climate question/October annapurna

[David]

What are the chances of snow on the Annapurna circuit in October? I have seen conflicting reports about how much warm clothes to bring. Some people say you definitely need a four seasons sleeping bag, others have said there are enough blankets at the lodges to not even bring a sleeping bag, still others say a three season bag is more than enough. Similarly some people seem to think a down jacket is indispensable and others think gortex and fleece are enough?

What do you all think?

David

[Nick]

I think it is important to remember you will be around 5,400 mtrs on the Thorang la so it makes sense to be prepared.A good sleeping bag can often be your best friend.It is not possible to predict snow conditions so again you have to be prepared for whatever.If the sun is out the pass can be an exhilerating experience if it is snowing it can be dreadful and even dangerous.I have not done the pass for a few years now but trekking wise it is not difficult getting there more of a gradual
push up.You can get away from having to take a down Jacket but do not skimp If so take lots of lares and a reliable fleece with Gortex.Good gloves and snow glasses are essential.
I guess to sum up it is about being sensible with the knowledge you have the right equipment for your trip.Do not forget to acclimatise rest up one or two days and do some side hills.A lot of people do this in Manang but there is a village a day before(name escapes me (Danial or Andrees will probably know)Some good hills here and some really interesting off the beaten trak hamlets.
Good luck and call in and see us on your way back.Snowland Lodge in Ghandruk.
(www.himalayastudy.co.uk}

[Andrees]

Normaly you can expect pretty warm weather in october, so a lot of people have crossed thorong la even in shorts. But a few years ago, we had a week bad weather at the end of october and there was snow from Pisang on!
All the people who have not been well equipped were returning by hunderts (some taff israeli guys were even organizing a helicopter shuttle from hondge and made 160$ a day!).
All the way up from Manang was trough deep snow but it was a beautiful experience exept that my camera broke down. The very day crossing thorong la was exeptional, but a lot of people got frostbites and a german man got his both feets frozen., (fortuonally there are ok again).
So much about theweather in october.
I always love my cosy downjacket in Nepal. Normaly I dont wear it so much in day time, but it is just wonderfull having it in the afternoon an evening. But I think it helps you als a lot in situations like the one described above. People with a downjacket tend to stay longer outside and to enjoy more places like ABC.You can rent it for half a dollar and day In kathmandu and pokhara.
Acclimatisation: A very good way is to take the upper way from pisang by gyaru and Ngwal. Dont miss the beautiful Gompa (monastery) in Braga on the way to Manang. In Manang there is the 100 Rupie monk worth a visit. As he was allready 80 two years ago I dont know is he is still living, can anyone tell me this?

The best an nicest akklimatisation would be a thre day side trek to tilicho lake passing by the beautiful tibetan like village of Kangsar (3700). There is the tilicho basecamp lodge at 4000m from where it is an fantastic daytrip to the lake.
If you have been at tilicho lake (5000m) you can go straight from Kangsar in one day to Thorong phedi, so that you jeust need two days more than the normal route Manang, Churi Lattar-Thorong Phedi. You can have a look to some of my pictures in www.nepal-dia.de.
Enjoy your trek andrées

[Andrees]

Normaly you can expect pretty warm weather in october, so a lot of people have crossed thorong la even in shorts. But a few years ago, we had a week bad weather at the end of october and there was snow from Pisang on!
All the people who have not been well equipped were returning by hunderts (some taff israeli guys were even organizing a helicopter shuttle from hondge and made 160$ a day!).
All the way up from Manang was trough deep snow but it was a beautiful experience exept that my camera broke down. The very day crossing thorong la was exeptional, but a lot of people got frostbites and a german man got his both feets frozen., (fortuonally there are ok again).
So much about theweather in october.
I always love my cosy downjacket in Nepal. Normaly I dont wear it so much in day time, but it is just wonderfull having it in the afternoon an evening. But I think it helps you als a lot in situations like the one described above. People with a downjacket tend to stay longer outside and to enjoy more places like ABC.You can rent it for half a dollar and day In kathmandu and pokhara.
Acclimatisation: A very good way is to take the upper way from pisang by gyaru and Ngwal. Dont miss the beautiful Gompa (monastery) in Braga on the way to Manang. In Manang there is the 100 Rupie monk worth a visit. As he was allready 80 two years ago I dont know is he is still living, can anyone tell me this?

The best an nicest akklimatisation would be a thre day side trek to tilicho lake passing by the beautiful tibetan like village of Kangsar (3700). There is the tilicho basecamp lodge at 4000m from where it is an fantastic daytrip to the lake.
If you have been at tilicho lake (5000m) you can go straight from Kangsar in one day to Thorong phedi, so that you jeust need two days more than the normal route Manang, Churi Lattar-Thorong Phedi. You can have a look to some of my pictures in www.nepal-dia.de.
Enjoy your trek andrées