physikality: Day 4 & 5, Trekking to Ulleri and Ghorepani

Previous post: http://physikality.blogspot.com/2014/03/day-3-long-bus-ride-and-pokhara.html

So off we went hiking near the Annapurna range. Our van brought us from the hotel at Pokhara where we had stayed for the night, with hot showers and wi-fi, luxuries we no longer will have unless you pay for them at the tea houses along the hiking trails. It was a fairly easy hiking trail, mostly flat with some hours of uphill climbing on stone made stairs.

Along the way we saw many empty guesthouses and cafes. It was not tourist season yet in mid-February so we got the choicest of inns to stay in with the best mountain views.

Mount Machhapuchchhre, sacred mountain of the Annapurna Himal about 25 km from Pokhara.

Villages like this is very commonplace. In the background, the majestic snow capped mountains of Annapurna.

One happy camper (or hiker!).

Bijan or guide asking us to hurry up! Haha

You can get everything you need at the local grocery. This store is located in the village that was our beginning point.

Poor frightened lambs.

Another Siva shrine.

One cannot get enough of snow mountain shots.

We left for Ghorepani from Ulleri at about 7am. The trail is stll fairly easy until we met with ice on the ground. Walking started to be tricky as we had to make sure we did not fall and slide down the path or worse down the hill slope. As we went higher, we got more snow and ice on the ground.

The morning sun makes the mountain shiny gold.

Some goats we saw from Ulleri chewing on thorny bushes.

Calf seems curious. I don't have chocolates for you!

Yeay! Almost there!

Its a sample of the icy path we hiked on. I recommend that one avoid the ice and step on the snow.

Cabbages apparently need snowy ground? Sorry I come from a tropical country. This seems strange to me.

The hotel or teahouse that we stay in at Ghorepani.

At the teahouses, there are separate charges for wi-fi and hot showers, NR200 and NR100 respectively. Food wastage is also frowned upon.

Snowstorm!

Happy I made it! Missed the snow!

Doesn't it feel like Christmas?

We stayed a night at the tea house warming ourselves near the fireplace. We met hikers from Hong Kong, Australia, China sharing stories and details on where to we had been and where we are heading next.

Early the next morning, we hiked another hundred meters or so upwards to Poonhill, where one can clearly see the Annapurna peaks, some of which are more than 8000m. Poon hill itself is 3210m above sea level.

Poonhill, 3210m above sea level with hikers. During the peak season, there won't be much space to move around and take photos. I'm glad I came to Nepal during the off-peak season.