BootsnAll Travel Network



April 18-20: Trekking (Himalyas)

up-1.jpg

Picture Above:  The climb up to the top of the ridge is about 3000 feet.  These old 1950’s Landrovers are the only vehicles that can make it and take supplies

Since the mountain wasn’t “coming to us,” we decided we’d “go to the mountain,” by signing up with a trekking company.  We chose a trek that took you up to a ridgeline, where we were hoping for a better view. The trip would take us to the top in one day, where we would spend the night at a hut, and then come back down on the second day. We were told that this was in a different valley and might have clearer weather. We took off on a misty morning, hoping for the best, but knowing that, even if the skies didn’t clear, it would be nice to be out in the mountains and countryside.  Our drive to the trailhead was pea-soup fog most of the way – not an auspicious beginning. After a lunch of Tibetan “mo-mos” (dumplings), we headed up, and UP and UP. The trail was straight up for the first two and a half miles. When it started raining, I wasn’t sure we’d make it. We had rain jackets, but we were still soaked (just pants). I was picturing getting to the top (still 4 miles to go), and being cold and hungry and staying in a cold, dark hut.

Several hours later, we were so surprised  to come into a warm fire and a dinner started that smelled wonderful! There was a small “village” (2-3 houses) at the top that offered lodging to trekkers. We all had a great time that evening around the fire in the eating area, or around the cook stoves in the kitchen area, talking with other trekkers and experimenting with millet beer and rhododendron wine.  In the small-world category, we met another trekker was from Seattle, and knew my home town of Poulsbo. As we got talking, I detected a Midwestern accent, and asked her about it. She was originally from Rockford, MI – the little Michigan town that Tim and his brothers called home when their parents were still in Pakistan! It’s the second time something like that has happened on this trip. Weird.We all enjoyed shooting the breeze with other travelers there, and I think Josh was relieved to hear that other travelers had some of the same frustrations with India that he did. Annika was just happy to play with the puppies and Tasha curled up in a quilt with her book. It was all a much better ending to the day than we pictured when we were huddled under some trees during the downpours earlier in the day!

The next morning, we got up at sunrise and lo and behold, we could see the mountains! They weren’t super clear, but we could at least see that they were there. The hike down that day was sunny and beautiful. The landscape looked like what I would picture in Scotland or northern England. 

Below Picture:  Many tourists take treks along this ridge up to 6 days. 

up-21.jpg

The whole way up we  were in this thick fog.  The first two miles were straight up (60-70% elevation) and climbed about 1000 feet or more.  The fog was incredibly thick as the next pictures show.

up-31.jpgup-41.jpg

Little huts are stationed 2-3 times up the route for tea and cracker breaks.  This is the kitchen area of a typical local mountain persons hut. 

up5.jpg

It looks bright only because of the flash.  Even this high up the homes have TV.

up-5b.jpg

We needed to try the local Yak cheese.

up-5c.jpgup-6.jpg

Our rain jackets that we have been carrying around in the heat for 3 months finally came into use.  It did start raining among the fog.  The legs of our pants were soaking wet – Tasha and Annika had to try and find more reserve in them to keep going, and they did.

up-6b.jpg

A couple of groups were with us on the trek up.  Everyone was getting a little tired and cold and we finally came to this military outpose on the boarder with Nepal.  A welcome sight.  We warmed up in the hut with tea and soup.

up-7.jpg

We didn’t know it but we crossed over into Nepal.  Another country in our feather of countries traveled.

up-7b.jpg

A Buddhist shrine

up-7c.jpg

Heading out of the village to the ridge line

up-7d.jpgup-8.jpg

At the top of the ridge, this family runs a guest house for trekkers.  We are all (including other groups) sitting around the kitchen warming up, talking, drinking tea etc. 

top-1.jpg

It is a small world.  The lady to my right is from Seattle (where Natalie grew up), but she was born and raised in Rockford, Michigan were Tim’s relatives and his Mom grew up.  That town was kind of put back on the map due to his Uncle’s business/tourist development projects and she went to school with cousins of Tim’s. 

