Annapurna Circuit day 11: Thorung Phedi – High Camp

2 May 2014:

This morning we got up at 05:30 and fifteen minutes later we are on the road. The path is snowy, but only with a layer of about two centimeters. The first part of the climb is actually quite tough: it is quite steep and slippery. There are icicles everywhere and now and then there is some drift snow.

Arriving in High Camp (4800m) we decide after a hot drink to continue walking in an attempt to make the crossing. The wind blows quite a bit and large snowfields have to be crossed. We arrive at a tea house, drink something warm and eat a snickers.

At 5200m altitude we decide to turn around. Under good conditions and lower altitude, it would still be 20 minutes to the top (200m higher), but my wife is completely exhausted and quite sick of the altitude. We decide to do the sensible thing and turn around to High Camp. Although it is cold in High Camp and not very comfortable, it is bearable in our sleeping bags. We eat something, but not much.

The toilet here is worthless: everything is frozen, so flushing in the hole in the ground is impossible. We will also stay in High Camp all day on May 3rd: we don’t want to run the risk of becoming too ill. We drink many pitchers of hot tea, read books and chat with the other guests who come in during these days. It’s fun, but we hope to make the crossing from High Camp to Muktinath soon via our goal: Thorung La (5416m).

Not the first thing you expect along the Annapurna Circuit Trek: a seemingly wild horse at 5000 m
Horse at Thorung High Camp
Thorung High Camp, 4800 meter
Thorung High Camp
Substantial snow fields are to be crossed when completing the Annapurna Trek in spring time
Substantial snow fields
A lot of snow cover in the high Himalayas
A lot of snow cover in the high Himalayas

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!