October 16, 2012

IMG guide Justin Merle reports that the team reached Manang, the main village on the north side of the Annapurna range.  The elevation here is about 11,500 feet (so this is about the same as Namche Bazar in the Everest area).  Like Namche, Manang is also a historic trading village where goods (like hides) coming from the south were traded for salt coming from the north.  Now the terrain starts to look more like Tibet, with fewer trees and drier vistas.

The team has spectacular views with Annapurna 2,3,4, and Gangapurna on one side and the Chulu peaks rising on the other side of the valley.  Justin reports that everyone is doing well and the weather’s been stable and clear with evening clouds.  The plan is to take two nights here, and tomorrow the team will take an acclimatization hike.

Eric Simonson

October 12, 2012

IMG guide Justin Merle reports that the team reached the village of Tal (1700m; 5500ft).  This village is inhabited by Tibetans and their homes are built of stone.  Now the team are deep in the Marsyangdi Gorge, surrounded by rock walls that rise thousands of feet above, with several huge waterfalls.   The trail has been rough, but soon it will start to open out and the vegetation will begins to change over to fir trees.  So far the weather has been pretty good, with only a sprinkle this afternoon.  Everyone is healthy and doing well and they are having a good time!

Eric Simonson

October 10, 2012

First day of Annapurna Trek (photo: Eben Reckord)

IMG senior guide Justin Merle reports from Nepal that the team headed out from Kathmandu early this morning.  After traveling halfway around the world, surviving a 4:30am wake up call, early breakfast, bus loading, then several hours of driving west to Besisahar, it was great to finally hit the trail.  They start their trek by heading up the Marsyangdi Valley, inhabited by Gurung people.  Now they have reached their first camp at Ngadi, where they have great views of the south side of the Annapurna peaks. Soon, they will enter the steep Himalayan valley that take them around the east end of the massif, before emerging on the north side of the range.

Eric Simonson