Nepal is stunning. I think that seeing the Himalyas first-hand should be on everyone’s bucket list. Seriously.
This last week, three friends and I embarked on a short trek in the Annapurna Circuit of the Himalaya Mountains. Our goal was to see the spectacular views from Poon Hill, which is a mere 10,500 feet high. The first day we set out past small farming villages and rice fields, following a dirt/stone path that slowly began to wind at a steep ascent up into the Annapurna range. We had faithful dog, whom we named “Old Faithful” follow us for the first five hours of our trek, stopping and waiting when we rested at a tea house for a hearty meal of dhal bhat (rice, lentil soup, fried vegetables, and saag – SO GOOD) and waiting patiently when we stopped to rest our sore feet. The last two hours were spent climbing a steep (and I mean, STEEP) staircase of a mere 3500 stone steps to reach our first tea house where we would spend the night. I have never slept so well, or appreciated a hot shower, in my life! The following day was much of the same: a steep stone staircase up (and at rare moments, down) the sides of the mountains and we climbed closer to our goal: Poon Hill and the extraordinary view of the Himal Annapurna range. As we slowly but steadily crawled from one mountain to the other we encountered stunning waterfalls of the clearest, coldest mountain water, emerald forests, friendly faces of fellow trekkers, and small, painted villages of blue tea-houses and welcoming Nepali villagers. Upon finally reaching Ghorepani (the village at the foot of Poon Hill) we finally rested our weary bodies, enjoyed hot chocolate and a fire, and headed straight to bed. At 4:00am we crawled from our warm beds and prepared for the final 400 meter ascent of Poon Hill, racing the sun in order to watch it rise over the Annapurna Himalayas. It was hard, hard work, but the views were INCREDIBLE (see photos below). Pictures cannot do justice; the immensity of the beauty and strength of those mountains, as the clouds slowly recede like the ocean tide to reveal snow capped mountains tipped in blazing orange and pink as the sun slowly climbs into the sky – it is breath-taking.
The next two days found us slowly descending (who would have thought going down took so much energy and concentration? There were many times I thought I would just pitch headfirst down the mountain…especially with all those pesky loose stone steps I found!) But the sights were just as beautiful: mountain jungles, rhododendron forests, some wild ponies, and more tea-houses with gracious Nepali hosts/hostesses. At the end of our trek my legs hurt as they have never hurt in my life, but I can understand the thrill of the climb and why there are people who have done both ABC (Annapurna Base Camp), EBC (Everest Base Camp) and Everest itself multiple times. The mountains are a wild and dangerous place, but that only enhances the beauty and wonder of what you find there. Thank you Lord for creating something that can give us a glimpse of what it is behold something so beautiful and majestic, yet terrifying.
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| During the sunrise.... |
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| Just before the sunrise....have no idea who this man is, but he adds some perspective and depth to the picture... |
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| Just to prove that the above photos are not stolen from google, and that I really, actually was there. (Mom, this one is especially for you!) |
