King's School Manaslu Trek - April 2011 - Part 2 - Machha Khola to Lho

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Thursday, 7th April - we get ready to leave Machha Khola for our next campsite at Yari Dovan I have Grey Monkey today The bridge across the river is busy with mules and other traffic Machha Khola to Yari Dovan - lovely views towards the mountains This bridge is a bit precarious. Vimsem does some running repairs...
Thurs, 7th April - Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan
         
...and gives me a helping hand to cross A welcome rest stop in the shade These young girls are weaving Machha Khola to Yari Dovan - Datura Machha Khola to Yari Dovan - wildlife
Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan
         
The Buri Gandaki river is our constant companion Tatopani village - tatopani means Some of us take advantage of the hot springs to have a hair wash Tatopani is a busy thoroughfare A very fine cockerel
Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Tatopani Tatopani Tatopani Tatopani
         
Back to the Buri Gandaki again Another busy river crossing The Buri Gandaki is noisy and beautiful The power of the water has shaped these rocks Our lunch stop is at Dovan - 990 metres / 3,250 feet
Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Dovan
         
This mule has had enough - time for a rest, pack and all Today's lunch is taken at tables in the shade Fried vegetable momo, curried potatoes, coleslaw and tuna - delicious These girls are threshing grain Looking back at the village of Dovan
Dovan Dovan Dovan Dovan Dovan
         
Machha Khola to Yari Dovan - a small hamlet We take a break This little boy made us laugh by washing his hair - again and again and again The path is long and the sight of our campsite at Yari Dovan is very welcome Yari Dovan - 1,070 metres / 3,510 feet
Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Machha Khola to Yari Dovan Yari Dovan Yari Dovan
         
Karen looks down at our tents Yari Dovan - Katrina and Sandie Katrina has a wash in the river Time for afternoon tea. We look a bit tired It has been a long day, but I still have Grey Monkey under control
Yari Dovan Yari Dovan Yari Dovan Yari Dovan Yari Dovan
         
Mike, Alison and me - plus Grey Monkey Friday, 8th April - we have our breakfast before setting off for our next camp site at Philim... ...and so does this mule. Look at his lovely neat feet and his muzzle attached to his pack at the back Setting off up the valley from Yari Dovan Alasdair has Black Monkey today. Hanging Black Monkey by the neck leads to Trial by Jury in Philim
Yari Dovan Fri, 8th April - Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim
         
Jagat - 1,415 metres / 4,640 feet - Bottlebrush tree Jagat - fencing / matting / roofing panels under construction Jagat - weaving Jagat - modern communications amongst the cabbages The start of the Tibetan-style gateways to the villages
Jagat Jagat Jagat Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim
         
Water sources are always busy places in the villages we pass through Bishnu and John Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim - wild cannabis grows everywhere in this more temperate climate Yari Dovan to Philim - this is one of the longest bridges we have to cross
Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim Yari Dovan to Philim
         
Looking back towards Jagat in the distance and the long bridge over the Buri Gandaki Philim - our campsite for tonight - 1,590 metres / 5,220 feet While we wait for lunch, Julie entertains us with a head stand... ...this turns into a competition, as Steve can't resist a challenge Lunch is served. The cooks do us proud again
Yari Dovan to Philim Philim Philim Philim Philim
         
Philim Alasdair's Trial by Jury for the hanging of Black Monkey. Dr Chris gives evidence. The jury look down on the proceedings from the shelter John acts for the prosecution. What a fine figure of a legal man... ...Steve acts for the defence. Very eloquent... ...Kevin is the judge -
Philim Philim Philim Philim Philim
         
Saturday, 9th April - breakfast. Our destination today is Deng A little bit of yoga before we leave Philim to Deng - we carry on climbing up the valley We encounter a lot of livestock - goats, sheep and cattle This lady carries a sheep on her back
Sat, 9th April - Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng
         
The terrain changes as we climb. We are now in a sub-alpine climate zone Another rest stop It is Richard's turn to carry Black Monkey today. Doesn' t Black Monkey look comfy after yesterday's trauma? A glorious butterfly The Buri Gandaki is getting smaller and the valley narrower
Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng
         
