Around Annapurna Part III: Thorung La

Reaping Havoc with the Locals

We finally got up the gumption to leave the Manang Area and head for Thorung La. We often called into question the dilemma of heading over the pass to continue the circuit verses turning around and heading back down. Amaya was showing no adverse affects of high altitude: diet: obviously good; sleep: averaging 10+ hours/night; hydration... check; mood... check... I had spent the time below tending to my reconstructed left foot (c.1995) which I had since rolled and sprained while in Braga (not pictured). All things considered, we decided to do that which had been recommended every day: hire a professional porter.

Plem

Our hotel operator recommended Plem. He had these amazing climbing boots and had worked in the woods. He immediately became Amaya's personal assistant. So Plem would carry our bivy gear while we would trade off carrying Amaya, if she could not be bothered to walk...

Yaks!

As our sign to go for it, the harvest in the Manang valley had finished, so that all of the animals could be led back down from their summer pastures to spend (and fertilize?) the valley all winter. The yak was a favorite, just behind the unicorns (not pictured).

Naa: Tibetan Bharal

Blue Sheep aka Bharal aka Marco Polo Sheep...? Finally, we ran into these guys. Perfect attraction for the Snow Leopard (not pictured, we only had the book).

Home Schoolin'

Amaya works Mama on her letters with the Gangapurna massif in the distance.

Tierra with Autumn Fire

Our Camp at Thorung Phedi, 14,600' (Before)

Camp During Snowfall

After spending the nights at Gunsang, 12,795' and Letdar, 13,780' we walked up to Thorung Phedi, 14,600' for the last night before the pass. The place was packed as in high season, so we put up the tent. That night it began to snow. At 3a.m. people started marching to the pass in a blizzard. We hunckered down, declared it a snow day, and then took over a vacant room.

SnowBunny in her Natural Habitat

Acclimitazation Again. We took a hike in the afternoon above 15 grand as the snow stopped and windows of Himalaya opened. We woke up early again; the stars were out this time so we went for it. After dealing with the morning cold, we warmed up to a beauty day!

Kick it up to the Pass, Ma!

Perfect day in the Himalayas

No wind; as if we were centered in a fat layer of high pressure.

The obligatory postcard shot. We met and walked with the Johnsons whom live about twenty miles from Longview---Ya travel half way 'round the world to meet folk from home...

Stringin out some prayer flags at 17,769'. We said goodbye to Plem, packed up all of our gear and slowly began the long wet heavy descent of about a mile vertical down to the next village of Muktinath.