Trekking in the Annapurna Range

After five days in the Kathmandu Valley, we headed across the country to Pokhara - a quaint little town in the mountains on a large lake. Pokhara has excellent views of some peaks in the Annapurna Range when the weather is clear. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and we never got great views, but we did spy Machapuchare (Fishtail Moutain) for a brief moment one morning.

Not content with the views in Pokhara, we decided to head up into the mountains for a five day trek to a place called “Poon Hill.” We hired a guide and a porter to help us out along the way.

 

The first day of the trek started with a one and a half hour slow and bumpy car ride up into the mountains and a fairly easy hike up the valley floor through rice paddies and small villages.

We also passed some wild marijuana plants along the way!  No doubt, the source for all those touts in Kathmandu...

We stopped in the late afternoon and got our first taste of standard trekking accommodation. Each afternoon after 5-7 hours on the trail, we would stop in a small family-owned guesthouse in a village. The accommodation was very simple and the showers often consisted of a luke-warm or cold tap and a bucket. They usually had good views and they always had beer to sell us in the afternoon when we arrived. In the evening our guide and the proprietors would whip up some hearty food (fried noodles, daal bhaat, etc...) and we would usually be in bed by 8:30.

The second day of the trek was a brutal 1500m/ 4920 ft climb over steep stone steps and through rhododendron forests. We managed it, but our legs were useless by the end.

The following morning, we woke at 4:30 am to climb Poon Hill and watch the sunrise over the Annapurna Range – the undisputed highlight of the trek. There are so many photos, the view deserves its own blog post, so you'll just have to wait another few days to see them....

After descending Poon Hill and having some breakfast, we started our three day hike back down the mountain. That afternoon it rained hard enough to flood large portions of the trail and turn stone stairways into genuine waterfalls.

The rain also served as our introduction to leeches. They were everywhere and constantly crawling up our boots trying to get at our legs. They're a pain to remove, but after you get over the ewww factor, they're harmless. As it turns out, they really love Nick.

The last two days of the trek were mostly a leisurely down hill stroll past rice paddies and waterfalls. Though sometimes we were clambering down the sides of steep waterfalls or over mudslides. No matter what the terrain, it was no picnic since our legs were unbelievably sore. The views down the valley were spectacular though.

In the end, after five days of strenuous hiking and mountainside guesthouses, we were exhausted. It was well worth it though and we can't wait to go back and try a longer trek, maybe Everest Base Camp, once we get in a little bit better shape :) For now, it's back to Pokhara for some well earned rest and relaxation.