This bridge is a little worrying... ...and this one is not much better. We are getting further away from civilisation Philim to Deng - orchids grow in abundance on the bank behind me They really are very fine Philim to Deng - our first sighting of a rhododendron tree
Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng Philim to Deng
         
On this eastern part of the Manaslu Circuit, the rhododendrons are all red Another typical village gateway... ...this time into Pewa where we stop for lunch - 1,760 metres / 5,770 feet Philim to Deng - snow capped mountains We arrive at Deng - 1,800 metres / 5,900 feet
Philim to Deng Pewa Pewa Philim to Deng Philim to Deng
         
Deng - our tents go up very quickly These two men are sawing planks for construction work on site. They don't stop until late and when we get up early next morning, they are back at work Sunday, 10th April - Deng - the high mountains are getting nearer at last Breakfast is taken in one of the half built structures in Deng Philim to Deng - A typical Tibetan-style house - with dog
Deng Deng Sun, 10th April - Deng to Ghap Deng Philim to Deng
         
Deng to Ghap - a fine view of the mountains ahead A Tibetan-style bridge Deng to Ghap - Himalayan traffic jam Katrina has Grey Monkey today Deng to Ghap - Mani stones. These are usually found at the the entrances to villages
Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap
         
Local ladies at Bihi Pedi Bihi Pedi - the children are fascinated by Grey Monkey Walking clockwise past a mani wall We are supposed to have lunch here, but there is no water John in contemplative mood
Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap
         
A fine example of a mani stone Deng to Ghap - a water trough made from a hollowed out tree trunk Onwards and upwards The chorten-style gateway to Ghap. This type of gateway is known as a kani The inside walls of the kani are decorated with Buddhist paintings...
Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Deng to Ghap Ghap Ghap
         
...so is the ceiling Ghap - the kani Our campsite at Ghap is a welcome sight - 2,160 metres / 7,090 feet Lunch is very late and we are rather peckish Mon, 11th April - it is still warm enough to have breakfast outside
Ghap Ghap Ghap Ghap Mon, 11th April - Ghap to Lho
         
Grey Monkey now has a new owner Ghap to Lho - we cross the Buri Gandaki yet again Our walk today is through beautiful shady woodland Ghap to Lho - deforestation is becoming a big problem in this region Ghap to Lho - the mountains beckon
Ghap Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho
         
Ghap to Lho - a beautiful plant called Piptanthus Nepalensis Piptanthus Nepalensis gives a blast of colour to the barest of places Our lunch stop is at Namrung - 2,660 metres / 8,690 feet Gerry raises her poorly knee for some lunchtime respite Hot orange juice and a trawl through the medical kit bag
Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Namrung Namrung Namrung
         
Namrung - a sign on a tree reminds us of the dangers of altitude sickness. Most of us are now taking Diamox Namrung - our lunch is interrupted by an avalanche on the mountains opposite Alasdair chats with these local ladies as we leave Namrung Another fine mani stone as we leave the village Ghap to Lho - This tree is covered in ferns
Namrung Namrung Namrung Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho
         
They grow all over the branches Ghap to Lho - this valley bottom is densely cultivated. Alpine meadows are found at this altitude Ghap to Lho - further along, this couple prepares the ground for planting Ghap to Lho - the land at this height is very bare Prayer wheels at Lihi, one of the villages we pass through
Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho
         
A chorten at Lihi A typical village scene This lady is spinning There are new buildings going up along the trail. Note the ladder on the right The entrance kani to Hinang
Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Ghap to Lho Hinang
         
It is beautifully decorated inside The difference between cultivated and uncultivated ground is dramatic Lho - Alasdair shows a local child a bird through his binoculars A very colourful chorton at Lho Lho - lessons of some sort are going on here
Hinang Ghap to Lho Lho Lho Lho
         
Kani gateway at the other end of Lho Looking back at the village of Lho Our camp site at Lho - 3,100 metres / 10,170 feet. The locals are entertained by our antics Their horse is entertained too Katrina settles into our tent
Lho Lho Lho Lho Lho
         
         
         
         
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