Where We Be
| View looking towards Thorung-La Pass from the stone teahouse at Chongar Viewpoint |
| During the hike to Bragha, we came across some amazing old trees like this one |
| A family of goats, including this baby, followed us around Bragha |
| We received two surprise snowstorms during our first and second afternoons in Bragha |
| Looking at the cold scene from the back patio. There are no heaters in the rooms of any of the teahouses so you have to rely on the thick blankets they provide. (Some dining rooms do have woodburning stoves.) |
| It was technically a rest day but we began hiking without packs towards Manang before the sun was fully up in the valley |
| Next morning we awoke to a brilliant day with fresh-fallen snow on the peaks |
| The pine trees were blanketed with snow |
| The terrace houses are quite unusual, with the roof of one house serving as the terrace for the house above it |
| Adorable calf at the entrance to Bragha |
| We also stumbled upon this ornate temple in Bragha |
| Every nook and cranny of the 900-year-old temple was filled with colorful religious artifacts. It left a strong impression on us -- especially because the outside looked so plain and ordinary. |
| Seabuckthorn juice is a locally grown specialty in the area. The berry is said to pack quite the nutrient punch. We felt stronger already as we sipped glasses in the tiny village of Mungji and looked out towards Bragha. |
| This teahouse in Bragha, the Hotel New Yak, was our base of operations for three days |
| The snow contrasted dramatically with these dark folds in the rock |
| Prayer wheels at sunrise at the entrance to Manang |
| Manang is the endpoint of the new road. It's the biggest town on the eastern side of the Annapurna Circuit. |
| We hiked to the top of Chongar Viewpoint on a picture-perfect morning |
| View from Chongar Viewpoint, framed by prayer flags |
| We reached the irresistible Chongar teahouse around 7 am, just behind the restaurant keeper who was opening up shop |
| The smile says it all! |
| They reminded us quite a bit of the pueblos in Mesa Verde, even to the point of having ladders going between levels |
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| Annapurna Circuit, Nepal (Days 7-9) |
We hiked to Bragha (3470 m / 11,451 ft) on Day 7
then spent two days acclimatizing there before
making the final push to the top of Thorung-La.
Bragha is a picturesque village set in the midst
of extraordinary country. It has good lodges
and offers a quieter base than nearby Manang.
As sometimes happens, our first rest day was
fuller than some trek days. We awoke at 6 am
and looked out the window. It had snowed hard
the evening before but now skies were clear
and the covering of snow on the mountains
looked breathtaking. We hiked without our
packs (a real treat) for twenty minutes up to
Manang then continued to Chongar Viewpoint.
Like most viewpoints it was perched on high,
over 1000 feet above us, and required a steep
hour's climb to get there. We arrived huffing
and puffing but the views were so outstanding
we didn't care. Prayer flags only added to the
sense of remote beauty. After breakfast at the
teashop, we climbed even higher to what can
only be described as wow views. Here we saw
some of the highest mountains in the Himalayas
encircling us. Euphoria!
then spent two days acclimatizing there before
making the final push to the top of Thorung-La.
Bragha is a picturesque village set in the midst
of extraordinary country. It has good lodges
and offers a quieter base than nearby Manang.
As sometimes happens, our first rest day was
fuller than some trek days. We awoke at 6 am
and looked out the window. It had snowed hard
the evening before but now skies were clear
and the covering of snow on the mountains
looked breathtaking. We hiked without our
packs (a real treat) for twenty minutes up to
Manang then continued to Chongar Viewpoint.
Like most viewpoints it was perched on high,
over 1000 feet above us, and required a steep
hour's climb to get there. We arrived huffing
and puffing but the views were so outstanding
we didn't care. Prayer flags only added to the
sense of remote beauty. After breakfast at the
teashop, we climbed even higher to what can
only be described as wow views. Here we saw
some of the highest mountains in the Himalayas
encircling us. Euphoria!
| Snow blowing off the peaks |
| Never happier than when we're hiking |
| During our rest day we did some local exploring in Bragha. While the teahouses for hikers sit right beside the trail, the villagers themselves reside in these houses perched on a hillside. |
| A young girl surveys her domain from one of the terrace houses |
| Day 7. Pisang to Bragha |
| Day 8. Day Hike to Chongar Viewpoint |
| Day 9. Rest Day in Bragha |