top-2.jpg

The guides said I had to try the local beer, millet beer.  It is some kind of wheat.  You put hot water in it, let it soak, then drink from the straw.  I am not much of a beer drinking person so cannot explain what the taste was like.  It seemed more like a wine. The red nose if from the windy, rainy conditions, not the beer?!

top-3.jpg

After soup and bread we thought that was good and figured that was all.  No.  The lady of the house served us a 5 course meal and even desert.  Not what we expected, but the owners were great.  Incredible service including hot water bottles at night to help with the cold.

top-4.jpg

The area had been socked in for weeks.  Other trekkers had not seen any of the Himilayas.  Everyone was praying for sunshine and good weather, or at least clear for a little to see the mountains.  We woke up at 5:30am and were told it was sunny and clear so better get up and see the mountains.  Hallelujah!!  This was the guest lodge we stayed at, high up on the ridge about 10,000 feet.

morning-51.jpg

They provided hot water for washing in the morning. They really took care of the trekkers.

morning-61.jpg

These pictures are out of context.  They were meant to be at the end of the blog; just family fun shots.  However, once you start loading you can’t put pictures back in at a different place. 

family-1.jpgfamily-2.jpgfamily-3.jpgfamily-4.jpgfamily-5.jpgmorning-4.jpg

Okay, back to appropriate sequence.  5:30am we walked up a small hill.  Sunrise looking back at the lodge location.

morning-3.jpgmorning-2.jpg

This is the typical view from the ridge.  That is the 3rd highest mountain in the world, Kachajuna.

mtn-1b.jpg

This is what we got.  Not crispy clear, but hey, we saw it.  The kids got the idea of the Himalayan mountain range.

mtn-1.jpgmtn-3.jpgmtn-4.jpg

Hiking to the top. 

down-1.jpg

Annika scarmbling to the top (my mountain goat) and using the binoculars to see the mountain.

down-3.jpg

There it was.

mtn-5.jpgdown-4.jpg

Hiking back down shots just to show the hillside.

down-4b.jpgdown-5.jpgdown-5b.jpgdown-6.jpg

Indian army patrol – we are on the boarder with Nepal and the Moaists have been causing trouble.

down-6b.jpgdown-6c.jpgdown-71.jpgdown-81.jpg

For the teenager, a 5:30am rise with a 6 hour walk just doesn’t cut it.  I do think he enjoyed the experience in some manner.

down-9.jpg



Tags:

87,748 responses to “April 18-20: Trekking (Himalyas)”

  1. CurtisMum says:

    canadian medicine online: online meds no prescription – canadian online rx
    online pharmacy no perscription – interpharm.pro A pharmacy I wholeheartedly recommend to others.

  2. JamesTam says:

    http://internationalpharmacy.icu/# order prescription from canada

  3. Vxyzrk says:

    order provigil 100mg generic order provigil 100mg generic deltasone 40mg generic

  4. CurtisMum says:

    online pharmacy without scripts: meds online no prescription – canadian drugstore
    mail order pharmacy canada – internationalpharmacy.icu Their cross-border services are unmatched.

  5. Damon_ovMa says:

    Широкий ассортимент мешков для мусора
    мешки для мусора мешки для мусора.

  6. Shaengueft says:

    Many thanks. Loads of write ups!
    write my research paper for me term paper help research proposal write my research paper for me

  7. Shaengueft says:

    With thanks, Good information.
    who can write my essay writing essays what should i write my college essay about write my resume for me

  8. Tprvqu says:

    order absorica online cheap accutane 40mg ca order generic azithromycin 250mg

  9. CurtisMum says:

    top mail order pharmacies: canadian international pharmacy – canadian prescription prices
    buy prescription online – interpharm.pro They source globally to provide the best care locally.

  10. Perdana138 says:

    Perdana138 merupakan Situs Judi Online Resmi pilihan paling menguntungkan dalam situs judi slot terbaik dan terpercaya no 1 paling gacor.

