My first major solo trip, and what a great trip it was! 5 weeks in Nepal and 25 days on the trail trekking the Annapurna Circuit with side trips to Tilicho Lake and Annapurna Sanctuary. The Annapurna Range is north-west of Kathmandu and home to 3 of the world’s 8000+ meter peaks. Incredible!
Thanks to Sujan for guiding me along the way and to Jimmy Collinson who put a copy of Herzog’s Annapurna in my hands the spring of 2008. 4 albums below document the adventure.
Album 1- the first week.
Crazy bus ride Kathmandu to Besisahar. Start trek at Besisahar 2,600 ft. Jungle and waterfalls giving way to conifers and Himalayan peaks. Nepalese culture. Blessing by 92 y.o. Lama Deshi in a Gompa in a cave. Manang 11,800ft.
Album 2- Second Week.
World’s highest altitude lake, Tilicho Lake 16,140ft. Crossing Thorong La Pass 17,800ft. Hindu pilgrimage town of Muktinath 12,500ft near the Tibetan Plateau.
Album 3- third week.
Muktinath 12,500ft walking in the shadows of Tukuche Peaks and Dhaulagiri 26,800ft, down the Kali Gandaki gorge to Tatopani 3,900ft. Pre-dawn hike up Poon Hill, 10,500ft for a sunrise i’ll never forget, looking over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna 1, Machhupachhare and other beautiful giants. Then the many ups and downs in terrain in the approach to the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Album 4: Fourth week.
Machhupuchhare Base Camp 12,100ft. Annapurna Base Camp 13,400ft. Incredible views, massive glacier. Thinking of Herzog’s and Bonington’s expeditions and what they endured to conquer Annapurna. Hike out the Modi Khola to the end of the trail at Birethanti 3,400ft. What an incredible trek!
