tsum Valley Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Makalu Base Camp Trek, Arun Valley Trek.

Glorious Himalaya Trekking said...

Thank you for visiting Nepal and the wonderful Annapurna base camp trek blog. However, there are also more routes that represent the diversity of Nepal such as Everest Base Camp Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, and many others.

Nepal Trekking Routes said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nepal Trekking Routes said...

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Lanternstay said...

Thank you, Mike and Trin for sharing such a piece of interesting information for us. I hope you will share some more info about Mike and Trin's Travel Blog. Please keep sharing!

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ALL NEPAL INFORMATION said...

Thanks for this interesting article about Annapurna base camp trek . I have recently visited that place and enjoyed a lot.

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