Day 6 - May 3, 2013 Swante to Khopra
Normally I would say this four hour hike is a short day. But uphill all the way! Lots of rest stops. This has been an amazing trail. Unspoiled. No litter. Very little sign of mankind. All the trails we have been on have only be open three years.
Milk tea and biscuits at a new center called either Valley View or Rockland. Amrit says it wasn't here last year. Saw lots of rhododendron in the distance, but as we walked we saw many had already fallen.
Our U.S. group was full of respect for the abilities of our leader, Amrit. We learn he participates in the training of Ice Fall Doctors who fix ladders and lines up Mt. Everest. He told of one of the sherpas fell into a crevice and died several weeks ago, on April 7.
Normally I would say this four hour hike is a short day. But uphill all the way! Lots of rest stops. This has been an amazing trail. Unspoiled. No litter. Very little sign of mankind. All the trails we have been on have only be open three years.
Milk tea and biscuits at a new center called either Valley View or Rockland. Amrit says it wasn't here last year. Saw lots of rhododendron in the distance, but as we walked we saw many had already fallen.
Our U.S. group was full of respect for the abilities of our leader, Amrit. We learn he participates in the training of Ice Fall Doctors who fix ladders and lines up Mt. Everest. He told of one of the sherpas fell into a crevice and died several weeks ago, on April 7.
In parts the path skirts the cliffs. Standing on a narrow ledge Donna says, "Are we there yet?" Sickness has come full circle and now she is on death's door. At least that's how she felt after confined to bed. After a day or so she's as good as new. We are lucky to have Dr. Del to tend to us night and day. (Photo: Amrit Ale/Himalayan Quests)
The only level spot around. From left to right: sleeping quarters - the round dining hall - cook shack.
Del takes in the views. Amrit, Tim and Sukey headed toward Khayer Lake and walked for two hours before turning back. (Khayer Lake is a 12-hour round trip from here.) They saw a beautiful lake below Annapurna south. "It was the highlight of my trip," Sukey said.
I know this photo is blurry and I'm using it anyway. Our chef's helper is chopping yak meat. It is against the beliefs for Nepali Hindus to eat meat. However, if a yak meets a natural death, such as falling off a cliff the villagers are allowed in good conscious to eat the meat. (We learn that the Brahmin caste is strictly vegetarian and never eat meat.) We were told this was our lucky day. By chance, a yak fell to its death this morning. Villagers found the animal when turkey vultures/griffons circled overhead.
This yak came very close to losing its life, as the cliffs are steep. We learn about the annual Tibetan festival where a yak is bled by a professional bleeder by piercing the jugular vein. Blood is collected in cups. Those who drink the yak blood are mostly suffering chronic disease and have given up hopes of modern medicine.