Day 07 Trekking ABC in Nepal

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) - 07 to 21 October 2013

We met trekkers from Singapore standing on my right in Deurali: Alice and Raymond.

Day 07 (13.10.2013) Trekking day 05 Deurali to Machapuchre Base Camp (MBC) (12,000ft, 652.hPa)

07.00 am breakfast
08.00 am depart Deurali
10.30 am arrived at MBC (12,000ft, 652.hPa, 20C)
11.30 am had lunch at Shanker Guest House and Restaurant

We arrived at MBC at 10.30am. We could see many trekkers continued to ABC for lunch and returned. But I recommend staying the night at ABC to wake up early for the sunrise.

As for acclimatisation we did a 2 hour trek at 1pm. We first did a half hour trek on the right side of the guesthouses and then a one and half hour trek on the left side. On the left side, Lim Ka Tin and I trekked furthest away up on the trail to the edge of 12,280ft. We took many pictures of wild flowers on the way back. It started to rain after dinner at 7pm and continued the whole night through.

The night temperature was about 4C
Sleeping: Shanker Guest House and Restaurant, MBC
Charges for a hot water shower was R1,500
Heater charge was R100 & battery charge was R200
Note: hPa is the atmospheric pressure force exerted on a surface by the weight of air. The average sea level air pressure is 1013.hPa.

The small pieces of rock staircase leads all the way up the mountain side.

From here we were not able to see the image of Buddha on the mountain that our guide pointed out.

Machapuchare has never been climbed to its summit. It’s is 6,993m / 22,943ft, but its sheer peak faces obviously aren’t climber friendly. Moreover, Nepali beliefs has it that Machapuchare is the home of Shiva, who came to an ancient Nepali queen in a dream and forbade anyone from climbing it. After a British team led by Jimmy Roberts came close in 1957 via the north ridge, but did not complete the ascent, the government has since declared the peak sacred, and it is now forbidden to climbers. Many climbers still try, but conditions always force them down.

Can anybody see the Buddha image?

Yes! As we walked closer it was difficult to believe to see the Buddha's image up there........

The long queue along the trek to MBC.

All walking in a single file in view of the narrow slippery trek.

Another beautiful waterfall high above us.

Beautiful views while walking between Deurali and MBC.

The scale of the gorge is breathtaking.

The stony steps to the first lodge at Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC).

The beautiful first lodge in MBC with the Machapuchare Mountain backdrop.

Magnificent view of Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC).

The colourful tents for campers at Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC).

A stony hut at Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC).

Visited the nomads at Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC) in their make shift wooden hut.

10.30 am arrived at our Shankar Guest House in MBC (12,000ft, 652.hPa, 20C).

In view of the many trekkers into MBC, we have to stay in the store-room accommodation for 6pax.

One of our porters seen helping in the kitchen to expedite food delivery.

Very cold and hungry - all waiting anxiously for food to be served as per ordered menu below.

Another good view of Machapuchare from our guest house - here, the peaks come alive.

As for acclimatisation we did a 2 hour trek at 1pm. We first did a half hour trek on the right side of the guesthouses and then a one and half hour trek on the left side.

The end of first trek for acclimatisation on the top of a ridge-line.

The second trek was towards ABC.

On the left side, Lim Ka Tin and I trekked furthest away up on the trail to the ridge-line of 12,280ft. This is the end of second trek for acclimatisation. From here we could fully view in 360 degrees of Annapurna range. We took many pictures of wild plants and flowers on the way back to our guesthouse.