ABC Trek Day 4 – Machapuchare Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)
I was up at 5:00 am in the morning and slipped out of my sleeping bag. 2 other trekkers from our room had left earlier as they were to reach ABC just before sunrise and then walk down to Bamboo. I went out and absorbed the sights arounds me. The dawn was breaking, and everything was covered in snow. It was clear crisp morning and I saw the 6,993 meters high Machapuchare mountain. The mountain is considered holy and there is a ban on climbing the mountain. Just opposite the Machapuchare was the majestic massif of Annapurna range. All the mountains in their full glory!!!
I wiped away the clouds 🙂
Machapuchare upclose from the base camp
Annapurna South
I went back to our room to see if my friend was up. We both came out to watch the sunrise. The first few rays fell lighting up the tip of the Annapurna and slowly the whole range turned from white to gold. Suddenly the past few days assault of pain and aches was all worth it. It was a lovely day and we had made it so far.
soaking in the view!
Ready for the next stop ABC!
We started for Annapurna Base camp after breakfast, it was 8:00 in the morning but the sun was blazing.
My friend had still not fully recovered from his stomach bug which was troubling him. Remaining of the walk was approximately 2 hours. It was still uphill but moderate. The snow was melting under the blazing sun making the path slippery. We could see the climbers on their way down. We bumped into a fellow trekker from Malaysia, who had gone up earlier in the morning to see the sunrise and was now heading back to Sinuwa. After a brief exchange we moved further stopping every now and then to turn back and look at the Machapuchare and taking in the incredible views around us. Frozen water streams, ground covered in snow, the mountains and the clear blue skies. Suddenly our guide called us and was pointing towards a big avalanche. We were awed by nature in its full glory the beauty and wilderness all at once.
Stomach bug was finally taking toll on my friend. We had plenty of time, so we dropped our pace, taking multiple stops, we kept moving slowly. He wanted to turn back but I kept telling him lets keep moving. We could now see the boards from a distance and groups of people taking pictures. We were now almost there. My friend was totally exhausted by now and decided he wanted to turn back. I left him with our guide and walked on and in another 15-20 minutes, I reached the Base camp. Mission Accomplished!!!
Avalanche
Made it!
I requested a fellow trekker if she could take my picture. I was missing my friend.. it was unbelievable we were so close yet here I was taking a picture all alone! After taking few pictures, I climbed the last few steps and reached the last lodge at the Annapurna Base Camp.
Anjan, our porter showed me the room and he went down to where I had left my friend with the guide. I dabbed some more sunscreen and went up to the benches put outside to enjoy the views of the mountain.
Anjan, came back in some time and told me that my friend is going back to Machapuchare base camp. He did come till the ABC signboard before turning back and I was happy that he did make it before turning back.
After we finished with our lunch, Anjan went back to Machapuchare base camp to drop off my friend’s bag. I went walking around to the view point, saw the memorial of Cesar Peyre, Dimitri Sobolev, Anatoli Boukreev. These were some great mountaineers who lost their lives on the slopes of the Annapurna.
Bench with a view!
As I was returning to the lodge one of the guys from the kitchen called me saying there is a call for me. I hurried knowing that it would be from my friend. He had reached back at the Machapuchare Base camp safely and was planning to go down further and probably call for a helicopter.
As the sunset.. Fish tail mountain
I spent the rest of the day outdoors till it started snowing. Got into the dinner hall which was buzzing with fellow trekkers. As the time for sunset neared the clouds cleared up and I went out to see the sun setting which made Machapuchare mountain look more dramatic.
