I Love Trekking: March 2013

30 March 2013

Nepal 2011, Day 5 (2/2) - Ghorepani to Tatopani

26-Oct-2011
Ghorepani (2878m) ~ Tatopani (1244m)
Total Time: 9.5 hrs
Trekking Time: 8.5hrs
Length: 18.3km

We began to descend to Tatopani around 9am, consider quite late.

Recommended Nepal Himalaya Travel Agency:
Adventure Mountain Guide
http://www.adventuremountainguide.net
http://www.treknp.com
Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung
Adventure Mountain Guide Sushil Gurung

We arrived Shikha at 11:50am, me and my friend descend with our porter, others walking slowly behind together with our guide. Now that's the difference between occasion trekkers and non-trekkers, those at behind are complaining knees aching, and yet who don't want to depart earlier. So we decide to take our lunch in Shikha, others arrived after an hour later.

Our lunch place in Shikha

It's in the conjunction of Tihar Festival, so ladies and boys would sings and dance around the village.

A little boy among the crowd.

For donation

No like Bollywood dance, but we enjoy it.

After the songs and dances, we continue our journey to Tatopani around 2pm. Guess they are building a round to Shikha here.

It's Buckwheat

The golden field

One of our porter - Sushil

One of the member suffer from knee injury, so he hired a house which cost RM200 to RM300 just for the 1 hour ride.

We are getting closer to Tatopani around 5pm.

Arrived at Tatopani by 5:40pm, in Nepali "Tato" meaning hot, and "Pani" means water, which name after the hot spring found beside the river. As it getting dark, we missed a chance to enjoy the hot spring here.

It's not a tough trek today beside the long distance descending, but others are suffer with knee ache.

Nepali celebrate Tihar in 5 days, tonight they celebrate it with lights, candles are everywhere around the village.

Our porter Sushil, who speak good English and he's also a very helpful person, now he is helping the group of students playing drum while the students are singing and dancing around the village to collect donation.

Songs and dances, everybody enjoy it.

Guides and porters gathered around, singing and dancing.

Nepal 2011, Day 5 (1/2) - Ghorepani to Poon Hill

26-OCT-2011
(DAY 5 Part 1/2, GHOREPANI > Poon Hill)

Ghorepani (2,816 m) ~ Poon Hill (3,183m) ~ Ghorepani

Ascending time: 1 hr

Ascending length: 1.5 km

Have to get up by 3:30am, though it's so warm and comfort in the sleeping bag.

We started at 4:10am, so that we can slowly trek up to Poon Hill. May be it's too early, we only met few trekkers on the way up.

3:45am: While waiting for others, so I shoot the sky right in front of the lodge.

Arrived top of Poon Hill around 5:20am, I didn't climb up the the observation tower as I think my tripod will not be very stable as people getting up and down. The day is breaking, it might be a bit late for stars.

6:25am, Annapurna I and Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre has been blocked on the right.

Poon Hill Sunrise Viewpoint Annapurna I and Annpurna Sounth

From left to right, Annapurna I and Annapurna South

Annapurna South

It's so cold on Poon Hill, fingers and toes numb with cold. But it's awesome to see the sun lit on the snow cabbed mountains from Poon Hill.

Annapurna I

Dhaulagiri (8167m)

Dhaulagiri - the 7th highest mountain in the world

Poon Hill Sunrise Viewpoint Photographer

I'm not sure why he kept looking at my camera, may be he's trying to say he has a better camera?

Dhaulagiri

Dhaulagiri range, from here you can see Dhaulagiri I, II, III, and VI

Poon Hill Sunrise Viewpoint Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Range

I guess Poon Hill is always crowded in October and November

Beautiful Poon Hill in autumn, one can make a 5 days short trek from Poon Hill.

We descent from Poon Hill around 7am for breakfast, we have to be fast as we will have a long trek to Tatopani. The view is nice in Ghorepani if it's not cloudy like last evening.

Plenty lodges in Ghorepani, I think they are much better than the one we stay.