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Nepal

It is magical just looking out at these beautiful mountains.

I had taken the book The Ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary to read on the trip. I finished reading the final chapters sitting outside, wrapped in a blanket, on the font porch looking at these majestic mountains on the second afternoon when a cold storm set in with rain and cold winds blowing. I felt like I was with Sir Edmund Hillary as I finished reading his book as he described the ascent to the Highest Mountain Peak, Mt. Everest, in the world.

Fishtail Mountain or Machapuchare Mountain the highest ascent any one or team came to climbing to the Summit was in 1957 when a British Expedition Team came within 492 feet from the summit via the north ridge to an altitude of 22,793 feet. They did not complete the ascent, as they had promised not to set foot on the actual summit. Since then the mountain has been declared sacred and is now closed to climbers.

Annapurna's highest peak is 26,200. The mountain has the greatest fatality rate of all the 14 Himalayan Mountains as of 2012. There have been 52 deaths during ascents, 191 successful ascents and 9 deaths upon decent. Which means for every 3 thrill seekers that make it up and down safely 1 dies trying. Not good odds.

Witih our two local guides and the ladies of the nearby village ready to pack us out carrying our day packs in their baskets back to civilization for a few hours we begin our trek back down the hill.

One last goodbye to the General Manager to the left and the Chef. Two of the most important people I met at the lodge. I enjoyed our conversation time about life in the area. The kitchen is very simple as you see but the food was awesome.

Two more new friends from the trip. It was interesting learning what it is like to manage a lodging facility with limited electricity during the day almost none and none late at night. They depend on solar for their late night exterior lighting. Water can be a problem. Also getting supplies into and out of the camp. Life is very simple here. Mother Nature makes up for any challenges. The night sky so beautiful after a storm passes. The stars so bright you think you can reach out and touch them.

Packing our day packs to carry out.

Marilynn thought she would test one out to carry.

Walking up numerous stairs to just leave the lodge; then walking up several hills to just get to the main trail head and trekking back to the main road several miles with this on their backs.

Mother and daughter. The daughter walked along with us

Our fearless Trekker

One last goodbye before setting out on another days adventure

The road you see to the left is where we were trekking to the distance out of range of the photo

Locals we ran into leaving camp

We all arrive back to the main road the ladies carrying our day packs

Children at the nearby village curious about the strangers in their midst

The ladies received their money for carrying our day packs and one last goodbye.

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