Sorry for no update but we haven't had Wifi for a day and a half and only have it now for an hour while we stop for lunch. Should have wifi later today at tonight's stop.
So we started as 10 and we are now 5. A phone call from Annapurna Base Camp to Jason's insurance ($38 USD) and a helicopter was organised to fly him and Danielle back down to Pokhara the next morning. The helicopter has 4 spare seats and Greg and Anne have chosen to fly back to Pokhara with them. Unfortunately when we woke up this morning the snow was falling.....and rather heavy. No choppers would be flying in this. So our guide and two porters decided it would be better if they stay at Base Camp with Jason, Danielle, Greg and Anne, while Michelle, Sue R, Evan, Elaine and myself along with 3 porters started our way back down.
Crampons were needed again along with gaiters and warm gear. It wasn't bad at all walking in this condition as the snow was quite dry. After a few hours of snow it turned into light rain but again nothing bad. We were all comfortable walking and managed to keep warm. We had no view at all of the mountains and commented how lucky we were that our final ascent up to Base Camp the day before with beautiful blue sky was such a contrast 24 hours later.
Evan and Elaine had purchased woollen hats back in Kathmandu with Annapurna Base Camp sewn into them. They had been wearing these hats back-to-front in the days leading up to Base Camp. They can now proudly wear there hats the right way around.
As we were walking we heard a helicopter in the distance. We stopped to find it and couldn't believe that it would be flying in these conditions it came into sight just as it was preparing to do a 180 degree turnaround and head back down. Obviously too much fog and cloud to fly. Half an hour later we reached the village of Himalaya and here we saw the helicopter had landed. We spoke to the pilot and he told us he was on his way to Base Camp to pick up an injured trekker (Jason) but had to turn around due to weather. We introduced ourselves as being the group Jason belongs to and he said he will now stay at Himalaya and see what it's like in the morning.
We arrived at our lodge in a village called Bamboo. We had all managed to stay dry. Two hours later the dining room door opens and in walks our guide Prakash and the 2 porters. They decided there was no need to wait at Base Camp as Jason and his family were happy to wait out the bad weather. So what took us 7 hours including a lunch stop took our guide and porters a little over 3 hours!!! Ok, they do it all the time.
A phone call up to the lodge at Base Camp to make sure they were all ok and Greg said it had been like a blizzard up there all day. I told them the rescue helicopter is waiting out the bad weather and when they wake in the morning if there is blue sky it should be there around 7.30am.
So we are currently sitting in our lodge and the light rain has turned to heavy snow. Anything can happen up here as with yesterday's blue sky.
I forgot to mention we all sang Advance Australia Fair on Australia Day......with a few deep breathes in between the sentences. Last night we had a bit of fun around the dining room table in the lodge and held an auction. What were we auctioning you ask??? Jocks. Brand spanking, never been warn before still with tags jocks. Gave me an indication who was getting desperate. All proceeds to go to the porters. Bidding started and strangely Danielle bought them. Realising they would be too small for Jason she donated them to Sanchez, the Porter who took John Gerring back down and turned around and came back up under headlamp. The women's undies were purchased by Sue R. Not that she's getting desperate but thought it would be nice to have something clean for Pokhara. A bit of fun amongst headaches at 4130 Metres.
Tomorrow we continue on to Chhomrong. Here we will descend 3000 steps, cross a swing bridge then climb 3000 steps.....cruel. It's also here were we will pick up John Gerring who has hopefully been able to rest and shake off his chest infection. (We are told John is good and drinking a bottle of Kukari Rum a night which has helped with his chest).
We will then drop down the Chinu (Hot Springs).
So we started as 10 and we are now 5. A phone call from Annapurna Base Camp to Jason's insurance ($38 USD) and a helicopter was organised to fly him and Danielle back down to Pokhara the next morning. The helicopter has 4 spare seats and Greg and Anne have chosen to fly back to Pokhara with them. Unfortunately when we woke up this morning the snow was falling.....and rather heavy. No choppers would be flying in this. So our guide and two porters decided it would be better if they stay at Base Camp with Jason, Danielle, Greg and Anne, while Michelle, Sue R, Evan, Elaine and myself along with 3 porters started our way back down.
Crampons were needed again along with gaiters and warm gear. It wasn't bad at all walking in this condition as the snow was quite dry. After a few hours of snow it turned into light rain but again nothing bad. We were all comfortable walking and managed to keep warm. We had no view at all of the mountains and commented how lucky we were that our final ascent up to Base Camp the day before with beautiful blue sky was such a contrast 24 hours later.
Evan and Elaine had purchased woollen hats back in Kathmandu with Annapurna Base Camp sewn into them. They had been wearing these hats back-to-front in the days leading up to Base Camp. They can now proudly wear there hats the right way around.
As we were walking we heard a helicopter in the distance. We stopped to find it and couldn't believe that it would be flying in these conditions it came into sight just as it was preparing to do a 180 degree turnaround and head back down. Obviously too much fog and cloud to fly. Half an hour later we reached the village of Himalaya and here we saw the helicopter had landed. We spoke to the pilot and he told us he was on his way to Base Camp to pick up an injured trekker (Jason) but had to turn around due to weather. We introduced ourselves as being the group Jason belongs to and he said he will now stay at Himalaya and see what it's like in the morning.
We arrived at our lodge in a village called Bamboo. We had all managed to stay dry. Two hours later the dining room door opens and in walks our guide Prakash and the 2 porters. They decided there was no need to wait at Base Camp as Jason and his family were happy to wait out the bad weather. So what took us 7 hours including a lunch stop took our guide and porters a little over 3 hours!!! Ok, they do it all the time.
A phone call up to the lodge at Base Camp to make sure they were all ok and Greg said it had been like a blizzard up there all day. I told them the rescue helicopter is waiting out the bad weather and when they wake in the morning if there is blue sky it should be there around 7.30am.
So we are currently sitting in our lodge and the light rain has turned to heavy snow. Anything can happen up here as with yesterday's blue sky.
I forgot to mention we all sang Advance Australia Fair on Australia Day......with a few deep breathes in between the sentences. Last night we had a bit of fun around the dining room table in the lodge and held an auction. What were we auctioning you ask??? Jocks. Brand spanking, never been warn before still with tags jocks. Gave me an indication who was getting desperate. All proceeds to go to the porters. Bidding started and strangely Danielle bought them. Realising they would be too small for Jason she donated them to Sanchez, the Porter who took John Gerring back down and turned around and came back up under headlamp. The women's undies were purchased by Sue R. Not that she's getting desperate but thought it would be nice to have something clean for Pokhara. A bit of fun amongst headaches at 4130 Metres.
Tomorrow we continue on to Chhomrong. Here we will descend 3000 steps, cross a swing bridge then climb 3000 steps.....cruel. It's also here were we will pick up John Gerring who has hopefully been able to rest and shake off his chest infection. (We are told John is good and drinking a bottle of Kukari Rum a night which has helped with his chest).
We will then drop down the Chinu (Hot Springs).
The team at ABC
