Oct.4
I am happy to report smooth overall travels all the way to Kathmandu, with my bag arriving along with me and Ryan and Rob waiting there to greet me upon my arrival! We took a taxi back to the hotel through the crowded and horn happy streets (people, cars, bikes, motorcycles, rickshaws). It’s so great to be around friends after traveling alone. Today we took a bus ride from Kathmandu up to the starting point of our trek. The people are beautiful and I love the women’s dress. So far all the locals that we have met have been extremely friendly. Everyone is very happy to stop and strike up a conversation with you. Tomorrow we begin our first day of hiking…
Oct. 6
We have had beautiful days for hiking. The trail is fairly narrow and rocky, varying up and down in elevation. We are following along a river and have had many bridge crossings, which always adds a bit of excitement. Today was the waterfall trek. So many gorgeous waterfalls and each breath taking and unique in its own way. So far the weather has been hot and humid. I just pour sweat for the six or so hours that we’re hiking. We have also had two afternoons in a row of hard short rain showers. Also, today after we finished our hike and showered, we decided to do some laundry. In the process we gained a helper. A little girl who lived in the village showed me exactly how to wash my socks (apparently I have been doing it wrong all these years, hehe).
Oct. 7
Two very common sights along the trail have been the many donkey trains and many locals carrying very large and heavy objects. It is such an interesting way of life here. There is currently no road for vehicles up through the valley, however they are in the process of building one.
Oct. 8
There were horse races going on today when we got into town at the end of our hike. Today I saw a little Nepali girl with Down Syndrome, she was absolutely beautiful!
Oct. 9
Day five of trekking what a beautiful day, goodness I couldn’t be happier spending 12 hours a day out of doors. We are starting to see glimpses of snow capped mountains peaking over and between the hillsides.
Our guides and porters are so great. They are good natured and good humored. They also speak pretty good English. There are a couple of them who are all friends so we have been traveling and staying with a retired couple from CA and a group of three from Spain. They have also been great company along the way and during our down time in the evenings.
Tonight there was no moon and I can’t remember the last time I saw so many stars. And so many shooting stars in such a short amount of time. Breathtaking, just indescribable, the twinkling in the darkness.
Oct. 13
We made it to high camp (over 15,000 feet, a new record for me)! The past four nights at higher elevations have been our acclimatization days before we head over the pass. While we were in Manang we went to an informational meeting about AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness), also HACE and HAPE. There is an American doctor there who runs a Himalaya Mountain Rescue practice. That day I heard one helicopter and saw one person riding down on a donkey with oxygen. Altitude is no small matter.
I am amazed at all the different terrain we have been through thus far on our trek. Starting off lower through the jungle with many waterfalls. Then up through the pine trees. Now, high above tree line with many rock fields and small bushes, and snow!
Tomorrow is our big day, Thorung La Pass (17,769 ft). We’ll be going up higher then I have ever been and yet all around me there will be many peaks still towering over me.
Oct. 14
Yipee! We made it over Thorung La Pass! That was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Really how many people can say, “I’ve climbed over one of the highest passes in the world!” So we woke at 4:15am. It was dark and lightly snowing. With our headlamps and many layers on we started up the slippery slope. I get the feeling this was not exactly the safest day of hiking. I am just glad that it was dark out so that I couldn’t really tell how steep or how far down the edge we were walking along was. It made me so excited watching the falling snow reflect against the light of my head lamp. And what an incredible sight seeing the single file line of head lamps strung out along the path. We were a little disappointed about being socked in with clouds (no beautiful mountain views from the top) but I thought it was a great adventure all the same. The way down the other side of the pass was very long and steep. Praise God that we all felt good and stayed safe over the pass.
I can’t believe I have been in Nepal for two weeks and that we still have over a week left of our trek. And I am also happy to report that I am not sick of walking yet. When I look at the map its amazing how much ground we have already covered. Ryan made an interesting point the other day, something along the lines of, its funny how a necessity can become recreation. The people who live up here have to walk from village to village and we decide it would be fun to do the same for sport. I hope they don’t take for granted what a beautiful country they live in.
Oct. 16
Today we hiked for four hours in the rain, not pouring but constant. Rain is very refreshing and I do enjoy it, however by the end of our hike I was a bit wet and thoroughly chilled. In one of the towns along the way a girl of about 8 or so walked up next to me with her umbrella and held it over our heads for about five minutes, jumping over big puddles and laughing together until we reached her destination and she said goodbye. You have to love good people with pure hearts.
Oct. 19
Yesterday, when we stopped for lunch along the way, the Dahl Baht was recommended, so we all decided to go for it Nepali style (this means eating with your hand). Dahl Baht is the typical Nepalese meal, consisting of rice, curry potatoes and vegetable, lentil soup, and spicy pickle. So using your right hand you mix all but the pickle together and forming a scoop with the tips of your fingers you bring a bite up to your mouth and use your thumb to push it in. First of all it was excellent Dahl Baht and the family who owned the guest house and prepared the meal was so great and friendly. I will admit I have some practice to do when it comes to eating like that with one hand.
One random sight along the trail, grandpa carrying grandma in a basket on his back.
Fresh apples through the orchards were so yummy.
Oct. 23
Its festival season right now so everyone is out and about in nice dress with red rice stuck to their foreheads for good luck. They also put up huge swings made out of bamboo in all of the villages during this time of year.
