Should I go or should I stay?

[Edgewood]

We are doing the AC and Sanctuary in Oct. We were then going to Darjeeling for the Singalila Ridge Trek. We fly in and out of Delhi and have seven weeks. Should we skip Singalila and stay in Nepal? Do another trek there? Climb a peak? Go hippie in Katmandu? Any advice?

[Sharon]

I would skip the Sanctuary. I have done 7 treks in Nepal and the Sanctuary ranks at the bottom of the list. As there is anot a through pass at the end it is all hindu tea houses rather than getting into Sherpa tea houses. The sanctaury is really a bad weather trap as well. Maybe do Langtang or into the Khumbu for your second trek.

[kegarne]

Agree with Sharon on all points there. There are a couple of trekking peaks in the Sanctuary which would be worth climbing but there is no local help available so you would have to bring them in from Pokhara.

[Oli]

In my opinion a visit to the Sanctuary is a great way to complete a circuit of Annapurna. You can walk for a few weeks around those spectacular mountains and then get to go right up amongst them. That view of the south face of Annapurna I and the 360' 5000m+ panorama is simply awesome. :eek:

I have never been to Darjeeling, but there are just so many things to be done in Nepal that I am in no rush to start exploring India. Do your Annapurna trek then just chill out in Pokhara whilst you decide what to do with your remaining time. :cool:

[Edgewood]

Thanks for the replies. The Sanctuary does sound interesting and we don't mind weather. What is the difference between a Hindu teahouse and a Nepal teahouse? Sharon the other treks you mentioned look fun and I'm reading about both. The high lakes above Langtang sound wonderful.

[Oli]

The thing about bad weather for the ABC trek is that it's not only a case of clouds in the Sanctuary obscuring the view, precipitation on the mountains brings a significant risk of avalanches in the Modi Khola valley.

Langtang & Gosiankhunda would be a good option for a second trek.

[kegarne]

Oh it is still an awesome trek but rates lowest out of all the treks that I have done in Nepal in my opinion.

Mind you there is some tough competition .....

[Edgewood]

Avalanches.... I deal with that all winter sking. I don't want to trek with a becon, probe and shovel!

[Oli]

You'll certainly see the destruction in the jaws of the avalanche chutes, cross swiftly and pray that a million tons of snow doesn't appear from nowhere right above your head. I suspect that there are as many people die in the upper Modi Khola as do crossing Thorung La.


Elsewhere (http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24898), whilst discussing "things to do in Nepal" I suggested ...

Trekking (obviously!)
Rafting
Bungy jumping
Mountain biking
Canyoning
Paragliding
Jungle safari
Cultural tours (temples & villages etc)
Meditation retreats
Bird watching
.....


Whatever takes your fancy... have fun :D

[Edgewood]

Thanks Oli....Fun Will be had.

[yakshaver]

I do like the Sanctuary itself. One of the more singularly spectcular places you can get to without technical help. Spending the night there and good weather for the next sunrise is awesome.

And while there is some danger of avalanches (between Hinku Cave and Deorali rougly), a good guide, or getting proper information from the locals will help you avoid danger. Plus, it does not happen every day, and a good game of run-the-guntlet can be fun.

[Oli]

Escher just posted some pics in that other thread (http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15423) on the ABC trek so I'll post a couple here :D

Danger! Avalanches! Mountain Sickness!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/87325336_a62e0d0e8c.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliphant/87325336/in/set-72057594048881433/)

South face of Annapurna I & Memorial
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/39/87314837_8d3a06813e.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliphant/87314837/in/set-72057594048881433/)(I have a large print of this framed on my wall)

Best advice is to do the avalanche prone stretch of the trek early in the morning whilst the white stuff up above is frozen, as the sun warms through the day the odds of some breaking off and avalanching increase. If the weather is bad the seek local advice. It'll most probably be just fine, go visit the Sanctuary and you will not regret it. :)

[Edgewood]

Nice picture Oli! I think we will do the Sanctuary then either go up Langtang or into the Khombu region.