Trek to Annapurna Base Camp
Day III
Day 3:
Deurali - Macchapuchre Base Camp - Annapurna Base Camp
I just could not get over how near the mountain was to us and woke up with the same feeling that there was a giant mountain just outside our door. This was the day we would make it to the ABC. That is all I could think of. We both had different reasons to trek to Annapurna Base Camp yet we were both glad that we were there with each other. We set off at 6:45 am. We knew this day was going to be challenging. We were already at an altitude and we were still moving further up. I knew very well that the oxygen would only get thinner as we climbed up and we had to be vigilant.
After a little hike, we came to a moore. What a breathtaking place, it was wild, it was beautiful and it was in between 2 giant cliffs, a mighty river flowing by its side. All I could say was “Wow”. There was a different kind of energy in this place. Mountains were growing closer and ABC was just a few hours away. The trail was busy. With people returning from ABC to people going towards ABC. Our first stop for the day would be Machhapuchre Base Camp. The trail after the moore was rocky while some had stone steps. The climb was getting strenuous with altitude gain. I started stopping after every few steps yet I felt better knowing that all those few steps were taking me closer to our destination.
Some flats, rocky trails, and a river later, we were standing on Machhapuchre Base Camp at 3700 m. I remember Rajan telling me, I could feel the oxygen was comparatively thin and he was right. As soon as we reached MBC, we looked around. There were 2 trails, 1 led up a stone steps and probably was the way to Machhapuchre and another led to the trails of ABC. we took the latter one which was on our left. We kept walking and couldn’t really see a guest house and my energy was getting low. I was starving. Rajan then spotted a guest house in the distance and called me to come forward. The place was a dream. Surrounded by mountains, the guest houses in MBC were just stunning. We decided to sit outside while we sipped hot coffee and took in the incredible view of Machhapuchre smiling at us. We don’t remember how long we stayed there but I could not get enough of what we had in front of us. We quickly realized we made a good decision to stay outside to enjoy the view because as it is with the mountain, the weather is unpredictable and the mist quickly covered everything around us and the only thing remaining was our knowledge that there was a majestic mountain standing tall and proud just behind the mist. It was time for us to tighten our shoelace for the final climb to ABC.
I had butterflies in my stomach when we first started the uphill hike. There wasn’t much uphill yet the thinner level of oxygen was the challenge. This time Rajan decided to go together. I was secretly glad about it. The climb was tough. Then, came the valley path, walking was becoming difficult yet we pushed through. The mist was thick can we could hardly see anything in the distance. We felt like this was a never-ending trail. Sometimes later, I noticed a small blue roof house, although it was in a distance, it looked reachable. I turned to Rajan and told him we probably are just 15 minutes away from the base camp. He didn’t believe that we were that close but as we kept walking, the house grew bigger and bigger and a few more houses came into view. He then believed that we were indeed near. The excitement fueled me up and I started walking with renewed energy. I didn’t realize Rajan had difficulty catching up. A short climb up, the sign read Annapurna Guest House and Restaurant.
At, 3:45 pm on 30th October, 2023, we reached Annapurna Base Camp. Throughout the trails, we had been lucky to get rooms in the guest house that was at the beginning of the place and we were lucky yet again. Rajan urged me to get the keys while he caught his breath. We freshened up, changed, and asked how far the ABC viewpoint is. For some reason, I thought we still had to hike for 2 hours and was pleasantly delighted by the answer I got, “It’s just 5 mins from here”. And guess what, the famous Annapurna Base Camp sign was just beside the guest house we were staying in and we were just a corridor away.
I wished I could see the snowfall but knew it was highly unlikely there would be one. So, I stayed in the restaurant content that I made it. The feeling was just surreal. Then, I heard Rajan excitedly call my name,” Shreena, come out, it’s snowing”. What? Was it? I went out and it was. It was snowing, lightly but I didn’t care, it was snowing. The weather cleared and we could see the 360 panoramic view of the magnificent Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna III (7555m) and Annapurna South (7219m), Gangapurna (7455m), Machapuchare (6993m), Baraha Shikhar / Annapurna Fang (7647m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Singu Chuli (Fluted Peak). Rajan and I hugged and called our family to let them know we made it and it was snowing and we were witnessing the amazing sunset casting the golden glow on the peaks of a few of the mightiest mountains in the world. I couldn’t wait for the dawn.