Nepal mut be a backpackers paradise. It's been shoved against the greatest mountain range in the world and had two massive countries as neighbours jostling over who can control the people and the power. Almost anywhere in the country you are reminded of the mountains at arms reach, whether it is at surise from a $3 hotel roof or the thunderclouds and changing alpine weather that rolls in during the afternoon, its breathtaking.

 

After arriving in kathmandu we spent a day catching up with Kirk and Ang, visiting a local Hindu Temple we headed straight for Pokhara in the west. Here competing with the Kumbu region for trekking tourists is the Annapurna Range with 3 of the top 0 highest mountains in the world towering above you. Pokhara itself is a small service town for the surrounding villages but nestled along the lakeside is a bustling tourist street full of hotels and guesthouses bubbling with pizzas, beers, and trekking shops. We had to indulge waiting for our trek as the weather opened and didnt stop for three days. Finally, clouds clearing we hired a porter (hereafter affectionately known as sherp) and headed on a 12 day hike to the Annapurna sanctuary. We walked up through steep river valleys to 3000 meters on our secnd day following over 4000 consecutive steps to Ghorepani . which although is a small detour form the usual trek both Sherp and our guidebook told us would be worth the early orning sunrise vista over the ranges. It was spectacular. From left to right covering 100 degrees of vision were Dauligiri, Annapurna, her brothering peaks of Annapurna South, I, II, III and IVFrom the view at Poon hill we walked 5-7 hours each day between setlements in the mountains. every hour or two are teahouses run and maintained by local people letting out cheaps rooms at $2NZD a night and great food considering the altitude and accessibility only by foot. Keeping at arounf 2500-3000m for the forst 5 nights we slowly climbed over the last two days to Annapurna Base Camp. Hidden in a sacred Nepali sanctuary, the set of 3 lodges is 4200m above sea level but is flanked by a 360 degree view of mountains rising around you. The mountains all over 6500m spew more than 6 glaciers into this small valley head creating a massive morraine wall over 100m high to view the peaks. Although surrounded in cloud, peppered by thunder, hail and snow and drawing in each breath as if breathing through a straw upon arriving, the next morning the weather was perfect and the peaks lit up like candles almost appearing to flow lava from their tops. We quickened our pace heading down the valley following the Modi Khola from its source to Naya Pul before taxiing back to Pokhahra in 3 days.

 

Next time I'm heaing East to see Everest and Gyoko glacier! I have thousands of photos just waiting....