Traveltimes Treks

Annapurna Sanctuary Challenge 2015

#annapurna ranges from Tolka Village in ABC

It was first time events from Mission Outdoors India and our friend Vivek Iyer was bringing his team to High Himalayan Country. The trip went smoothly and in safe manner. Our did start from bustling heart of Kathmandu, welcome dinner and sightseeing etc. In second day, we did drive to Pokhara, the city of nature beauty and big mountains surroundings. Our long mountain journey did start from Phedi, Dhampus village. The 30 min drive by car and start to climb Dhampus village. In Tolka village, we officially checked in #Annapurna Conservation Are Project for 10 more days. Our first ascending was to cross Deaurali 2140 meter high and campsite at #Tolka Village (namaste lodge!), beautiful garden and best mountain view.

Toughest day was to reach in Chhumrung village from Tolka, almost 9 kilometer and took 8 hours including our lunch. In Jhinu Danda,we had lunch and crazy climb to Chhumrung for 3 took us Chhumrung cottage, another beautiful hotel and hot shower for free ;) but we did not get friendly host on that night because off season or winter. The Garman bakery was amazingly fabulous after a long hours trek. Enjoyed too much hot chocolate, banana fleeter and apple pie etc. In the night, we sometimes went out to count stars. Everyday we were more closer to the high mountains like #Annapurna South, #Hinchuli and #FishTail or #machhapuchhare #himal.

The holy Fishtail Mountain from #Dovan Village in #AnnapurnaBaseCamp 2015.

Another toughest day to reach in Dovan today. Specially to get rooms there because winter, most of the lodges were closed and one kithchen was open in whole town where we had to manage and adjust our sleeping beds, food and spending night. It was not bad this night actually because we could have some cold beers, popcorn, playing cards and music was hosted by lodge owner. Sunset over FishTail was amazing moment. We were so much surprised to know the price of a can beer there, it was $7 which is higher than #Gorakshep in Everest Base Camp ;( . It was good night and too much laugh, playing cards and best dinner inside the Annapurna gorge,

Because of Korean tourist, we had big challenge to get proper sleeping place. There were hundreds of Korean tourist everywhere everyday. So it did happen same thing in Deuarali village. Hundreds of tourist in one single dining table. We had to sleep all together in one room but it was so much cozy in compare of sleeping individual in - 20 * . The trek from Dovan to Deaurali was very soft but gaining altitude and walking in the snow was not easy at all. The weather was beautiful, specially when we reached Hinko Cave, blue skies, green #Modi River and Fishtail mountain range. In #Deaurali Village, we took our participate to sidewalk in Modi river gorge as usual. But this time the place was covered by white snow. That was not normal walk inside the caves, big rocks and lot of jumping through SnowLeopards footprints. It was different experience than walking in Autumn or summer season. Team had back to camp because one of our member had problem with his shoes or imbalance stepped on icy, water and rock. Lot of jumping, laughing, climbing and crossing river.

Reaching to Annapurna Base Camp was big day for everyone. So we did start our day as usual by 8 O -clock start to walk. Some places, we did do some glacier walk practice with our mini crampons and it was more and different difficult because of snow and icy slippers. By noon, we reached #MBC or #machhapuchhare base camp for lunch and last climb to AnnapurnaBaseCamp. The valley was wide, white snow everywhere and mountain view including world's famous Annapurna I and South Annapurna. By afternoon, the weather was changing and snow but we had keep rocking to Sanctuary or our #dreamdestination this winter. We made successful even it was 8 feet heavy snow covered base camp. The dream came true for everyone and tears of happiness. We exactly stood on lap of massif holy Annapurna I. In the #Paradise Lodge, we celebrated the victory of #ABC. The memory of night photography was really great experiences with Vivek Iyer.

Our longest day to Bamboo village from ABC was quite tiring. Maybe, mentally everyone has no more surprises and excitements etc but dreaming hot shower and good food at least. It was snowing, raining and storms there but kept our legs to campsite in the evening or quite dark. Really we had such a quite night there, there was only one single Korean aunt who loves boil potato ;)

Next day our journey was to reach in #Hotspring Jhinu village. Meeting with Sangla Bro was again something to start laughing and dancing with him. Hot spring is the really refreashing gorge where you do lot of madness activities like swimming on frizzing cold modi river and jump on hot spring etc. Again party with Sangla Bro in the evening and off to Nayapool. After 3 hours walk we did ride the jeep to Pokhara. Back in town again after thousands of human made steep steps ups and down in the high mountains Annapurna.

In Pokhara we did, paragliding, boating and small sightseeing or shopping. We safely back to Kathmandu and sightseeing in #Boudhnath and Swyambhunath Temple. Last days went very fast with certificate distribute and lot of party with our trekking crew. Mission accomplished again #ABC, another challenging destination for India. I (Dawa) hope everyone enjoyed your staying in #Nepal. Namaste. We definitely will see you all soon.

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Our main goal to be high base camp of Island peak was successfully completed by our stronger team of Traveltimes Treks. The trek was started on 27th October and ending on 8th November 2014. What a beautiful weather and traveling mate we had! Would love to give big thanks to all the team including Mike, Lhakpa, Khamsang Dong! We promised to come back in #Khumbu #Everest soon for higher peak and trekking in this region. Enjoy the pictures that we captured during our trek! Island Peak Climb 2014! http://www.traveltimes.com.np/peak_climbing.php