Trekking in Nepal

Nepal trek: tea houses

On our trek we stopped at many tea houses, some were on the edge of a steep drop off or on a ridge looking off at valleys and mountains. With all these tea houses we could only stop at a few. We started in a small village on the side of the road. We didn't stay long. The next camp we passed through was Australia camp and there we passed through and on into the unknown…. For us at least, not the guide, he knew…. After the next camp we stopped for peanut butter toast and tea. Our guide said we would try to reach lovely hill and after a few more hours of hiking. We came to a stop for a late lunch at lovely hill. Upon arrival there were 3 surprises. While we were staying, there was a cat and there was a wood Stove!!!! We would later learn that this was the last time we would  have a heater that worked, that was because there were no more wood fires allowed above love hill.

After a very long and dismal 5 hours(for me at least) because not eating left me feeling under fulfilled and weak, this would last until lunch tomorrow. The camp we stayed at was called low camp and to keep warm we snuggled under blankets and drank tea. The next morning we woke up to a marvelous view of Machapuchare and that one view of  Machapuchare  gave me mountain fever. I simply had to get closer. Once we got to middle camp we saw middle middle camp, higher middle middle camp and highest middle camp all spread out over 500 meters. We reached high camp and snuggled up in blankets to rest and get warm.

Nepal trek: food

We ate Dal Bhat, potato curry, noodle soup, porridge, pancake’s, eggs, chapati, and Tibetan bread. All this food had to be hiked up by donkeys or people. Some people had little gardens to grow greens. Although once you got up higher it would get too cold to grow anything, so most of your food was hiked up. In high camp we were multiple times startled by a cry of a roster once we located him under a woven table, And it turns out he was dinner. So sometimes they would have to hike up live animals especially if they are small.

One saying of the Nepalese is “Dal bhat power 24 hour”. This is because Dal Bhat is very fueling and good for you. And with all that trekking we would get cold and thirsty But that was nothing a cup of lemon tea couldn't fix. We also had some hot cocoa and black tea. That tea was so good it was also very hydrating and after Day of hiking It could sure warm your hands up.   The hot chocolate  was usually powdered mix but really good.  And that concludes our journey of food.

Nepal trek: hike

On our trek we passed through many different forests and ridges. Sometimes we would be in lush rhododendron forests or in villages. Our journey started out in a village but that quickly changed into a sparse hill side forest. Though once we got up and over a ridge it turned into a forest, almost a jungle. 

There were camps that were in  clouds and mist or impossibly clear and breathtaking views. From lovely hill to middle camp we hiked in rhododendron forest. Sadly only some were in bloom but when we did see a tree in bloom it would be stunning. We saw pink, red and white. In April or March it would be a see of green, pink, red, purple, and white. After middle camp we passed tree line. Up here we were in the clouds we could see the clouds traveling up and over the ridge. On one side was grass and very steep on the other side there were forests and also very steep. The reason why one side is desolate and the other was lush, was because the clouds. They moved at visible speeds probably 40 miles an hour but it wasn’t that windy. The morning we left high camp we could watch the clouds move and form it was sooooo cool. And so from rhododendron forests to grassy cliffs was what Marty himal holds for the lucky people who traverse its trails.

Nepal trek: challenges 

One challenge I faced was the cold. It never got too bad but it did get pretty cold in the evening. On our first night we had a wood stove which was nice but in low camp, forest camp and high camp we snuggle up under blankets and that always kept us warm. Our toes however always stay cold till we use a hot water bottle to heat them up. We only ever saw snow between middle camp and high camp, and it was more of a sleet than snow. And when it did snow we huddled up under blankets to stay warm.

Another challenge I faced was that for a day I wasn't feeling 100%. This complicated though it only lasted a day but it still left me weak and it was hard to hike but thanks to 2 wonderful people Aka my mom and dad , I managed to get to low camp where we stayed the night and in the morning we decided to hike to high camp where we stayed the night and that sleep cured me so I felt at least 90%.

Nepal trek: what i learned 

I learned a lot of things. One of those things is, food is very important for sustenance and energy. What I was feeling too good because I didn't want to eat because it's made me feel bad. I can probably dive deeper in this subject but I'm only11.  Another thing I learned is that 3600 is very high. and I learned if you go straight down for 2 days it really hurts your calves. The last thing i learned is that always bring a book camping. and that Nepal is the BEST.

Nepal trek: views 

We mostly saw Machupuchare, and Annapurna south, Machupuchare Means fish tail and from high camp it really did look like fish twisted. Another fact about Machupuchare is that it has never been summited .This is because it is really steep , and if you did try to summit it it would probably end in disaster.

We also saw an avalanche on Annapurna south and glaciers both of which were beautiful but Annapurna south with stars around it is definitely the most beautiful. 

Poems of Nepal

Steaming hot springs filled with people.

Smells of sulfur and sweat.

Heating your aching body. 

Removes all the dirt.

Feeling clean and relaxed.

Local people chatting away in Nepali just there to loosen their muscles. 

Crammed in the back of the truck.

Every breath smells like sweat.

Dust stinging your eyes.

Hearing groans of pain when the truck hits a bump.

Feeling and hearing your own groans and aches. 

Sweaty and tired but happy you are feeling.

Looking up at the mountains and clouds.

Feeling relief of reaching your destination.

Seeing the silhouette of the sharp edges of the triangular roofs.

Wondering how to get up.

Smelling animals and freshly turned dirt.

Hearing birds and the village.

Excited to rest.

Ready to ease your hunger.

Feeling accomplished of reaching our destination.

Seeing where you have come from and feeling accomplished of doing that distance.