I am happy to report smooth overall travels all the way to Kathmandu, with my bag arriving along with me and Ryan and Rob waiting there to greet me upon my arrival! We took a taxi back to the hotel through the crowded and horn happy streets (people, cars, bikes, motorcycles, rickshaws). It’s so great to be around friends after traveling alone. Today we took a bus ride from Kathmandu up to the starting point of our trek. The people are beautiful and I love the women’s dress. So far all the locals that we have met have been extremely friendly. Everyone is very happy to stop and strike up a conversation with you. Tomorrow we begin our first day of hiking…
Oct. 6
We have had beautiful days for hiking. The trail is fairly narrow and rocky, varying up and down in elevation. We are following along a river and have had many bridge crossings, which always adds a bit of excitement. Today was the waterfall trek. So many gorgeous waterfalls and each breath taking and unique in its own way. So far the weather has been hot and humid. I just pour sweat for the six or so hours that we’re hiking. We have also had two afternoons in a row of hard short rain showers. Also, today after we finished our hike and showered, we decided to do some laundry. In the process we gained a helper. A little girl who lived in the village showed me exactly how to wash my socks (apparently I have been doing it wrong all these years, hehe).
Oct. 7
Two very common sights along the trail have been the many donkey trains and many locals carrying very large and heavy objects. It is such an interesting way of life here. There is currently no road for vehicles up through the valley, however they are in the process of building one.
Oct. 8
There were horse races going on today when we got into town at the end of our hike. Today I saw a little Nepali girl with Down Syndrome, she was absolutely beautiful!
Oct. 9
Day five of trekking what a beautiful day, goodness I couldn’t be happier spending 12 hours a day out of doors. We are starting to see glimpses of snow capped mountains peaking over and between the hillsides.
Our guides and porters are so great. They are good natured and good humored. They also speak pretty good English. There are a couple of them who are all friends so we have been traveling and staying with a retired couple from CA and a group of three from Spain. They have also been great company along the way and during our down time in the evenings.
Tonight there was no moon and I can’t remember the last time I saw so many stars. And so many shooting stars in such a short amount of time. Breathtaking, just indescribable, the twinkling in the darkness.
Oct. 13
We made it to high camp (over 15,000 feet, a new record for me)! The past four nights at higher elevations have been our acclimatization days before we head over the pass. While we were in Manang we went to an informational meeting about AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness), also HACE and HAPE. There is an American doctor there who runs a Himalaya Mountain Rescue practice. That day I heard one helicopter and saw one person riding down on a donkey with oxygen. Altitude is no small matter.
I am amazed at all the different terrain we have been through thus far on our trek. Starting off lower through the jungle with many waterfalls. Then up through the pine trees. Now, high above tree line with many rock fields and small bushes, and snow!
Tomorrow is our big day, Thorung La Pass (17,769 ft). We’ll be going up higher then I have ever been and yet all around me there will be many peaks still towering over me.
Oct. 14
Yipee! We made it over Thorung La Pass! That was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Really how many people can say, “I’ve climbed over one of the highest passes in the world!” So we woke at 4:15am. It was dark and lightly snowing. With our headlamps and many layers on we started up the slippery slope. I get the feeling this was not exactly the safest day of hiking. I am just glad that it was dark out so that I couldn’t really tell how steep or how far down the edge we were walking along was. It made me so excited watching the falling snow reflect against the light of my head lamp. And what an incredible sight seeing the single file line of head lamps strung out along the path. We were a little disappointed about being socked in with clouds (no beautiful mountain views from the top) but I thought it was a great adventure all the same. The way down the other side of the pass was very long and steep. Praise God that we all felt good and stayed safe over the pass.
I can’t believe I have been in Nepal for two weeks and that we still have over a week left of our trek. And I am also happy to report that I am not sick of walking yet. When I look at the map its amazing how much ground we have already covered. Ryan made an interesting point the other day, something along the lines of, its funny how a necessity can become recreation. The people who live up here have to walk from village to village and we decide it would be fun to do the same for sport. I hope they don’t take for granted what a beautiful country they live in.
Oct. 16
Today we hiked for four hours in the rain, not pouring but constant. Rain is very refreshing and I do enjoy it, however by the end of our hike I was a bit wet and thoroughly chilled. In one of the towns along the way a girl of about 8 or so walked up next to me with her umbrella and held it over our heads for about five minutes, jumping over big puddles and laughing together until we reached her destination and she said goodbye. You have to love good people with pure hearts.
Oct. 19
Yesterday, when we stopped for lunch along the way, the Dahl Baht was recommended, so we all decided to go for it Nepali style (this means eating with your hand). Dahl Baht is the typical Nepalese meal, consisting of rice, curry potatoes and vegetable, lentil soup, and spicy pickle. So using your right hand you mix all but the pickle together and forming a scoop with the tips of your fingers you bring a bite up to your mouth and use your thumb to push it in. First of all it was excellent Dahl Baht and the family who owned the guest house and prepared the meal was so great and friendly. I will admit I have some practice to do when it comes to eating like that with one hand.
One random sight along the trail, grandpa carrying grandma in a basket on his back.
Fresh apples through the orchards were so yummy.
Oct. 23
Its festival season right now so everyone is out and about in nice dress with red rice stuck to their foreheads for good luck. They also put up huge swings made out of bamboo in all of the villages during this time of year.
