Sierra Club Outings | Annapurna Sanctuary Lodge Trek, Nepal

Annapurna Sanctuary Lodge Trek, Nepal
October 14-November 4, 2009

Highlights:

Trek for 16 days in the shadow of the Annapurnas
Sightsee with a guide in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Soak in a natural hot spring

Includes:

Lodge trek with guide, sherpa and porters; Transfer to and from trailhead; sightseeing in Kathmandu and Pokhara with vehicle and guide
Double occupancy in hotels and lodges; all meals, entry fees
All airport transfers; airfare for internal flight: Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu

The Himalaya are the highest and youngest mountain range on earth. We will walk through rice-growing lowlands, subtropical forests, hills dotted with wild flowers and rocky plateaus to enter the Annapurna Sanctuary, a majestic amphitheater crowned with peaks more than 23,000 feet high, offering dramatic, close-up views of some of the most beautiful and famous summits in the world. Trekkers enjoy an experience similar to world class climbers except that we stop at the foot of the peaks. This classic trek has been lengthened by several days so that we can hike shorter distances and have more time at the lodges to acclimatize and enjoy the local sights.

Nepal is a country of colorful bazaars, fragrant aromas, ancient temples, inspiring natural beauty and industrious people. The contagious warmth of the Nepalese people draws visitors to them. “Namaste”, (the customary greeting which translates as “I acknowledge the god within you”) will become part of your vocabulary for life. In step with world changes, in 1990 Nepal converted from a feudal kingdom to a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. Although the transition has not been smooth, with continuing political problems since 1996, recent peace agreements have been greeted with both hope and optimism by the Nepalese. The Kathmandu valley is a microcosm of the entire country. Its three major cities (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhakatupur) are a melting pot of numerous tribal, ethnic and religious groups who have learned to live in harmony.

The Sierra Club has run many trips in Nepal over the past 20 years. We have concentrated on giving trip members a memorable experience and providing conservation information about Nepal and the Himalaya. Upon their return home, many trip members have become involved in third-world conservation efforts. Many find Nepal so fascinating that they make a return trip within a few years.

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free. Welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 2: Sightseeing includes: 5th century Buddhist temple of Swayambunath (also known as the Monkey Temple with its 365 steps). Patan Museum and Durbar (palace) square.

Day 3: Start the trek. Fly to Pokhara and transfer to starting point at Nya Pul (3,500 feet) Follow the Modi Khola river valley, walking through terraced rice paddies to Syauli (3,300 feet).

Day 4: Ascend “Gurung staircases” and trek through fields of wheat and millet to Ghandruk.(6400 feet). Visit Gurung Museum.

Day 5: Trek through terrace fields to Kimrong Danda (7,425 feet). Descend through forest to Chomrong (6900 feet).

Day 6: Rest day

Day 7: Descend on a famous Gurung staircase to Chimrong Khola and ascend through mixed forest to Sinuwa (7677 feet) and descend to Bamboo (7,625 feet).

Day 8: Ascend steadily through forest in Modi Khola gorge to the village of Himalaya (9,375 feet)

Day 9: Rocky trail to Hinko Cave to Deorali (10,360 feet).

Day 10: Less steep trail is above tree line. Spend the afternoon enjoying views of Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Annapurna III, Gangapurna and Machhapuchare or climbing up to the moraine of the Annapurna glacier from Machhapuchare Base Camp (12200 feet).

Day 11: Arrive at Annapurna Base Camp (13,625 feet) into a mountain panorama. Depending on weather conditions and our form we will stay overnight or return to Machhapuchaere Base Camp.

Day 12: Descend to Deorali (10,360 feet).

Day 13: Descend to Dovan (8,330 feet).

Day 14: Descend to Chomrong (6,900 feet).

Day 15: Rest day with optional trip to Jhinu hot springs.

Day 16: Trek to Landruk (5,350 feet).

Day 17: Trek to Dhampus (5,600 feet) descending through lush forests.

Day 18: Trek to road at Phedi (3,700 feet) through agricultural fields and a forest where we might see langurs. Transfer to Pokhara by vehicle. Lunch and tour at the International Mountain Museum.

Day 19: Explore Pokhara and visit Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP),

Day 20: Morning flight to Kathmandu. Free afternoon to explore the Thamel district or relax on the rooftop terrace of our hotel.

Day 21: Visit Bodhanath –the Stupa of a Million dewdrops—to see monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in the world. Visit Pasupati, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. We will probably witness a Hindu cremation along the banks of the Bagmati River. Then drive to Bhaktapur, the City of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square. Bhaktapur is a medieval city in the Kathmandu valley and is the least disturbed by modern life.
Farewell dinner at a Nepali restaurant with a cultural program.

Day 22: Transfer to Tribhuvan airport for departure.

We will stay in comfortable hotels and guest lodges. The latter provides wood frame beds with a covered foam mattress and pillow. You must provide your own sleeping bag rated to 0-20 degrees. An itemized equipment list will be given to trip members.

We will eat at guest lodges along the way. The menus offered at lodges tend to be similar. They include five or more types of soups, rice, vegetables, egg dishes, chicken and/or meat dishes. An assortment of juices, soft drinks and teas/coffee are available. Boiled water is always available. I will furnish each trip member with Micropur tablets for treating water.

Toilets are often of the very basic outhouse variety. Some lodges have “night toilets” that are open only during the night so you will not have to go outside.

