Solo journey – Annapurna Circuit – Kathmandu to Mukthinath through Thorang La Pass (5416m/17769 ft)

CHAPTER 1 - How it all began

Since 2016, I have committed to one long duration hike every year. Even though I wish I had time to climb more, budgets as well as the number of off days on a full-time job limits me to do one significant hike a year. 2016 was Everest Base Camp (5300m). 2017 was Kinabalu (4,095 m) and completed the World’s Highest Via Ferrata – Low’s Peak. 2018 was a flop because all plans to do Kilimanjaro was washed down the drains as my visa was “in process” mode for over 8 months and was rejected with no reason – that was entering Tanzania. I had to settle to a 2 day Volcano hike and a long Indonesian backpacking trip.

Importance of the height – If you are an amateur hiker, you know how important the mountain height is to you. The higher you can climb and the strenuous the climb is the deciding factor for me in terms of the abnormal sense of achievement that lies at the end of the road. I would at some point love to learn some technical climbing, get myself trained to climb higher but when that would happen at this point remain uncertain. Until then, my aim is to focus on what I can do.

Solo or group – This is a tricky question! It all depends on your personality and the type of the mountain. Being an introvert, most of the time I enjoy trekking on my own. Even on a group trek with known individuals, most of the time, we tend to get on our own zone and trek at our own speed. It is meditation for me! On the other hand, during a longer trek, the mental exhaustion towards later part is much higher than physical fatigue where you wish there were people around to share it with. That being said, I prefer if the people I hike are known to me than being total strangers. There is an element of familiarity that helps you push at times – at least in my experience.

Selection of the tour guide/Porter/Trekking Company – I cannot explain how this could impact the success of your trek as well as your mental status during/after the trek. (spoiler alert: I had a really terrible ending to the relationship I had with the trekking guide who was on this trek unfortunately). Trekking guide could really be one of the individuals who can keep your moral high on a trek spanning a few days. Not only they would be the ones to show the right way but also could help you with the accommodation selection along the way, help you order food, push you for the summit mentally, etc.

So 2019, I looked up potential possibilities and decided that I would take up the Annapurna circuit trek. The complete trek would take you 21 days (which I didn’t have the liberty to do) but the highlight of this trek was that after the highest point which is Thorang La pass, your trek moves to a completely different geography (Manang Valley to Mastang Valley) within a day that you almost cannot believe it’s true. 

Map of Annapurna Circuit Trek

I chose Sep to start the hike, therefore, knew after Mukthinath (post highest point crossing), there are less chances of actually trekking due to the high number of landslides that kept occurring due to a prolonged monsoon. I kept that part of the plan open to do the trek as long as I could and decide on the go. But reaching Thorang La Pass ( 5416m ) was non negotiable for me.

Thorang La Pass Summit

Beauty of mountains and culture combination 

I had 2 months left for training when I left. From a 6 day CrossFit training to doing none in the last one year due to work priorities (I still think this is an excuse I keep telling myself), I had a bit of work to do. Started off with cardio as that is definitely key to shedding off some extra pounds which comes really handy on a mountain! It wasn’t great but well it was better than nothing.

Coming up.. CHAPTER 2 - Why Annapurna Circuit