Blogs from Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna, Nepal, Asia - page 10

The route this morning is ascending up through the fields behind Maya to join the limestone walled track leading down from Tare Gomba, this will then take us back onto the Circuit towards Yak Kharka (4020m). The fields are stony and barren and it's a reasonable climb. We spot a large trekking group a distance ahead of us. We also spot several groups of blue sheep, something has spooked them and they are running en mass across the landscape (I was kind of hoping a leopard might be in pursuit- no such luck for me, good luck for the sheep!). We walk steadily upward for 2 1/2 hours through dusty track and low scrub- the colour is not dissimilar to the bush and northern countryside of Perth during summer (ie- parched and scraggy). We catch up ... read more

“I had seen those astonishing snow peaks to the north; to close that distance, to go step by step across the greatest range on Earth...was a true pilgrimage, a journey of the heart.” When speaking with my parents some months ago over Skype, informing them of my intentions to undertake the challenge of hiking over 100km around the Annapurna Circuit, ascending to heights of over 5000m in altitude (and higher than the famous base camp at Everest), I was aware of two things: firstly that my mother would suffer cardiac arrest if she thought I would be doing this alone (my original intention); and secondly, that my father would undoubtedly want to join me on the journey. I allowed my proclamations to settle with them for a few days before receiving a ... read more

El día empezó temprano con lo que se supone era un pequeño paseo a la cima de una colina que está frente a Kagbeni desde donde se podía apreciar una vista de 360 grados de los alrededores (el masivo tibetano, las grandes montañas nevadas de donde veníamos, Kagbeni, etc); fuimos solo Martin, Chris y yo, los demás no se quisieron despertar antes de las 7am para hacer el paseíto (no era recomendable ir más tarde porque alrededor de las 11am llega un viento fenomenal a la colina que hace difícil y un poco peligroso el descenso). Al cruzar el río que pasa por Kagbeni vimos una multitud de hindúes bañándose y afeitándose la cabeza en el río (es un ritual que practican los hombres hindúes en algunas festividades o como señal de luto cuando muere un ... read more

La mañana fue de relax y descanso ya que solo nos esperaban solo 3 horas de camino (por una carretera de tierra :S); el escenario era impresionante, te sentías un poco en medio de un desierto de montañas áridas, muy de vez en cuando pasaba un jeep (y tocaba tragar un poco de polvo a su paso) pero la mayor parte del tiempo tenías la sensación de estar perdido en medio de la nada y de que nunca ibas a llegar a ninguna parte. Al poco rato de dejar Muktinath nos paramos en un pueblito que de lejos se veía interesante (y de cerca también lo fue), Jharkot; me recordó un poco a Manang, calles de piedra laberínticas y estrechas, algunas con montañas de nieve atravesadas en el camino, casitas de piedra... Visitamos un monasterio que ... read more

I wake up happy (again). Decision is made to take the low road along the valley floor from Pisang to Manang rather than the more challenging high road via Ghyaru. The Marsyangdi is with us for most of another day. It is pretty much flat terrain again, we spend the morning in the pine forests with just a few climbs. There are many mani walls to be admired, I really like the coloured inscriptions on the grey stone. We pass old and young men with heavy loads and not so heavy but really awkward loads. There is ice and a lot more snow on the trail. Mary is having trouble with her boots- they aren't gripping the ice, at one point a friendly Korean from Canada helps her out. The views this morning are incredible and ... read more