Advertisement
Published: October 15th 2006
Edit Blog Post
We made it!!.
Passing the entrance to Base Camp. Macchapuchre base camp to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)
After a good nights sleep we set off for ABC. It only took about 1 1/2hrs so we were there for about 10am. We had great views of the Annapurna mountain range and also Macchapuchre. It did not last too long though as the clouds followed us up the valley and it was really misty by 10:45.
We spent the rest of the day in the tea house, just eating, drinking tea and coffee and playing cards. It felt like a real anti-climax being up there for so long and we were really restless - just wanting to start on the way down! Dinner was Pizza and chips (carbo loading for the descent!).
We took loads of photos that we will probably not recognise when we get back. Quite scary really as most of the mountains looked quite achievable - but most were 4km above us. We saw lots of people carrying huge blue barrels across a glacier run-off - they must be going up to an expedition. You could hear rocks and debris falling across the ravine - real risky way to earn a living!
Unfortunately realised we only
had one money belt with us instead of the 2 we set out with. Had taken them off as it was a bit much to wear when slogging up the slopes and were carrying them in the bag. Think it's either been nicked or we left it at Dovan when we stopped for lunch. One of the assistant guides is going to run down ahead of us as a key to a locker from our hotel in Kathmandu (containing all our flight tickets / passports etc..) was in the belt as well. Oopps.....
ABC To Sinua
Woke up a few times during the night. The accomodation is basic and draughty (what else to expect at 4300 m!). Some people set off at 5:00am and their porters were singing outside our door (the cheek!). Finally got up by 6am but Paul was struggling with the altitude and had to cancel his breakfast order and just had ginger tea instead - must be feeling unwell! The day was clear and beautiful and we could see the mountains clearly.
Bishnu (one of the assistant guides) set off at 5am to Chomrong, to call our hotel in Kathmandu to stop anyone from
View from base camp
Clouds rolling in.... getting access to our locker with the lost key before we get there. Unfortunately the key fob has the hotel name, address and locker number on. Doh! Hope everything is going to be OK!
Started to walk down by 8.30am - it felt really good to be descending. Stopped off at Derauli to see if they had found the money belt - not anywhere to be seen unfortunately. Covered a lot of distance in the morning, stopping at Dovan for lunch and then onto Sinuwa for the evening. Everyone was very glad of a hot shower when we stopped, as we've not been able to have one for 4 nights now and we're all getting a bit stinky! The 'shower' was only a tap on the wall to wash with, but was warm (ish!) and very welcome after all the walking we've done. We've decended 1700 metres today, although there was also some 'Nepali flat' inbetween!! The tea house in Sinuwa made the best Dal Bhat (Nepalese dish of lentil soup, rice, curried vegetables and pickle) we've tasted. Got a really good night's sleep and set off feeling very refreshed.
Sinuwa to Jinhu Dandu
After another good breakfast
Wasting away the day.
Must be altitude sickness!?! of pancakes and muesli, we set off to Jinhu. The menu hardly changes between each tea house (only the price as you ascend further!), so you know exactly what you're going to have before you even see the menu.
Only 3 1/2 hrs of walking today, but it was a steep down section and then a steep climb up to Chomrong, before descending steeply again to Jinhu. It's getting much hotter the more we descend. Arrived in time for lunch and then spent a few hours doing all our washing - very stinky after 4 days!
Wandered down to the natural hot springs by the river for a well deserved soak. It's good to just relax and let the muscles unwind after all the walking we've done. There were 2 really big bugs that looked like bees, and they kept dive bombing us whilst we were in the water. It chucked it down for a while which felt strange - the cold rain on your face and the hot water on your body. Bizarre! A couple of people managed to pick up leeches on the way back up, but we managed to stay leech free - just!
After dinner (dal bhat again - yum!), the owners of the tea house produced a ghetto blaster and some CDs, moved all the tables out of the way and started dancing in the dining room. They managed to drag most of the group up to dance - the Nepalese music playing sounded very similar and not sure that the song changed all night, but lots of fun was had by all.
Jinhu to Pothana
Up early again - nice breakfast outside before packing up and moving out for the day. It was grey and cloudy when we set off, but dry to start. Katherine did not think it was going to rain so we put here on leech patrol!. Descended first to the river and saw some monkeys as we crossed the bridge. Again crossed the river at "new bridge" which is a huge suspended wooden and metal foot bridge. Wandered up finally to Tolka passing through Landruk. The leeches were out in numbers and each of us had to fight them off (slippery little suckers!). It started raining and it just seems to bring them out (Kat got the blame for this!!). Paul and Fin were bitten before
lunch and had to tape themselves up. After a good lunch we continued to the high point of the day after which it was all down hill to the final stop of the trek. We descended into Pothana before the rain really hit - it totally cleared everything out - it gives you an idea of what it would feel like in the monsoon season!.
Had a cold-ish shower, dinner and then a really good party with the guys - lots of crazy dancing to nepalese disco music. Shankar was a bit drunk on Raksi and was his usual charismatic self. We were all pushed off to bed, gladly at 9:30pm when the generator was switched off. Did not sleep to well as there were rock hard beds and we had lots of bottles of Everest beer (well 3 each - but we are woosies now!).
Pothana to Pokhara.
Up at the now normal 6am - feeling a little shabby after our first few beers in a couple of weeks. Vowed not to drink again - again!. Everyone was hungry after the efforts in the disco and ordered extra pancakes for breakfast. After the previous days rain
- the day dawned clear - but clouded up after breakfast. Kath got the blame for the poor weather - obviously!. The final walk out was gentle and a little wet - Beck nearly ruined her perfect leech bite score when two attempted to bite her on the bum. At a rest stop a lady tried to get Beck to buy a bracelet, but she quickly realised we did not have any cash (having left it in Deuralli!) she soon changed tack and wanted to barter it for the socks drying on the back of her pack. A 50 Nrp (<50 pence) for a 10 GBP pair of socks is not a good deal - no doubt the socks would have made their way to the kit shops in Kathmandu before we even made it back. Eveyone was glad to be finally down and have a drink on the finish line - several photos were taken whilst we waited for the bus. It was strange to hear traffic and horns again after the silence of the valley. Had a really exciting journey back to Pokhara on the top of the bus. A few of us hung onto the roof rack
whilst we careered around - ducking under branches and phone cables. A little intimidating - but cool all the same - where else would you get to do this?.
Really enjoyed being back at the hotel in Pokhara - chance to get clean, do our washing and have some 'Chips Chilli' (The best in all Nepal). Ended the day with a meal and a few beers with the assistant guides - we left about 9pm as we had to get the bus early the next day. Now the assistant guides were down from the mountain, all they wanted to do was go to a 'girlie bar' - boys are the same the world over (even the Brahamans!!).
Advertisement
Tot: 0.104s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 11; qc: 76; dbt: 0.0688s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Ruth
non-member comment
Slippery little suckers...
Sounds fantastic - I'm still trying to work out how the leeches could bite you on the bum...!