WE MADE IT!!!!!

Today’s route: Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp

Starting elevation: 12,196ft
Finish elevation:  13,669ft
Ascent: 1,558ft, Descent: 26ft
Fitbit active zone minutes: 9
Quote of the day: “I had a surprise shit, now I’m unsettled” – this person wishes to remain anonymous (but it was Alison)

OMG!  TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!  It’s ABC day!!!!  The culmination of all of our efforts here on the last few days on the trail –  as well as the months of effort back home in the gym (or not – looking at you, Rachael).  Ironically, the hike today up to Annapurna Base Camp is actually the easiest of the whole week, distance and trail wise (only 2hrs) – but, as Sandip kept reminding us, its the altitude that will kick your ass (I’m paraphrasing here).  Last night after dinner, he went through in detail how to approach the trail (slow, steady, keep control of your heart rate) and the whole team checked in with us regularly to make sure we weren’t exhibiting any symptoms of altitude sickness.  Sleep wasn’t great (again) – and not helped by a bunch of Korean hikers standing outside our room at 4.30am talking NOT in quiet voices.  I fumed for a while but finally bit the bullet, got out of my warm sleeping bag, went outside and SSSHUSHHHHHED them loudly.  They got the message and shut the eff up – but honestly.  Come ON, people.  Don’t be assholes.

Naturally, I couldn’t get back to sleep – but on the bright side, it did mean that I was up and awake and managed to catch Annapurna lit up by the sunrise.   As it was a short hike, we got to leave a bit later this morning, so had a leisurely 7am breakfast, ready to hit the trail at 8am.  It was pretty cold so we were all bundled up ready for our final ascent to ABC.  We were hiking along the tree line, through a fairly desolate landscape full of big boulders, burnt grasses and snow.  As promised, the trail ascended gradually and we all took it at a slow and steady pace and before long we were at a small ice lake.  And then, not long after that – we could see the Annapurna Base Camp in the distance!  It had taken us less than 2 hrs!!!  WE CRUSHED IT!!

Its kinda weird to be finally standing in front of the Annapurna Base Camp sign, festooned with prayer flags, that you’ve looked at for months online.  After all the time and effort and preparation and sweat – I was  finally here.  I made it.  And even better – I’d shared this adventure with 7 other incredible women, supported by the wonderful Let’s Do Nepal team all of whom had become like family over the last few days.  I’m kinda fussy when it comes to my travel companions – but I can honestly say I would travel with each and every one of these ladies again.  Its always a bit of a crapshoot when it comes to doing group travel with people you don’t know – but I couldn’t have asked for a better group of humans to have walked, laughed and swapped poop statuses with.  Tomorrow morning, we (hopefully) get to see the whole of Annapurna I blazing in the morning sun – it should be a truly magical experience.

The rest of the day was some very welcome downtime, to rest and relax and recover from the exertions of the last couple of days.  I’m sitting bundled up in my sleeping bag writing this blog as the rest of the group are currently engaged in a very enthusiastic game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.  They are drawing quite the crowd of onlookers.  For this hand, they’ve even roped in Sandip!!  Earlier, friendship bracelets had been crafted and swapped, and Amanda even went outside into the cold and wind to fly a kite that she’d schlepped all the way here.

So that’s it for today.  Soon I’ll sign off this blog and maybe see if I can squeeze in a quick game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and make a friendship bracelet.  A perfectly fitting way to end the day.