Annapurna Circuit

"Jane Doe" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I'm going to Nepal in a few weeks to trek the Annapurna Circuit.

It's my first time out there so looking for any tips/pointers.

I have a question amongst many.......

What is an ideal size daysack to take ?

I have just bought a Lowe Alpine Walkabout 35 ltr but now I've got it
home it looks rather big !

If it's anything like my lowe alpine rock peak 40, you'll find you won't
want to fill it to the top anyway otherwise access to the lid pockets
becomes awkward. The walkabout does lack side straps because it has
sidepockets though, and I find them a boon for adjusting pack volume on
the fly when you've just removed a bulky item like a jacket.

Have a wonderful trip.

--
tallbloke

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I'm going to Nepal in a few weeks to trek the Annapurna Circuit.

I used a 35 litre sack and my wife a 25 litre. You don't need a bag that
big but I find it a comfortable size. Mind you we were in a group and had
porters carrying our main luggage.

It's a great trek, we did it at this time of the year (end of March to
mid-April) in 2002. If you're interested you can read my trekking diary and
see pics of the trek by clicking on:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/daniel.f/index.htm

I also recommend visiting www.yetizone.com for up to date info about
trekking in that area. If I can help further e-mail me on the address shown
on my site page.
Huw

"forlorn hope" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I'm going to Nepal in a few weeks to trek the Annapurna Circuit.

I used a 35 litre sack and my wife a 25 litre. You don't need a bag that
big but I find it a comfortable size. Mind you we were in a group and had
porters carrying our main luggage.

It's a great trek, we did it at this time of the year (end of March to
mid-April) in 2002. If you're interested you can read my trekking diary
and
see pics of the trek by clicking on:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/daniel.f/index.htm

I also recommend visiting www.yetizone.com for up to date info about
trekking in that area. If I can help further e-mail me on the address
shown
on my site page.
Huw

Thanks for the link - made great reading.

We're going with Himalayan Kingdoms so it's a guided trek with full
porterage.

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

And did you really need a down jacket as I tend to get too hot at the best
of times so I was just going to wrap up in a few fleeces and my goretex
jacket over the top.

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

In Article <[email hidden]>,"Jane Doe" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

We're going with Himalayan Kingdoms so it's a guided trek with full
porterage.

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

Plenty of Imodium. I took enough for one a day and used them all!
Also, if you're staying in any lodges and want to get some sleep, earplugs.

Quoted message said:

And did you really need a down jacket as I tend to get too hot at the best
of times so I was just going to wrap up in a few fleeces and my goretex
jacket over the top.

Likely to be pretty cold at night, but you'll probably not need it during
the day, so it could go in your porters bag if your concerned about carrying
it?

Regards,
Richard G.

"Jane Doe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ? <snip>
And did you really need a down jacket <snip>

We didn't take gaiters but at our leader's insistence bought some cheap
pairs in Kathmandu. We were very glad of them as we crossed the Thorung-la
in about 10 inches of snow, and our feet remained dry.
A tip I got from the Yetizone bulletin board was to take a container of
anti-bacterial liquid soap, the sort that doesn't need water and evaporates
off your hand. I had it in a sac pocket and we used it a lot, especially
before eating or drinking. You can get it at Boots for about £5.
Even so I was very sick for a couple of days and if I was going again I
would be off to the Doctor for a dose of 'Dukoral'. This wasn't available
until in the UK until last May, but it's a new anti-cholera drug that also
protects against traveller's trots. You take a single oral dose a couple of
weeks before you go and I understand it costs about £25. We'll certainly be
taking it before we go to Ladakh in summer.
We hired down jackets in KTD because my wife really feels the cold. We wore
them in the evening from Manang to Thorong Phedi, and foolishly, to cross
the pass where they made us far too hot. If I was going again at this time
of the year I wouldn't hire them. Our friends didn't and they were fine.
When we went in 2002 the Maoists only controlled the area around Muktinath
and when we bumped into a group they were friendly. I understand that they
now control the whole of the Annapurna Circuit and you will definitely meet
them and have to pay their 'tax' which is presently 10000 Roupees.
According to the Yetizone BB they are polite but insistent that you pay up,
then you are left alone. Everyone says that they are no problem.
Good luck and have a great trek.
Huw

Quoted message said:

them and have to pay their 'tax' which is presently 10000 Roupees.

..... that should read 1000 roupees, about £10.

Quoted message said:

Plenty of Imodium. I took enough for one a day and used them all!
Also, if you're staying in any lodges and want to get some sleep,

earplugs.

No - norfloxacin is what you probably need. You can buy it in chemists in
Nepal. Imodium is bad stuff especially taken over long periods of time.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And did you really need a down jacket as I tend to get too hot at the

best

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of times so I was just going to wrap up in a few fleeces and my goretex
jacket over the top.

Likely to be pretty cold at night, but you'll probably not need it during
the day, so it could go in your porters bag if your concerned about

carrying

Quoted message said:

it?

You'll definitely be glad of it at nights when you get higher up, and you
may be glad of it on the day you cross the pass.

Adrian

Jane Doe said:

We're going with Himalayan Kingdoms so it's a guided trek with full
porterage.

