Reblogged from Meghan J. Ward – outdoor, travel and adventure writer: At last, some photos of Nepal from my trip back in the fall of 2011. I wrote throughout the journey on my blog, The Campsite, and you can view all of those blogs here. I am also currently working on a feature story about [...]
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Tag Archives: Nepal
Video: 360° at Annapurna Base Camp
February 15, 2012
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Snow-capped peaks meet a deep blue sky in this 360° panorama I took at Annapurna Base Camp in the Annapurna Sanctuary in Nepal. Nothing fancy, just an awe-inspiring view of this 8,091-metre beast! Annapurna, the first peak you see in the video, is the tenth highest peak in the world. According to Wikipedia, the Annapurna Range is also home to thirteen additional peaks over 7,000 feet and sixteen more 6,000-ers.
Read more A Lesson in Trust
December 14, 2011
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There is something about travel I like to call the “mosh pit effect.”
When your possessions are reduced to what you can carry on your back, daily life is greatly reduced to a quest to fulfill your basic needs: putting food in the belly, laying your head down at night, staying warm and finding your way from A to B. And while we play a big part in fulfilling our own needs, I believe there is another force at play, which is where this “mosh pit effect” comes in.
Read more Mother Goddess of the World
December 2, 2011
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My own journey to the base of the mountain was an unexpected pilgrimage. I know that tens of thousands of trekkers venture into Sagarmatha National Park each year. But, still, my childhood intrigue and adult fascination with the mountain drew me into an introspective state I had not yet encountered on my travels in Nepal. My first views of the mountain from a hill above Namche Bazaar brought about a sense of excitement.
Read more Annapurna Sanctuary: Among the Giants (Part 3)
November 13, 2011
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Thankfully, nine days of rain clouds finally gave way to impeccable blue skies and sunshine just as the trail through the jungle gave way to the alpine and spectacular views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhare. One fine evening I ventured off on my own to take in the surroundings. Planting myself on some rocks amongst cairns and memorials to climbers, I left some distance from the noise and commotion of other trekkers and watched as the peaks basked in the last light of the day.
Read more Annapurna Sanctuary: The Traps of Tourism (Part 2)
November 12, 2011
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In the Rockies we like to say, “if you don’t like the weather wait a minute.” Writing here from the village of Himalaya, just a few hours from the Annapurna Base Camp, it’s more applicable to say, “wait nine days.” For over a week we have been trapped in a cloud that never ceases to run out of rain. Our only window of light was on Poon Hill, which was also the last time we saw any mountains. So now here we find ourselves just a few hours of hiking from the Annapurna Sanctuary and the only mountains we’ve seen are the ones on the posters indicating the route along the way.
Read more Annapurna Sanctuary: A Few Mishaps (Part 1)
November 2, 2011
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We ran out of money.
Unfortunately, what this meant for us is a momentary interruption to our trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). An interruption that involved hiking down 900 metres and ten kilometres out to Birethanti, followed by an hour and a half taxi ride to Pokhara, where we can access an ATM. These more remote villages offered some money exchange but we were out of US and Canadian bills as well. So, despite all of our planning and travel savvy as a group, we still managed to find ourselves totally broke in the middle of nowhere. No matter, we are enjoying the options for food here (Butter Chicken, anyone?) and the access to internet. We’ll start back on the ABC trek tomorrow.
Prior to starting off on the ABC trek from Tatopani, we gained some eye-opening perspective about the “real” dangers of Nepal.
Read more Hiking the Himalaya: Dhaulagiri Circuit
October 29, 2011
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I’ve never been above 4,000 metres before
The only time I was up that high was on Mt. Rainier, just before I turned back due to extremely cold temperatures and gusty winds. So, taking a look at the map of the Dhaulagiri Circuit prior to our embarking on our unsupported trek around the world’s 6th highest peak (except for a porter on Day 1 to help us carry some of our gear up 1500 metres), brought up a bit of unease about the elevations we’d encounter. As it turns out, our group did surprisingly well, even up to 5760 metres at French Pass, our highest point.
Read more Upper Mustang: On the Verge of Change
October 19, 2011
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Mustang, established in the 14th century, is known as one of the last remaining strongholds of Tibetan culture. Herds of goats pass trekkers on the trail while young monks practise their mantras within the gated walls of elaborately decorated monasteries. But, a trek through Upper Mustang also tells a different kind of story. One that threatens to compromise the traditions of this ancient way of life, whether people of this region want it or not.
Read more Kathman-Rum-Doodle: First Stops in Nepal
October 7, 2011
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Namaste from Kathmandu, Nepal, where the pigeons are cooing, birds are chirping, cars are honking and the sun is setting beautifully on the surrounding foothills.
Today was a busy day of sightseeing, errands and last minute shopping in the Thamel region looking for some used ice axes and fuel for our camp stoves. But the morning granted us the chance to watch the city come alive with a nice walk (and by nice I mean interesting considering the amount of times we dodged towards the sides of the street to avoid being hit by passing cars, rickshaws, motorcycles and vans that are far too large for these ancient streets). Our first explorations took us to Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site, to take in the sights and smells of a bustling market where women in colourful sarees add spectacular juxtaposition to a cow proudly mooing in the centre square.
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Our Favourite Non-Fiction Outdoor Adventure Books
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I Can See Clearly Now
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The Dog Days of Summer: Preparing Your Pup For The Great Outdoors
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Mt. Everest is Completely Irrelevant: A Response
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Waterproof Outdoor Sneakers from Forsake
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Stoke the Fire 1.5
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5 Outdoor Blogs Worth Following
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Stoke the Fire 1.4
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She Said/She Said: Two Women’s Perspectives on Outdoor Adventure
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Stoke the Fire 1.0
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Christine Peets: I'd add "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson, whic...
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Meghan J. Ward: Tammy, my journey to Base Camp and up Kala Pattar ...
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tammyburns09: Very interesting commentary, Meghan. Thanks for sh...
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