which way?

[denis]

When doing the Annapurna Sancturary trek, is it easier to go up via Birethani/Ghandruk and down Phedi/Tolka or vice versa.

thanks in advance for any advice

[Andrées]

Hello Denis,
on both ways you will start with quiet a lot of climbing, so it does not make so much difference.If the weather seams to be stable in Pokhara for the next few days I would akways start in Birethanti to have the good views in Gorepani/Poonhill. Starting this way gives you also a bether aclimatisation (Poon hill is 3100m) and your legs will be already very strong when you arrive at ABC. If you have enough time pass by the old village of Gandrung, nich from theis board has an lodge with an excelaent view there, and it is definitly worth going.
Going this way brings you on the way back to the hot springs of ginu danda, wonderfrul to relax at the ending of the trek.
But when the weather is cloudy i would start to go direktly to ABC by Dampus-Landrung-Chomrong. The lokal weather in ABC is changing very quickly and you cant predict it somedays in advance. Even when going up for two days in the fog and rain i had the next day just blue sky and bright sun. for ABC its very advisable to stay ther overnight (ITS OK WITH ALTITUDE; IF YOU SLEPT IN DEORALI or MBC) because you nearly allways get good views early in the morning.
Attnetion: the office of ACAP, where you get the entrypermit will probably be closend the 17th and then the 23th to 31th of october becaus of the dassain festival!
enjoy your trek (pictures at www.nepal-dia.de) Andrées