Maybe like many different folks, the Himalayas at all times signaled Mount Everest to me. It wasn’t till I began fascinated by heading to Nepal earlier than my Bhutan journey that I heard in regards to the Annapurna.
You see, I knew I didn’t have sufficient time to do the Everest Base Camp trek, however I wished to get in some trekking whereas in Nepal. And I’m so glad I didn’t have time for EBC — as a result of it launched me to the Annapurna.
Positioned within the north-central a part of Nepal (Everest is to the east close to the border with China), the Annapurna Massif is dwelling to a few of the world’s tallest and deadliest mountains. The total Annapurna Circuit sometimes takes 12-24 days, whereas the shorter Ghorepani Poon Hill trek takes 4-7 days.
Extra to return on tips on how to DIY the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, sans information and sans porter. For now, take pleasure in the great thing about the Annapurna from our 4 days on the path.
Trekking from Nayapul towards Ghorepani
Whereas the Poon Hill trek can take wherever between 4 to seven days, we selected to do ours in 4. Get up every day and eat a granola bar or two as we get began, after which simply go, go, go till we cease for the day. No stops in any other case besides to replenish on water or tie our sneakers.
The primary two days takes you from the doorway of the Annapurna Conservation Space to Ghorepani, the bottom from which you head as much as Poon Hill, the photographic climax of the trek.
Poon Hill dawn day
Daytime within the Annapurna isn’t all that chilly, even in December. This was fairly stunning to me as I anticipated to wish to put on all my garments whereas within the Himalayas.
Till the solar is absolutely out, nevertheless, it’s fairly darn chilly.
The principle attraction of the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is dawn at Poon Hill, so having sufficient garments to remain heat at midnight of evening is completely needed.
We left our guesthouse, which was positioned smack dab in the midst of Ghorepani, round 5:25 a.m. to hike up Poon Hill. I used to be sweaty and chilly on the similar time, having worn all my gear for the climb. As soon as we bought up prime, nevertheless, it was simply chilly, chilly, chilly.
My palms froze as I regularly adjusted the digicam settings to adapt to the altering gentle. However the great thing about the Annapurna vary was greater than well worth the runny nostril and stiff fingers.
Check out these photographs, and choose for your self.
Wrapping up our time within the Annapurna
The remainder of the trek is generally downhill, and in case you actually hustle, you could possibly probably get from Ghorepani again to Nayapul on the identical day and minimize your hike down to three days. Nonetheless, that might imply chopping brief your time on Poon Hill and trekking at midnight, neither of which is a very good thought in my view.
Personally, it wasn’t even actually an choice. Whereas it’s counterintuitive, going downhill has at all times been manner more durable for me than mountain climbing uphill. So I leisurely went my manner and loved the remainder of the views on the trek.
I hope the great thing about the Annapurna has impressed you to be taught extra about it and to see it for your self. Extra to return on tips on how to do the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek in a future publish.
