Intro

Well, it's time to pack up the bags once more and head out for another adventure.  Off to Nepal this time.  I have traveled there before - in the fall of 2012.  At that time we spent about 3 weeks in the Solu-Khumbu (Everest) region, including a climb of Lobuche East - one of the highest "trekking peaks" in Nepal, which was first climbed in 1984.  Travelling in Nepal is waaaay out of my comfort zone but the scenery is stunning, the people are wonderful, and I really do enjoy the challenge, the experience & the simplicity.  I struggled with the altitude on the last trek and also had a wicked case of the Khumbu cough the whole time.  Not sure how I will make out this time around.  So - I'm excited to be going back but a little bit nervous.

I know there will be lots of surprises in our travels and potentially some changes to our itinerary.  Got the first one this morning (October 3rd).  Woke up to an email that says there has been a change to the permit issuance procedure.  Seems we now need to show our actual passports rather than our guide providing copies of our passports.  Oh - and due to a national holiday the permit office is closed for 5 days and will delay our departure from Kathmandu by at least 2 days.  Flexibility will be the key.......

We have 10 people headed out on this trek - most from Calgary.  Elli, Allan & Deanna, Chuck & Lesley, Ray & Lu, and me from Calgary.  Ralf is from Toronto and Susan is from Houston.  We are stringing together 3 different treks.  Might as well see it all while we're over there is my theory.  I may be kicking myself by the end.  Our treks are:  Manaslu, Annapurna Circuit and Upper Mustang.  All 10 of us will be on the Manaslu trek.  Ralf, Ray & Lu will depart after that one, leaving 7 for Annapurna.  Come Mustang - it will be just Elli & I.

October 4th - another change.  Lesley will not be able to join us so we're at 9, 6 and 2 for the three segments.

I will be travelling on the same flight as Allan, Deanna and Chuck.  Our route is via Vancouver and Hong Kong, and then into Kathmandu.  We're taking about a 24 hour break in Hong Kong en route.

The monsoon season is supposed to be over around the end of September but judging by the Kathmandu forecast it is lingering a bit this year.  Might not be a bad thing to be delayed a few days.  Hopefully it will be a bit drier in mountains.  Time will tell.......

Due to lack of technology along the route I won't actually be writing the blog until I'm back.  So..... more to come later.............

Well - it is now four years later before I have managed to get back to writing this blog.  The pandemic of 2020 has freed up a bit of extra time for me.  So, I figured I might as well put my 2012 trip in here as well.  That's where I'll start.