Doing a long trek in Nepal was one of the most certain items in my TO-DO list. Having read and discussed the different options (btw thanks Kimmo for you wise advice), I decided to go for the Annapurna Circuit (a.k.a. Around the Annapurnas).
Although the circuit around the Annapurnas is -since it opened in the 70s- one of the most popular treks in Nepal, all the guides I've read or talked to splicity mentioned that one should never trek alone. For that reason I spent a few days in Pokhara hoping to run into someone wanting to do the same trek on the same dates. I hung a few flyers around the city but did not get any response for what I decided to go straight to the hottest spot of trekkers in town: the ACAP point.
ACAP stands for Annapurna Conservation Area Project, an organisation that manages aspects such as tourism and conservation of this northern area of Nepal. Soon I realised that I could have saved time and ink if I had gone there in the first place. I believe it took me around 2 minutes to meet Bodo and Benny (20 & 19), two Germans currently volunteering in Delhi as a part of the 1-year long compulsory civil service that German nationals have to 'donate' to their state. They had arrived to Pokhara earlier that morning after a troublesome overnight bus ride from the Indian border (some revels had smashed the windows of their bus [...]) and were eager to start the trek that very same day.
After a brief talk I convinced them to take off the next morning. That evening we spent a few hundred rupees in three bus tickets to Kudhi and a few other items that might turn out useful during the trek such as gloves, iodine tablets, maps, a knife and some fake North Face cloths.
Geared up the only thing left was having a last carnivore supper and some sleep to top up our system batteries.
After a brief talk I convinced them to take off the next morning. That evening we spent a few hundred rupees in three bus tickets to Kudhi and a few other items that might turn out useful during the trek such as gloves, iodine tablets, maps, a knife and some fake North Face cloths.
Geared up the only thing left was having a last carnivore supper and some sleep to top up our system batteries.
Completar un trek (recorrido de senderismo) en Nepal era una de esas cosas que tenia marcadas en mi lista de cosas que hacer antes de morirme. Tras sopesar las distintas opciones me decante por el Circuito de los Annapurnas.
Este circuito se abrio en los 70 y desde entonces son muchos los montañeros que lo completan cada año (uno 9000 para ser mas exactos). Una de las normas basicas es no echarse a la montaña solo, por ello durante algunos dias recorri Pokhara en busca de compañeros de aventuras. Asi es como conoci a Bodo y Benny, dos alemanes de 20 y 19 años que se encuentran realizando prestacion social en la India (como alternativa a la mili). Tras charlar un rato decidimos partir la mañana siguiente, sin guia ni poteadores pero con algo de equipacion (tabletas potablizadoras, mapas y ropa de abrigo) y las pilas bien cargadas tras una cena carnivora y unas horas de sueño.
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