King's School Manaslu Trek - April 2011 - Part 3 - Lho to Dharmashala

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Tues, 12th April - Manaslu lit by the early morning sun Overnight rain, falling as snow on the mountains behind our campsite, brings the snow line much lower Katrina is still snug in her sleeping bag Lho - early morning campsite Waiting for breakfast with a fine view of Manaslu
Tues, 12th April - Manaslu Lho Lho Lho Lho
         
Manaslu - 8,156 metres / 26,760 feet Local horses ridden bareback through the fields is our entertainment through breakfast The campsite pony will join them after his breakfast nosebag Lho Gompa and the monastery school on the hill behind our campsite Lho Monastery school
Manaslu Lho Lho Lho Gompa Lho Monastery school
         
Lho Monastery school Looking back at our campsite from Lho Gompa. The long mani wall of the village can be seen behind the campsite between the chortons We zig zag our way up to the gompa The main building of the monastery Trainee monks playing football in the courtyard
Lho Monastery school Lho Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa
         
This young monk beats the gong to call the others to prayer At prayer Inside Lho Gompa Ceremonial gongs Decorated pillar in the gompa
Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa
         
Each box on this wall contains a different prayer Statue of Buddha Colourful ceiling detail We put our boots back on after our visit Lho Monastery - the dining room
Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa
         
Candles ready and waiting Lho Gompa Grain drying in the courtyard Lho Gompa Pack saddles for the monastery mules
Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa Lho Gompa
         
Looking back down the valley at Lho village Loading up our mules ready for the journey to our next campsite at Syala Lho to Syala - a lovely woodland trail The entrance kani to Syala Our campsite at Syala - 3,520 metres / 11,480 feet
Lho Lho Lho to Syala Syala Syala
         
These ladies are in high spirits, laughing as they go off together The fit and well waiting for the tents to arrive... ...and the poorly ones in the sick bay. Katrina is amongst them Wednesday, 13th April - Bishnu and Vimsem serve breakfast in the mess tent. It is now too cold to eat al fresco Everyone has recovered and is ready to visit a gompa on the way to our next campsite at Sama Goan
Syala Syala Syala Weds, 13th April - Syala Syala to Sama Goan
         
Unfortunately, the weather closes in on us It is time to put on all our gear It is very cold and I can't find my gloves It starts to snow Within minutes the landscape changes
Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan
         
The going gets tricky We abandon our visit to the gompa and make our way back to the main trail Syala to Sama Goan - snow covered yaks Syala to Sama Goan - snow covered yaks This yak follows us down the path
Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan
         
School on the approach to Sama Goan School at Sama Goan The entrance kani to Sama Goan The crew put up our tents as quickly as possible... ...before it starts to snow again...
Syala to Sama Goan Syala to Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan
         
...and comes down steadily Bang goes our hair washing plan Katrina has her blood oxygen level checked in the mess tent Thursday, 14th April - what a glorious morning after yesterday's whiteout We are having an acclimatisation rest day at Sama Goan - 3,530 metres / 11,580 feet
Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Thurs, 14th April - Sama Goan Sama Goan
         
Snowy mountains Manaslu The view from the campsite The helicopter arrives to fly out an Italian girl with altitude sickness What do we do on a rest day? Go for a walk, of course
Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan
         
Local lady Sama Goan Gompa Sadly, the gompa is closed Detail of the decoration above the door of the gompa We head off for Birendra Tal, a lake below Manaslu and its glacier
Sama Goan Sama Goan Gompa Sama Goan Gompa Sama Goan Gompa Sama Goan
         
Manaslu in the distance Birendra Tal - 3,450 metres / 11,320 feet The lake as it comes off the Manaslu glacier Birendra Tal Manaslu, the glacier and Birendra Tal
Manaslu Birendra Tal Birendra Tal Birendra Tal Birendra Tal
         
Birendra Tal Hugs are in order in such a beautiful place Birendra Tal Birendra Tal What a marvellous group of fellow trekkers
Birendra Tal Birendra Tal Birendra Tal Birendra Tal Group Photos at Birendra Tal
         
View of our campsite from Sama Goan Gompa Hair washing at long last. Bliss A bathroom with a fine view Time to explore Sama Goan. The kani near our campsite It is beautifully decorated inside
Sama Goan Gompa Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan
         
It is beautifully decorated inside A very fine yak - with ear rings One of the paths through Sama Goan Local children playing in the stream A typical house and yard in Sama Goan
Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan
         
A typical house and yard in Sama Goan Tashi Gukhor Stupa and Mani Wall Sama Goan Sama Goan Friday, 15th April - Manaslu at dawn
Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Sama Goan Fri, 15th April - Manaslu
         
Manaslu It is fine enough to have breakfast outside again Today's trek is from Sama Goan to Samdo Kevin and John We are still following the Buri Gandaki
Manaslu Samagoan to Samdo Sama Goan to Samdo Sama Goan to Samdo Sama Goan to Samdo
         
Samdo - the highest village in the Buri Gandaki valley - 3,860 metres / 12,660 feet Alasdair and Janet The kitchen crew settle into their corner Samdo village The people of Samdo are from the Bhotia group of Tibetan people
Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo
         
We take a walk to gain a bit of elevation Our route for tomorrow follows this valley away from the Buri Gandaki Looking down on Samdo village and our campsite Samdo village with its stone roofs Looking up the valley to the border of Tibet over the ridge
Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo
         
Walking back through Samdo A typical house and yard in Samdo Back at our tent... ...we have some visitors... ...who are very interested in us
Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo Samdo
         
Katrina shows them the photo she has taken Saturday, 16th April is a glorious, sunny morning The air is crystal clear Samdo kani These ladies have been hired by Hira to carry our bags. Mine is the middle one
Samdo Sat, 16th April - Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo Samdo Samdo
         
A very smart riding pony Samdo to Dharmashala - Himalayan marmot and yak Marmots can live at high altitude by digging very deep burrows Katrina is dwarfed by the mountains Our porters have a rest stop
Samdo Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala
         
Not quite Everest, but the mountain behind is Pang Puche Pang Puche again. At 6,335 metres / 20,780 feet it towers over Samdo A rest stop in the brilliant sunshine One of those bags is mine The horses found it hard. What about the ladies?
Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala
         
They stung Hira for their wages and had a party Our ladies take a break Moraine bank of the Larkya glacier on the way to Dharmashala Moraine bank of the Larkya glacier on the way to Dharmashala We arrive at Dharmashala - 4,450 metres / 14,600 feet - our last campsite before the pass
Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Samdo to Dharmashala Dharmashala Dharmashala
         
Marilyn and Katrina Pang Puche from Dharmashala There is not enough flat ground for all our tents so the ladies share this big one Some of us are on this side... ..and some are on the other side
Dharmashala Pang Puche Dharmashala Dharmashala Dharmashala
         
It is so cold that drinks are brought to us in our tent A cry of We Brits keep well back for safety... ...whilst the Nepali get nearer and throw stones to push it over the edge Our evening meal in Dharmashala
Dharmashala Dharmashala Dharmashala Dharmashala Dharmashala
         
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