Update and More Pics

Pics

On the Trail from Jomsom to Mutkinath. This part of the country is obviously very dry. You can see three tiny specs on the trail who are the three Americans we have been travelling with. We got stuck in an intense dust storm walking through this river plain which felt like it took forever.

Our stuck bus

Crazy people who ride on top of the bus

Pokhara

In Pokhara, Finished Trek

So were in Pokhara now. Spent the last two days taking jeeps and buses. Roads here were intense. At one point we decided to get off the bus and walk after it got stuck in the mud. And just before that we went over the sketchiest part of the road where were way too close to tipping off the edge of the road off a cliff into a raging river. Luckily we made it here after spending a night in Tatopani and enjoying the hotsprings. We decided not to hike up to Ghorepani yesterday as it was raining all night and all morning. Instead we opted for the harrowing bus and jeep ride. Either way I made it to here. The city is much nicer than Kathmandu and I feel the need to go explore this city. For some reason my photos wont upload right now. Will try again later.

Brett

Over the Thorong La

So we made it over the Thorong La pass yesterday. Was a pretty intense day, after so much lead up and time spent acclimatizing, we started in the dark at 5 am to make sure we were up and over the pass before the typical noon storms roll in. We had a perfect day of it, only took 6 hours to get up and down to the next town (mutkinath)
We hiked through the most amazing sunrise over the gargantuan himalayan peaks. Was a very surreal experience. we reached the pass at 8 am before most others, spent 15 or 20 minutes up there and headed down. The elevation made the hiking very demanding at an elevation of 5000m there is 50% of the oxygen that is at sea level. Needless to say, breathing was very difficult and every step uphill was a great effort. Hiking at a snails pace was neccessary. Luckily we managed to surpass most other hikers and reach the pass with few others around.

So now that we have reached the other side of this mountain range, things are much different. The landscape is very dry and reminds me of Kamloops. Things are also much more developed here. While on the other side we were hiking where there were no roads through tiny undevloped villages, today we hiked on roads with trucks and tractors and motorcycles flying past us kicking up a dust storm. Turns out, as we suspected, this area has been more developed over the last 5 years and a road now goes all the way from Pokhara to Mutkinath. Today we walked through a dust storm in an area that felt like it could be Egypt of Afghanistan to arrive in a fairly large town called Jomson. We are planning to skip over a few days of the trek by takin a jeep to Tatopani tommorow. This is mostly because the best part of the trek is behind us and the trek is a bit tainted now that there are vehicles and people trying to sell us stuff again. So in Tatopani are hot springs and the worlds deepest valley. The Kali Gandaki river is at an elevation of 2200m with the peaks on either side of the river at 8000m. Qualifying it as the worlds deepest valley. From there we hike one more day to Ghorepani and spend a night. The next morning we plan on hiking 1.5 hours up to an area known as Poon hill where there is an amzing view of the mountains. After that we plan to hike to Nayapul and then take a bus back to Pokhara, Nepals second biggest city. Though, apparently it is much cleaner, quiter and has less traffic than Kathmandu. The city is beside a large lake with amazing views of the himalayas around. So we get there on the 27th then I spend 10 days there doing a yoga retreat and checking out the surrounding area, and then I have to decide what to do until the 22nd when I fly to indonesia. I might try to change my flight to spend 2 weeks in Thailand to do some rock climbing, just an idea for now but I will look into the details once in Pokhara. Thats all for now though. Will update again when in Pokhara, when I hope to put up some picutres and whatnot. Take care hope everyone is doing well. Ciao for now.

Day 7 Manag, Nepal 3530m

So its Day 7 and Im in manang. Got here yesterday and we're spening a day here to acclimatize to the elevation. The next two days we make a push for high camp at Thorong Phedi, then on day 10 we go over Thorong La pass at 5540m, The worlds highest mountain pass. Everything is going really well, enjoying the views and friends. No problems. Thanks to everyone sending me emails, and I read them all and the comments on my blog, just dont have time to respond to them all but thank you very much. Had an awesome birthday yesterday, cant ask for much more than hiking in the worlds highest mounains for a birthday present. Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Glad to hear Dad is doing well, thinking about you lots. I'll put up some pictures when the internet doesnt cost so much, maybe in a week or so. Turns out we can live on like 13 dollars a day while we are trekking so thats sweet. Eating lots of good food, curry, Dall Bhatt ( rice and lentils) and the weather has been gorgeous everyday. Perfect views of up to 8000m peaks! very incredible. oh the time difference here is 12 hours and 45 minutes ahead, go figure. thats all for now.

Namaste

Day 4 annapurna Trek

Quick update, internet is very expensive. I am in a small town in the Himalya called Chame. Four days of hiking and its amazing. Amazing views every turn. Really enjoying the simple lifestlye of hiking in the morning and hanging out in the evening and relaxing. It is a good life. My body is holding up well, no problems yet. Next update who knows when? Apparently internet is getting more expesive the further in I go. Hope everyone is doing well. Bye for now!

First Few Days in Kathmandu

So, Im in Kathmandu, Nepal. After a 14 hour flight to Hong Kong, a 12 hour lay over in hong kong, and a four hour flight to Kathmandu, we made it. First impression is overwhelming. The cab ride in from the airport was definitely a sobering one. Kathmandu is one of the worlds most polluted cities, and it shows. Kathmandu is a full on assualt on all senses. The smells, are ever changing or choking maybe I should say. Constant haze and air pollutiuon is the result of the massive amounts of traffic on the streets. My lungs hurt from breathing the air from the last two days. There is garbage all ove the streets and the smell of poo is everywhere. Definitely not like anywhere I've been before. Walking or taking a cab seems like a deathwish as there is no logic in the traffic chaos. The constant honking and avoiding being hit by flying motorcycles and crazy cab drivers tests my patience. I think someone must keep taping dollar signs on my back, or maybe its the colour of my skin, but we are constantly bombarded by everyone trying to sell us something. A lot of poverty here and it is a sobering reality to see how lucky I am. A lot of people stare at me because I look really out of place, I've nvever felt like such a minority. Seems like there arent a lot of other western travellers here yet. But its not all crazy. WE have seen some really cool temples and medieval style towns. Lots of monkeys and stray dogs. Overall Kathmandu has been an intense experience, But now I feel as thoguh we have earned our right to get out of the city and head for the Himalya. Tomorrow we take a 8 hour bus ride to travel 160km to Besisahar, the starting point for the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Talk soon, next update somehwere along the trail I hope. Namaste!