Annapurna sanctuary March

[Peter & Gisela]

Hi there
As we are going on our own in March2002 to do 10-14 days trekking we would like some advice from you:

The route we would like to walk is:
Phedi- Dhampus-Landrung-Chomrong-Deurali-MCP-ABC ten returning: Sinawa-Ghandruk-Birethanti
or walk on the way down a side-trek:
Ghandruk-Ghorepani-Ulleri-Birethanti.

1. Please information about this trek and the side-trek Ghorepani (poonhill); how many days ? Is it best to start from Phedi ? Any other suggestions are very welcome!!

2. is it possible to rent sleeping-bags in Pokhara; where and what prices ? Good idea or not ?

3. What is the nighttemperature in March?

We hope you give us a lot of information; many thanks in advance !!
Peter & Gisela

[Andrees]

Hoi Peter&Gisala.
Trecking up to ABC in March is a perfect season.
1.) The side trip to Gorepani is georgious, as you will see big rhododentron trees in flower. With the sidetrek you should plan about 12 days. Its possible to go faster, but you may may miss some beautiful things. You can start either from Damphus and go first to ABC or in Birethanti to go first to Gorepani/Poon hill. I would chose the second way, if the weather is stable for the next two days, because you need good weather for the tremendous view . The weather in ABC changes very quick, so that you cant plan in advance. Starting by Gorepani gives you better acclimatisation than the straight way by Damphus/Landrung
2.)you can rent everything in pokhara an the lodges have some extra blankets, so that you just need a warm sleepingbag. Consider to rent a downjacket, its realy worth up poon hill an ABC ( and it is just 1/2 $ a day!!)
3) The night temperature varies very much with the altitude. While you will be sweating a lot going ab Chomrong its bloody cold in ABC. This march we had about -10. (the downjacket!) in the early morning and a lot of snow. Once I had -25 in december.
4.)Depending how much snow is on the mountains, the last to days to ABC are leading thoraught avalanch prone area. A they are just coming down on very small spots, cross very quickly every little snowfeeld. It was probably feed by a former avalanche. secondly you should cross the part between deorali and MBC very early in the morning. The chance of avalanches increases with the sun warming up the snowfields on the mountainslops. And you should ask people an the nepalese.
5.)The weathe changes very quick and often clouds are coming up very quick in the morning and you are just in the fog. Its thersfore advisable to stay in ABC. all the for times I had clear sky on sunrise. So go up, even when it is bad weather in the afternoon. In case of a day bad weather, its definitively worth to stay an extra day, its so beautiful there.
Have a nice trip. you can look at some pictures of this trek in my site: www.nepal-dia.de. There is also a lot information in german, but I guess you are from Holland, so it might be OK.
groetjes andrées

[Peter & Gisela]

Jacques,

Thank a lot for your information and suggestions !! We understood that it can be very cold in March at night/early morning and we will search the web for some more information about the weather. Thanks again and have a good time on your trip !!
bye
peter & Gsiela

[Andrees]

Hi there, I hope I dont scare anyone to go to this beautiful trek. I have been myself 4 times and was always just marveled again by the beautyof this magig place. Its only worth to bee carfull and be aware of possible dangers, because then you can avoid them and its definitively worth to have a warm down jacket up in ABC. The main difference is, that you can fully enyoy the sunrise for hours while others with colder Jackets have to go back to the lodge after 15 min, because its getting to cold for them. I wish you a wonderfull trek
Andrées