West to the Annapurnas

The Annapurna Range as seen from a rift in the earth near the Fulbari Resort, Pokhara
The Annapurna Range as seen from a rift in the earth near the Fulbari Resort, Pokhara
Sun glimmering on the Annapurna iceblocks ~ no trek in the region is complete without a post-trek layover in the resort town of Pokhara
Sun glimmering on the Annapurna iceblocks ~ no trek in the region is complete without a post-trek layover in the resort town of Pokhara
The first few days of the Annapurna Circuit follow the gorge of the Marsyangdi Valley ~ Jerry and his then girlfriend, Mary Ellen
The first few days of the Annapurna Circuit follow the gorge of the Marsyangdi Valley ~ Jerry and his then girlfriend, Mary Ellen
The village of Pisang and it's 4,000 ft high slab of ramped rock behind, covered in snow
The village of Pisang and it's 4,000 ft high slab of ramped rock behind, covered in snow
Inside a rather garish, but not unusually so, monastery along the trail
Inside a rather garish, but not unusually so, monastery along the trail
A series of switchbacks on the trail to Ghyaru keeps the hill from becoming too steep
A series of switchbacks on the trail to Ghyaru keeps the hill from becoming too steep
Mary Ellen & Jerry standing on a rooftop in Ghyaru with what's believed to be Annapurna IV in the background
Mary Ellen & Jerry standing on a rooftop in Ghyaru with what's believed to be Annapurna IV in the background
Ghyaru
Ghyaru
Mary Ellen with the kids of Ghyaru and a wall of Annapurna ice in the background
Mary Ellen with the kids of Ghyaru and a wall of Annapurna ice in the background
When you live at 12,000 ft, you can never have enough firewood ~ notice the "ladders" hewn out of logs
When you live at 12,000 ft, you can never have enough firewood ~ notice the "ladders" hewn out of logs
Think it's windy up there???
Think it's windy up there???
Somewhere in the Annapurnas . . .
Somewhere in the Annapurnas . . .
The approach to Thorung Phedi looks a bit slippery on this day . . . reasonable enough for February in the High Himalaya
The approach to Thorung Phedi looks a bit slippery on this day . . . reasonable enough for February in the High Himalaya
Jerry w/ Bzzz on right and Thorung Phedi (14,500 ft), the cold base camp used as a springboard for crossing Thorung La, the high point of the Circuit
Jerry w/ Bzzz on right and Thorung Phedi (14,500 ft), the cold base camp used as a springboard for crossing Thorung La, the high point of the Circuit
The Thorung La pass is stingy about giving up height . . . she always throws in a few downhill sections, an obvious attempt at discouraging anyone who dares to try and conquer
The Thorung La pass is stingy about giving up height . . . she always throws in a few downhill sections, an obvious attempt at discouraging anyone who dares to try and conquer
This is possibly High Camp on Thorung La; possibly not
This is possibly High Camp on Thorung La; possibly not
The beautiful, winding trail to the summit of Thorung La is steep for the first 20 or 30 minutes ~ above that, the trail is fairly reasonable most of the way, although most people are feeling the altitude at this point
The beautiful, winding trail to the summit of Thorung La is steep for the first 20 or 30 minutes ~ above that, the trail is fairly reasonable most of the way, although most people are feeling the altitude at this point
Bzzz, Mary Ellen, and Jerry at the top of Thorung La . . . 17,800 ft . . . ascending the pass in reverse, from the west is generally thought to be foolhardy, because it's a steep vertical mile or more from the last village of Muktinath to the summit
Bzzz, Mary Ellen, and Jerry at the top of Thorung La . . . 17,800 ft . . . ascending the pass in reverse, from the west is generally thought to be foolhardy, because it's a steep vertical mile or more from the last village of Muktinath to the summit
There are plenty of sheep and goats in the Kali Gandaki Valley
There are plenty of sheep and goats in the Kali Gandaki Valley
Yes, babies do enjoy trekking as long as you don't make them walk ~ Mary Ellen & Jerry, along w/ the Bonetti and Gibson clans
Yes, babies do enjoy trekking as long as you don't make them walk ~ Mary Ellen & Jerry, along w/ the Bonetti and Gibson clans
Jerry and his buddy Giacomo
Jerry and his buddy Giacomo
The Kali Gandaki Valley is very windy and dry most of the year
The Kali Gandaki Valley is very windy and dry most of the year
Taking a side trip to Marpha to sample some apple brandy was easier and faster on these lightweight ponies . The Kali Gandaki Valley is considered by many to be the deepest valley in the world . . . the monster massifs, Annapurna I and Daulaghiri, tower 3.5 vertical miles above the the valley floor.
Taking a side trip to Marpha to sample some apple brandy was easier and faster on these lightweight ponies . The Kali Gandaki Valley is considered by many to be the deepest valley in the world . . . the monster massifs, Annapurna I and Daulaghiri, tower 3.5 vertical miles above the the valley floor.
The trail leading into the village of Jomosom with Dhaulagiri lurking behind ~ Jomosom boasts an airport and luxury hotel
The trail leading into the village of Jomosom with Dhaulagiri lurking behind ~ Jomosom boasts an airport and luxury hotel
Despite the short stature of many Nepalis, volleyball is a very popular sport . . . and, they can spike quite well
Despite the short stature of many Nepalis, volleyball is a very popular sport . . . and, they can spike quite well
The little guy on the left apparently takes UV protection quite seriously
The little guy on the left apparently takes UV protection quite seriously
The famous 22,943 ft peak of Machhapuchare, or Mt. Fishtail, is sacred to the people of Nepal and forbidden to be climbed ~ from this angle, the fishtail appears to be a simple and beautiful pyramid . . . however, when viewed from the east or west, the mountain has two prominent peaks connect by a high saddle
The famous 22,943 ft peak of Machhapuchare, or Mt. Fishtail, is sacred to the people of Nepal and forbidden to be climbed ~ from this angle, the fishtail appears to be a simple and beautiful pyramid . . . however, when viewed from the east or west, the mountain has two prominent peaks connect by a high saddle
Think the Himalayas aren't steep? The Annapurnas dominate the Pokhara Valley, astoundingly rising up more than four miles in a span of 22 miles
Think the Himalayas aren't steep? The Annapurnas dominate the Pokhara Valley, astoundingly rising up more than four miles in a span of 22 miles