In the spring of 2009, a group of friends and I went trekking in Nepal. Our group was diverse, with a wide range of experience and backgrounds. Some of us had gone on many treks previously; some had never trekked before in their lives. We each went for our own reasons, but we all shared a common goal: reaching Annapurna Base Camp. Our group consisted of the five of us, plus one guide and three porters to manage our belongings. While perhaps not the most arduous trek out there, for us, it was the trip of a lifetime. The purpose of this site is to describe that trip, give you a taste of what lies out there, and offer planning and preparation advice and help to those interested in pursuing a similar path.
Macchapuchare (Fishtail Mountain) From Tadapani
The posts will alternate between advice and a descriptive narrative of our adventures. I'll describe how we planned the trip, the organizations we used, and how we prepared, specifically the type of gear we took with us. Additionally, I will try to meticulously describe our daily trials and tribulations during our 15 days in Nepal and our 10 days out on the trek. As a basic overview, we arrived in Kathmandu, and spent a day touring around the city. The tour included several major Hindu and Buddhist temples as well as the old royal palaces. From there, we took a 6 hour bus ride to Pokhara, Nepal's second largest city as well as the starting point for almost all treks in the Annapurna region. We trekked for 10 days total, visiting Ghorepani first, then coming back east to go to Annapurna Base Camp. Each night we stayed in a teahouse. A teahouse is similar to a bed & breakfast. A family will run the teahouse and also provides meals for guests. After the trek it took us about 2-3 days to return to Kathmandu. Although the trek might sound long, each day was so filled with novel experiences and unique vistas that each one just flew by!
Why should you read this site? Well, this site is for beginners by a beginner. If you are an experienced trekker, you are more than welcome to read and participate as well. I hope that you chime in and help me out when I'm wrong. My advice can only go so far! My goal is to share this wonderful experience with anyone out there who has an interest in trekking, but perhaps isn't quite sure where to start. The adventure of a lifetime could possibly begin with a single click!
