Day 8 Manang-Yak Kharka (4018m) 9km

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Darren woke up this morning full of cold and generally feeling pretty rotten. After breakfast he perked up a little and we decided to move onwards even if only to the next village of Gunsangat 3900m. We made Gunsang fairly comfortably although I am now moving very slowly indeed. Moving at any speed is leaving me gasping for breath which is a tad worrying seeing as we are still 1500m below Thorong La Pass. we took a long break at Gunsang, enjoying the views from the Marsyangdi Hotel across to the Annapurna massif. The sun was still shining although the clouds around the peaks were beginning to darken. By the time we reached Yak Kharka the wind was up and the sky completely overcast and within 30 minutes of arrival snow was steadily falling. We arrived in the nick of time. The special of the day was a Yak steak and chips, neither of us could turn that down and thoroughly enjoyed it. Snow fell for 45 minutes but cleared fairly quickly. Hari thinks their will be a bit of snow on the pass already so we are hoping for no further snowfall which will make things even more difficult.

We are staying at the Gangapurna Lodge (Yak Kharka version) which is the best of the 4 guesthouses here. There are however no showers so it's a bucket of hot water at 100NR and that's your lot. Darren is not so good and I'm not at all happy with my breathing and racing heart beat so we have decided not to go any higher for the moment and stay 2 nights here. The next step is Thorong Phedi and then it's the long potentially 12 hour day up and over the pass and the big 1300m descent to Muktinath. Thorong Phedi is a fairly bleak place so you really don't want to spend more than a night there. We both should be in better shape after a complete rest day tommorow here in Yak Kharka
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Photos

Coffee break enroute to Yak Kharta
More luxurious views..

Hari & Dazza
Nilgiri East..I think

Yak steak
Refuelling in Yak Kharta

Dazza & friend
Jolly friendly locals in Yak Kharta

Yak in Yak Kharta
Yak Kharta in Nepali is a Yak grazing area. This proves the point.

Comments

[Ma]

Wow you two!
I cannot believe all this......I reckon the pictures are super imposed and you are both on the beach in Brighton! How the heck did you manage those bridges Rich? I recall the struggle you had to get across Capillano in Vancouver! Well done, but don't get too good at writing these blogs; I seriously don't want competition now that my book is on the verge of publication!!! Take care now. x