Keep in mind that you are undertaking travel in a third world country and trekking far from the support services you take for granted at home. It may take time for emergency help to reach us. We must be prepared to rely on our own and local resources for any problems that may arise. You are strongly advised to buy trip insurance. The leader is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

One of our guides will arrange our accommodations for the night. We will be using Sherpa guides with whom the leader has previously trekked. We have one guide in front and one in the rear.

We will not ask for hot water for washing as this wastes too much fuel. Some lodges may have solar showers and you may buy a shower. We will observe the conservation code adopted by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project ( ACAP). The code calls for the following:

1. Conserve firewood. Stay at lodges that use kerosene or fuel-efficient wood stoves.

2. Respect villagers and their traditions. When taking photographs ask permission and respect people’s privacy. Try to learn Nepalese customs; be friendly, patient, and remember you are a guest.

3. Stop pollution. Don’t litter the environment. Use toilet facilities—if they do not exist make sure you are at least 100 yards from water sources.

4, Encourage Nepali pride. Help dispel the myth that western societies are affluent and without problems. Do not give any thing to children-- no gum, pens, candy etc. It encourages them to beg and does more harm than good. While trekking, ponder your impact on the environment and culture. Teach people by your example the importance of respecting nature and how to conserve it. By assisting in these small ways you will help Nepal enormously.

You should be in good physical shape for this trip and be comfortable hiking 3-6 hours a day on a trail while carrying a 10 pound day pack. In general, this is a moderate trek but with several demanding days that may feel strenuous to those not accustomed to climbing steep hills at elevations over 10,000 feet. While the trip has been designed to gradually acclimatize you to the altitude, we will be staying several nights at 10,000- -12,000 feet. On several days altitude gains and losses of up to 2,000-3,000 feet can be expected. There are 2 rest days on the trek; these may be used to adjust to the pace of the group or for weather or other contingencies.

Good conditioning is essential. A program of cardiovascular conditioning such as jogging, swimming, biking (or any other aerobic activity) is critical. Supplement your program with hiking on steep hills and/or up and down steps. The more you condition yourself by closely simulating the activities of trekking, the better off you will be.

Remember that Nepal is at the same latitude as Miami. Daytime temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s at the lower elevations and in the 40s and 50s at our highest elevations. Temperatures at night will be cool, ranging from the 40s to 50s except at the higher elevations where below freezing temperatures may occur at night, although the temperature climbs rapidly once the sun comes up. The weather is generally sunny with the day often starting out cloudless. During the afternoon clouds can build up. This is the dry season but in the mountains we are always prepared for rain and snow.

You are encouraged to hike at your own pace so long as you stay between the front and rear guide. Take time to interact with local people, to take photos etc. Get to know the staff while hiking and in the lodges. There will opportunities to sing and dance together, to learn Nepali words and to teach English. This is truly one of those experiences of a lifetime. You will never forget the friendly and hospitable Nepali people, their culture, your fellow trekkers’ companionship, and the splendid mountain expanse.

Your personal gear will be carried by porters and should be packed in a duffel bag, not a suitcase or backpack. The porters will carry two duffel bags. Your duffel cannot exceed 30 pounds.

On Sierra Club outings, participants furnish their own personal equipment including sleeping bag, boots, duffel bag, a basic first aid kit, toiletries and snacks. The Sierra Club furnishes a group first aid kit (no prescription medications included), Gamow bag and water treatment tablets. The trip leader will supply a specific and detailed equipment list that is unique to this outing in further correspondence with signed -up trip members. Any questions about the suitability of personal equipment should be addressed to the leader.

It is recommended that you acquaint yourself with the history, religions and culture of Nepal.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was set up to work with people who live in the area. It has provided a new concept in protected areas management. It blends traditional subsistence activities woven into a framework of sound resource management, supplemented by small scale conservation and alternative energy practices to minimize the impact of tourists and upgrade the local standard of living.

ACAP has a grass roots philosophy and involves local people in all aspects of the conservation and development process by empowering them with appropriate skills, knowledge and technical and financial assistance. Some of ACAP’S activities include: forest conservation, alternative energy, conservation education, tourist awareness programs, community development projects, community health and sanitation, research and training.

Nepal suffers from the same ecological problems common to most of the third world: expanding population, deforestation, erosion, pollution, lack of clean drinking water. A half century of rapid population growth has led to the clearing of land to grow more food and to the destruction of thick tropical forests for fuel.

We will observe first hand the positive and negative influence of western culture on a traditional society. We will be confronted with troubling dilemmas arising from our very presence: we will provide an important source of income but disproportionately impact their resources and lifestyle. We will see how luxurious our own lifestyle is compared to the overwhelming majority of the world’s people. Some of us will question many of our western ways, particularly our inequitable consumption of the world’s resources.

Perhaps these experiences will make us better world citizens and involve us actively in the search for a balanced and sustainable way of life for all of us on this planet. The Nepalese have much to learn from our successes and mistakes; we have much to learn from their spirit and positive attitude. Those of us perceptive and wise enough to open our hearts and minds will come away with a new awareness of the world in which we live and the way we live in it.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers, may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

The first time Kate Froman saw a mountain (Tuolumne Meadows,1961), she was hooked. Kate went on 14 Sierra Club backpacking trips before becoming a leader (including one in 1976 where she met her husband). She led 12 trips in the Sierra and then moved on to international walking trips in England and Wales. She has led trekking trips in Bhutan and Tibet as well as Nepal. She loves the vitality of the Nepalese culture, friendliness of the people and the serenity and grandeur of the mountains. When at home she she makes quilts and silk accessories, tears up the garden and raises orphaned possums and raccoons until they can be released. Kate is certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. Email: katefroman@juno.com