Bob and Chris' Magnificent Nepal Adventure - Nov. 2000

Wednesday night, from NYC JFK, we flew Singapore Airlines to Singapore via Frankfort, Germany (about 21 hours, two sunrises). After a three hour layover, we somewhat backtrack to Kathmandu (4 hours, 45 min), arriving late Friday morning. Our first sight of the Himamlayas was about 30 min. before landing. The hotel association desk at the airport helps us pick a hotel, $10 a night. (Turns out we picked a good one). The hotel owner points us to a trekking agency where we go to discuss hiring a porter, or not. We hold off, but change our minds and go back, then later that evening meet Shankar, who will be our porter-guide for our 14 day trek.

We took about 700 photographs in three weeks, of which you see about 40 here. Most of the panoramas were taken with a Horizon 202 swing-lens camera giving a 120 degree wide field. Some of those were stitched digitally making taller or wider panoramas using Panorama Factory 1.6 http://www.panoramafactory.com

All images copyright Bob Berch and Christine DeGolyer. If you want to use any of these images, please ask.

Day 2

We hired a car for the day (comes with driver, you don't dare drive in Kathmandu), and visited 4 of the biggest holy shrines in or close to the city.

Bodhnath, largest stupa in Nepal

Pashupatinath, largest Hindu temple in Nepal.
Smoke on L from creamations on the Bagmati River

Patan Durbar (palace) Square

Swayambhunath (monkey temple)

Kathmandu panorama from Swayambhunath

Day 3

Bus ride to Pokara - 125 miles in 6 1/2 hours

Lake Phewa in Pokara

Day 4 - Trek Day 1

Naya Pul to Tikhedhunga: an easy 1st day - 4 hours hiking and 500m ascent

Shankar, our porter and guide,
the 1st of many donkeys,
and the 1st of many suspension bridges

headed upsteam

Trek Day 2

Tikedhunga to Ghorapani: a big day - 1300m ascent up 1000's of stone steps

1st view of Annapurna South

Rhododendron forest

the pass at Ghorapani

Trek Day 3

4:30am climb Poon Hill for sunrise then Ghorapani to Tatopani, total 1800m descent.
Our most strenuous day - muscles were sore for days.

Poon Hill predawn

Annapurna and Machhapuchre
(fishtail on R.)

Dhaulagiri to the north

descending through terraces

after 6 hours, finally
crossing the Kali Gandaki
which we follow most
the rest of the trek

Tatopani's hot springs

Trek Day 4

Tatopani to Ghasa - as we head upstream the river valley becomes a gorge

lunch at Rupse Chhahara

looking upstream the Kali Gandaki
2 stiched panoramas

Trek Day 5

Ghasa to Tukuche - we trek past Dhauligiri and the river starts to widen

Dhaulagiri, 6th highest mountain in the world,
3 miles above us

porter's rest

the trail ahead to Dhaulagiri and the trail behind from Annapurna

lunch in Kalopani

the kitchen at Lahmi Lodge, Tukuche

Trek Day 6

Tukuche to Kagbeni - as we head north the vegetation disappears

Buddhist monastary in Marpha

getting desolate between Marpha and Jomsom

end of trail north, looking in Mustang forbidden territory

Trek Day 7

Kagbeni to Muktinath and back to Kagbeni - a 1000m ascent then 1000m descent

First plateau above Kagbeni

Muktinath ahead

The primary Hindu temple at Muktinath and
close to our high point, 3800m (12,500 ft)

We now head south re-tracing our steps for the next 4 days.

Trek Day 8

Kagbeni to Marpha

Main St., Marpha

Trek Day 9

Marpha to Ghasa

a sheep jam

Trek Day 10

Ghasa to Tatopani

no photo

Trek Day 11

Tatopani to Ghorapani

final steps to Ghorapani

Trek Day 12

Ghorapani to Tadapani
here we start a different way back

climbing above Ghorapani
(little blue buildings)

Trek Day 13

Tadapani to Ghandruk

sunrise at Tadopani on Annapurna and Machhapuchare

Trek Day 14

Ghandruk to Naya Pul - last trekking day

bridge and checkpost at Birethanti
we were here 13 days ago

Day 18

Hiking around Pokara

Viswa Shanti Stupa
(World Peace Stupa)

city view from the Stupa

Day 19

Bus back to Kathmandu, then a nearby walking tour

Asan Tole, Kathmandu

Day 20

Up at 4:30am to drive to Nagarkot for the sunrise, then explore the city of Bhaktapur the rest of the day

the Golden Gate to the old Royal Palace

Taumadhi Tole in Bhaktapur

Day 21

around Kathmandu

local fauna

Day 22

At airport 10am, fly home.

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