ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP, DAY 6

Morning sunshine at the Himalayas!

Locals rebuilding the bridge destroyed by the avalance last night

DAY 6
Weather: Damp. Wet.

Because of the setback we had with the avalanche, today we had to make up for the delayed trek. What this basically translated to was the longest hike I’ve done yet, leaving the guest house in Deurali at 7.30 am and reaching the next guest house at 7.20 pm. I had the chance to witness the villagers build a new bridge to replace the destroyed one, and the Nepalis really are a bunch of resilient folks. A new bridge was constructed in almost two hours, and we were able to continue our journey back.

I walked mostly with two other male friends, and they were positive and upbeat so this kept me motivated. Despite the fact that my nose was blocked from flu, I smelled like garbage because I hadn’t showered in days, and my shoes were damp. Sunset hit us around 6 pm, and towards the end the trek was pretty tough. We climbed up with headlights, and it was very misty so the visibility was only around 7 meters ahead.

In the dark, it was quite a strange, spiritual, surreal moment, walking in the Himalayan range in the stark, misty darkness with no one around and only the headlights to show the way. Sometimes I find it a challenge to be in the moment, my mind always quick to wander to other places and other things. Not tonight though.

To be completely honest, I decided to join this Annapurna Base Camp on a whim a few months prior. I guess I was driven with the whole idea of wanting to live this year absolutely spontaneously. I trained hard before coming here, and I’m glad I did. My energy levels were right, and I experienced minimal muscle or joint pains throughout the whole expedition. This allowed me to just really enjoy my hike and the views, without spending too much time wallowing in exhaustion.

I am so happy to be here.

I underestimated: The importance of dry socks. The make or ruin your hiking experience

I overestimated: Nothing. It was an exhausting day, but I got what I expected

Tips: Train. Seriously. Especially if you’re not naturally athletic. The effects show in your energy level, hiking pace, and joint/muscle endurance (which translates to the enjoyment of the whole experience). I trained almost everyday, focusing on running, yoga and kickboxing to build stamina and condition muscles.

Raging rivers in the rainy season

My biggest nightmare - a very long hanging bridge

I love walking in this weather.