  11. Perdana138 says:

    Perdana138 Situs slot resmi menyediakan berbagai fasilitas terbaik dalam melakukan deposit, withdraw, customer service, pelayanan 24 jam.

  12. Perdana138 says:

    Perdana138 adalah situs Resmi yang berlisensi dengan sistem slot paling canggih untuk mempermudah para pemain dengan mudah mendapatkan kemenaganan besar.

  13. Zdtteb says:

    oral isotretinoin zithromax 500mg pill order zithromax 250mg pill

  14. JamesTam says:

    https://interpharm.pro/# canadian drugstore discount code

  15. CurtisMum says:

    canadian prescription drugstore reviews: cheap canadian pharmacy – best canadian pharmacy
    best us online pharmacy – internationalpharmacy.icu Speedy service with a smile!

  16. Daicyc says:

    order isotretinoin for sale buy cheap zithromax order generic azithromycin 250mg

  17. JamesTam says:

    http://interpharm.pro/# canada-pharmacy.com

  18. Oscarscrisp says:

    Many thanks, I enjoy this!
    best paper writing services pay someone to write a paper buy a paper for college custom paper

  19. Ryli_uiKr says:

    Надежные полиэтиленовые мешки
    мешки полиэтиленовые полиэтиленовые мешки оптом.

  20. Kbccri says:

    buy isotretinoin 40mg generic purchase azithromycin pills buy generic zithromax

  21. Shaengueft says:

    Amazing material. Many thanks!
    buy research paper research proposal cover page elements of a research proposal buy term paper

  22. Shaengueft says:

    This is nicely put. !
    ai essay writer write my essay for me write my essay cheap online essay writer

  23. MatthewRam says:

    http://farmaciabarata.pro/# farmacia online 24 horas

  24. JasonHax says:

    Acheter mГ©dicaments sans ordonnance sur internet: Pharmacie en ligne pas cher – Pharmacie en ligne livraison gratuite

  25. Archieflult says:

    https://farmaciaonline.men/# farmacie online sicure

  26. Futdfe says:

    azipro 250mg ca neurontin 600mg for sale order gabapentin 100mg online

  27. Movies says:

    This is a topic that’s close to my heart… Thank you!

    Exactly where are your contact details though?

  28. Microsoft Me says:

    This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I
    have found something that helped me. Thanks!

  29. MatthewRam says:

    https://pharmacieenligne.icu/# pharmacie ouverte 24/24

  30. Shaengueft says:

    This is nicely said. !
    college paper writing services mba essay writing service cover letter writing service best online essay writing service

  31. JasonHax says:

    farmacias online seguras: farmacia online envГ­o gratis – farmacia online envГ­o gratis

  32. Archieflult says:

    http://farmaciaonline.men/# comprare farmaci online con ricetta

  33. ThomasPaL says:

    farmacia online madrid farmacias online baratas farmacias baratas online envГ­o gratis

  34. JasonHax says:

    farmacia envГ­os internacionales: farmacia 24h – farmacias online seguras en espaГ±a

  35. MatthewRam says:

    http://farmaciabarata.pro/# farmacia online envГ­o gratis

  36. Ezaqlr says:

    order azipro 500mg generic omnacortil 10mg price buy gabapentin 800mg online cheap

  37. EhfriViavy says:

    augmentin in pregnancy first trimester liquid augmentin dosing augmentin sr dosage children

  38. JasonHax says:

    acquistare farmaci senza ricetta: acquisto farmaci con ricetta – farmacia online

  39. MatthewRam says:

    http://pharmacieenligne.icu/# Pharmacie en ligne livraison gratuite

  40. EdmvBoolo says:

    amoxicillin 875mg what is similar to amoxicillin over the counter can you give amoxicillin to cats

  41. Wlkaiu says:

    best casino poker online sites lasix medication

  42. TghiViavy says:

    augmentin related to penicillin augmentin e pillola belara augmentin es fda

  43. Geiqyn says:

    best poker online real money buy cheap generic lasix buy furosemide 100mg pill

  44. keoo01yu says:

    Dear immortals, I need some wow gold inspiration to create.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *