Day 3 – Thursday 11th October
Today was a short walk, just three and a half hours – all uphill but a good walk through more forests and meadow land. We arrived just after mid-day.
Where we are staying, Sumchu Top Lodge, is basic but sweet, spotlessly clean with a very nice dining area and a good wood stove in the middle.
Gul Bhanjyang to Mangengoth (3,295m)
The lodge and monastery in the morning light
Woke to a beautiful morning and gorgeous views.
Today was a big one – mostly up and rarely on properly
formed steps – lots of boulders and lots of gravel. In between, however, we had
pleasant walks through meadows and forests. We have climbed a thousand metres.
Our lunch spot
After lunch we entered Langtang National Park
and walked through a 'prehistoric' forest!
The 'dinosaurs' loomed high above us.
The forests were mossy and cool.
Now that is a big Christmas Tree
Over another ridge and going down - just for now a litle while.
When we reached the top of the pass at Magengoth we were
to stay in the comfy lodge at the summit but Ari had gone on ahead. We trekked
onwards for another 15 minutes to a lodge, Darjeeling Lodge, that is a far
poorer option.
In hindsight - we definitely should have stayed here.
I think we are in for a cold night. The outside facade of the lodge is typical of
the local architecture, locally hewn stone blocks, and looking quite quaint
with its crooked veranda. It is the inside that sets the buildings apart,
however. This one is dark and dusty, glass missing in some windows, replaced with plastic that has since ripped and room partitions that have gaps in between the slats. All things that with a little effort can be easily fixed.
The owner’s daughter is the cook and she is elsewhere.
Ram has volunteered to cook our meals. The kitchen has no light so Ram has his
head torch on. There is one light in the dining area, run on solar power (at the moment, as I noted earlier, the number of sunlit hours in the day is limited so electric light power will also be limited). There is also a wood
stove in here but all the doors are open so it will be a slow process to warm.
On dusk the chickens were very keen to come inside and we
kept shooing them out, little knowing that it was their bedtime and bed was a
wooden box in the dining room! Chickens, I apologise!
Day 4 – Friday 12th October
Mangengoth to Tharepati (3,600m – highest point of the
trek)
Yes, the lodge looks cute, warm and inviting.
With a woman's touch and a little TLC I'm sure it would be.
I had my doubts about last night’s lodge but feared that
my evaluation was a little harsh. No it wasn’t! We had rats in our room. One attempted to bite Neil on the ear. Luckily he woke and threw his pillow at
it. Unfortunately sleep did not return for him during the night. He remained
alert, awaiting a return visit.
It was an extremely cold night- three degrees perhaps? We woke, once again, to a crystal clear morning and frost covering the ground as far as the eye could see.
Frost on moss
Today was a short walk, just three and a half hours – all uphill but a good walk through more forests and meadow land. We arrived just after mid-day.
Where we are staying, Sumchu Top Lodge, is basic but sweet, spotlessly clean with a very nice dining area and a good wood stove in the middle.
Sumchu Top Lodge in the distance on top of the ridge
The cheery Dining Area
The lodge is having a busy night with 3 Danes, 4 Fins, us
and the accompanying guides and porters. A Full House!
Read my stars for the week last Saturday in the local
Kathmandu paper. I was to remain at home on Thursday and Friday and perform
safe tasks! Friday is now at an end and I am thankfully sitting safe,
sound and comfy in front of a warm fire, watching a glorious sunset.
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