April 30, 2014
Today we leave the pigsty in Manang. Because admittedly, the food was delicious, but the shower and toilet rancid. Today’s route will not be that long and will not allow us to ascend much. We go to Yak Kharka, at an altitude of just under 4000m. The route is busy: many donkey caravans and fellow hikers. Lots of porters and horses and lots of yaks.
We also see many vultures again, which we now know as “White rumped vultures”, or white vultures. Soon we are overtaken by what appears to be a nomadic family with dozens of yaks. We wait for the family to pass us while enjoying a sandwich from the bakery of Manang. Shortly after the family has passed, we are treated to a large herd of Thars (mountain goats) crossing the road. We also have a new Friend, whom we call Little Friend: a black/white mongrel puppy who walks with us.
Yak Kharka is cozy, a hut with the dining and dorm rooms on the right side of the road, and the separate rooms and washing facilities on the left. It is not a shower, because there is no running water here: it is almost always freezing. We can wash ourselves with buckets of cold water. You need to do this early enough, as later during the evening the buckets won’t be just cold anymore, but frozen.
Today is one of the most beautiful days of the entire trip.
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
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