I did the Everest Basecamp with them a year ago (found them to be very
good) - got AMS, luckily only one day but missed the final day 🙁

On the flight home got very sick and discovered I had Giardia. Since
it can take a few weeks to show, reckon I got it in a Lassi in
Kathmandu on day 1! Viscous little parasite tho' fortunately
microscopic. Now an expert on it! Its fairly common - Sydney had an
outbreak in their water supply and every UK regional health knows
about it! Luckily, did my research so doc gave me antibiotics before
lab confirmation (which can take time)

Quoted message said:

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

An oxygen bottle wouldn't have come amiss - the worst day was the
first, getting used to the thinner air at altitude

Quoted message said:

And did you really need a down jacket as I tend to get too hot at the best
of times so I was just going to wrap up in a few fleeces and my goretex
jacket over the top.

Needed mine in the evenings when they stopped putting yak [censored] on the
fire (instead of wood - can still smell it on my jacket!).

Quoted message said:

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

Enjoy! Wish I was going!

Mark

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

An oxygen bottle wouldn't have come amiss - the worst day was the
first, getting used to the thinner air at altitude

The Annapurna Circuit starts at relatively low altitude. Take your time
from Manang upwards, though.

Quoted message said:

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

Don't miss out on the option of continuing up to Annapurna Base Camp. It's
the one chance on this trek to really get in amongst the big mountains.
Dawn at Poon Hill is good, but perhaps a little overrated.

Adrian

"Adrian Fawcett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

An oxygen bottle wouldn't have come amiss - the worst day was the
first, getting used to the thinner air at altitude

The Annapurna Circuit starts at relatively low altitude. Take your time
from Manang upwards, though.

Quoted message said:

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

Don't miss out on the option of continuing up to Annapurna Base Camp.
It's
the one chance on this trek to really get in amongst the big mountains.
Dawn at Poon Hill is good, but perhaps a little overrated.

Adrian

And crowded!!!

Go later in the day and get a good nights sleep. Especially if the weather
isn't great.

Bill

"Bill Brabender" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Adrian Fawcett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

An oxygen bottle wouldn't have come amiss - the worst day was the
first, getting used to the thinner air at altitude

The Annapurna Circuit starts at relatively low altitude. Take your time
from Manang upwards, though.

Quoted message said:

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

Don't miss out on the option of continuing up to Annapurna Base Camp.
It's
the one chance on this trek to really get in amongst the big mountains.
Dawn at Poon Hill is good, but perhaps a little overrated.

Adrian

And crowded!!!

Go later in the day and get a good nights sleep. Especially if the weather
isn't great.

Bill

HI,
My son just arrived back this last week and they never saw one Maoist, things have changed a bit since the King sacked the government. There were a number of roadblocks and they flew to Pokhara and to and from Jomsom (sorry about spelling but you will know what I mean). They flew internally which was very cheap. Many of the buses were also not running but that may have changed now. There were hardly any tourists and the lodgeowners and porters and anyone relying on the trekkers from overseas richer countries are in deep trouble. There were just 18 people up Poon Hill when they were there and in one of the main squares in Katmandhu had just the 20 or so of them when there are (apparently) normally nearer 200 people milling around. Canada has advised its travellers not to go and there are no Yanks visiting either apparently. Seems a good time and a good reason to go eh?
One thing unchanged, he came home with the trots but they had no trouble with it whilst they were there. Most of the teahouse lodges were empty too. Can't see any improvement in the situation in the near future. I stayed at home and looked after his dogs. Wish I could have gone - the pictures were impressive........................

Justin

Thank you so much for the update.

We fly in two weeks - Just doing some last minute shopping and packing.

:-)

"Justin Case" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

"Bill Brabender" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Adrian Fawcett" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Anything you wished you'd taken with you but forgot ?

An oxygen bottle wouldn't have come amiss - the worst day was the
first, getting used to the thinner air at altitude

The Annapurna Circuit starts at relatively low altitude. Take your time
from Manang upwards, though.

Quoted message said:

Any other pointers I'd appreciate - thanks.

Don't miss out on the option of continuing up to Annapurna Base Camp.
It's
the one chance on this trek to really get in amongst the big mountains.
Dawn at Poon Hill is good, but perhaps a little overrated.

Adrian

And crowded!!!

Go later in the day and get a good nights sleep. Especially if the weather
isn't great.

Bill

HI,
My son just arrived back this last week and they never saw one Maoist,
things have changed a bit since the King sacked the government. There were a
number of roadblocks and they flew to Pokhara and to and from Jomsom (sorry
about spelling but you will know what I mean). They flew internally which
was very cheap. Many of the buses were also not running but that may have
changed now. There were hardly any tourists and the lodgeowners and porters
and anyone relying on the trekkers from overseas richer countries are in
deep trouble. There were just 18 people up Poon Hill when they were there
and in one of the main squares in Katmandhu had just the 20 or so of them
when there are (apparently) normally nearer 200 people milling around.
Canada has advised its travellers not to go and there are no Yanks visiting
either apparently. Seems a good time and a good reason to go eh?
One thing unchanged, he came home with the trots but they had no trouble
with it whilst they were there. Most of the teahouse lodges were empty too.
Can't see any improvement in the situation in the near future. I stayed at
home and looked after his dogs. Wish I could have gone - the pictures were
impressive........................

Justin