Trek Annapurna IV

Trek Annapurna

At 5:15 am, the wake-up time, the temperature in the room will be 11°C. We don't regret ending the night and see that it is already bright outside; a quarter of an hour later, the sun will begin to illuminate the peaks on the western side of the Sanctuary. The day is beautiful; during the night, the temperature must have dropped well below 0°C since we can walk comfortably on the hardened snow. It's still cold, but we don't feel it. We immediately put on our windbreaker (lucky to have slept in it) and go outside where other people are already looking up. Today also the Annapurna I We watch as the first rays of sunlight reach him. We are standing before what is considered the most challenging and least climbed mountain, and seeing the wall, we immediately understand its reasons. The snow from these days makes it the even more stunning scenery We climb a small hill and get back to work with photo and video equipment. As the sun rises in the sky, the morning is painted in warm tones, while we keep our hands steady on the cameras, despite the cold.

The heat that we are experiencing the ecstasy of the moment It helps us forget where we are; we'll only realize it later when the movements become difficult and the pain in our fingers intensifies. Next to the base camp, a small hill has been built. a monument dedicated to Anatoli Boukreev... the Russian mountaineer, caught in an avalanche right on Annapurna on Christmas Day of 1997. Life is beautiful, but what better place to rest one's soul eternally… Around the monument, a flurry of Buddhist flags flutter in the wind, carrying prayers towards the sky. We have heard much about Boukreev, his achievements, and the tragedy that involved him on Everest in 1996, sparking controversy and endless discussions. Now we stand in silent admiration for his memory and the mountaineering he represents. We go down for a light breakfast; when it is already 7:30 am, we say goodbye to the manager, whose hospitality will be another sign of sanctity, and begin our descent. We discover that we paid 300 Rs for the room and 200 Rs for the stove heating in the refuge last night, which is perfectly legitimate. As time passes and the altitude decreases, we start to sink into the snow, but this does not cause us any problems. On the side of the Annapurna III yes remove a block of ice large in size that we can capture, but we are amazed by its power, especially when it reaches the valley floor and rises like an atomic mushroom, even being illuminated by the first rays of sunlight that penetrate the valley. We frequently turn to capture the peaks that are receding, and arrive at a First stop at MBC Meanwhile, we are overtaken by participants in a strange cross-country race that started at the ABC, with a large group of French people as the main competitors. Since the Annapurna was won for the first time by a French team, we encounter many non-French people along the way. We wear shorts and decide to descend towards the valley, which will take us back to the lower villages. From time to time, we meet the Canadian and pass each other when we stop to take photos (while we will also see the Americans who were seen at Bamboo during a break in Dobhan). The sky remains clear, and the altitude allows us to breathe more easily, making happiness palpable. At Himalayn Hotel, we enjoy a cup of black tea. After Deorali, we meet a group of intelligent people (wild monkeys that live in the forest) and the rhododendrons vibrant, which the sun makes even more brilliant. A few afternoon drops force us to briefly open our umbrella, but it's nothing major. At some point, the tiredness from the difficult night, the backpack, and the long walk to Sinuwa starts to become noticeable, especially when... climbing the last 830 steps which lead to the village where we plan to spend the night (the room is offered for 100 Rs). We arrive just before 4 pm. It's a quiet place, inhabited in season by a few families who offer food and accommodation to passing hikers. To our surprise, we see a refrigerator right next to the dining area and ask for clarification, and are told that it was brought up in stages by groups of porters. The woman who manages the lodge tells us how the porters can easily carry up to 40 kg on their backs. We have a chat with a young German couple who are also arriving and descending, and we take a look at tomorrow's destination, Ghandruk, which is located two valleys further away. The rest is truly restorative after another meal that was once again excellent.