Annapurna Circuit day 10: Yak Kharka -Thorung Phedi

May 1 2014

We feel with every step that we are at a great height. Last night we slept above 4000m altitude and it is freezing. Today we walk with the highest mountains behind us and the view is slightly less spectacular. We walk along a long scree slope on the left, where there are signs for “Landslide”.

Slowly we climb from 4000m to 4500m, on the way to Thorung Phedi. We speak to people who suffer from altitude or even take tablets. We drink a lot of water and arrive in Thorung Phedi at the end of the afternoon.

We settle in our room, an unheated room outside the main building but with lots of extra blankets. It’s fun, you’re used to it by now. You don’t need luxury and things that you normally think are luxury: a toilet that you can sit on, for example, or maybe even one that flushes. However, we do not find that above. What is luxurious, however, is the semi-cozy restaurant with a few radiant heaters in the main building. It is relatively pleasant here.

Here we also meet a Ukrainian activist blogger who lives in Russia. He is very sick of the altitude, but has made a competition with a friend of his and walks the entire route in 6 days. Without acclimatization. We didn’t see him again, but later heard from others that he made it.

In the evening there is a little bit of snow, but it is not much. We go to bed very early, because we are now almost at the main goal: Thorung La, the pass of 5416m height. The idea is to leave fairly early and climb to High Camp. From there we continue, cross the pass and descend to Muktinath (3860m).

Tilicho Peak and Glacier Dome
Tilicho Peak (7134m) and Glacier Dome. The hikers in the photo are not with us.
Landslide area along the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The frozen slope thaws during the day.
Landslide area! This slope is frozen at night and thaws during the day. This causes rocks to fall down.
Frozen waterfalls on the route to Thorung Phedi
Frozen waterfalls en route to Thorung Phedi
The route through the highlands of Nepal. There is hardly any vegetation here.
The route through the highlands. There is hardly any vegetation here. Photo taken at 4300m
Thorung Phedi, 4450m Unclear whether it's now Thorang Phedi (as on the sign), Thorung Phedi (as on the map) or Thorong as on the arch above the camp...
Thorung Phedi, 4450m
Our room in Thorung Phedi, day 10 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek
Our room in Thorung Phedi
Annapurna Circuit, at more than 4500 meter altitude near Thorung Pedi
The sun still shines through the snow clouds

Read more about my Annapurna Circuit trek:

Annapurna Circuit  day 1: Kathmandu – Besisahar – Bhulbule

Annapurna-Circuit day 2: Bhulbule – Ghermu

Annapurna Circuit day 3: Ghermu – Tal

Annapurna Circuit day 4: Tal – Timang

Annapurna Circuit day 5: Timang – Dhikur Pokhari

Annapurna Circuit day 6: Dhikur Pokhari – Ngawal

Annapurna Circuit day 7: Ngawal-Manang

Annapurna-Circuit day 8: Milarepa’s Cave

Annapurna Circuit day 9: Manang – Yak Kharka

Annapurna Circuit day 10: Yak Kharka -Thorung Phedi

Annapurna Circuit day 11: Thorung Phedi – High Camp

Annapurna Circuit day 12: High Camp – Muktinath

Annapurna Circuit dag 13: Muktinath – Marpha

Annapurna Circuit day 14: Marpha – Beni

Annapurna: the do’s & don’ts!