What will you find after a grueling week of climbing endless steps, hiking winding trails leading you up and down foothills through extreme climates, and reaching levels of altitude high above where the tree line stops? One of the most wondrous base camps, of course. Annapurna is a mountain range situated in the heart of Nepal, which has attracted avid hikers for decades, if not centuries. Though not conveniently marked, it is possible to navigate the trail to Annapurna's Base Camp (ABC) without a guide, though if you have any hesitation it may be best to hire one or at least get very well drawn out maps prior to your attempt... ahem.. speaking from experience, and having NOT done this. There are a number of towns and villages, mind you, through out the entire trail. Most of these towns have guest houses and restaurants (often two in the same), with more than friendly faces to welcome you.
Ironically enough, after miraculously finding the base camp unguided, and without a map (or a clue) of how to really get there, a familiar statue stood a top the end of the trail, welcoming me to Base Camp. An Inukshuk is a landmark made of stone, often large enough to be seen on the edge of a horizon, which traditionally have been built by Inuit, and other Native Americans living in the Arctic regions. It is suspected that they were once used for Navigation, a marker for travel routes. I probably could have used many more of these along the hike, rather than just at the end destination.
The feeling of accomplishment, mixed with the unparalleled view from the Rooftop of the world, however... worth every wrong turn, sprain, cramp, and complaint I ever could have had, hundreds of times over.
Ironically enough, after miraculously finding the base camp unguided, and without a map (or a clue) of how to really get there, a familiar statue stood a top the end of the trail, welcoming me to Base Camp. An Inukshuk is a landmark made of stone, often large enough to be seen on the edge of a horizon, which traditionally have been built by Inuit, and other Native Americans living in the Arctic regions. It is suspected that they were once used for Navigation, a marker for travel routes. I probably could have used many more of these along the hike, rather than just at the end destination.
The feeling of accomplishment, mixed with the unparalleled view from the Rooftop of the world, however... worth every wrong turn, sprain, cramp, and complaint I ever could have had, hundreds of times over.
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