ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PHOTO GALLERY: PART 1

Our driver secures our backpacks to the roof of our van before leaving Kathmandu for Besi Sahar.

One of the many scary local buses we passed early on the trail.

It’s official, Britnee enters the Annapurna Conservation Area on day one.

The first of many suspension bridge crossings on the Annapurna Circuit.

A local carries a load through Bhulbule where we spent our first night.

The locals dance in the small street/footpath that leads through Bhulbule on our first night on the Annapurna Circuit.

With our Australian friends Paula and Troy at dinner on night one in Bhulbule.

The view looking north after we descended from what was a steep climb up to Bahundanda where we paused for lunch and a much-needed rest.

Butterfly along the way.

The exposed trial climbs steeply up steps high above the Marsyangdi. You can just see Paula and Troy making the climb.

A local lady weaves a blanket along the trail on the Annapurna Circuit.

Britnee does some laundry on our second night in Ghermu.

Garlic (I think) hangs to dry in the village of Ghermu on the Annapurna Circuit.

Our host at the Crystal Guest House in Ghermu works hard in the kitchen to prepare dinner for all the guests.

The bridge to Syange along the Annapurna Circuit.

Looking back to a waterfall above the Marsyangdi along the Annapurna Circuit.

One of my favorite sights along the way was on day three before we reached Tal. The trail was quite exposed at this point, falling away nearly vertically to the raging river below.

One of the countless markers along the Annapurna Circuit. The trail is very well marked with these painted symbols as well as maps and signs.

Britnee pauses before entering the village of Tal on day three on the Annapurna Circuit.

Old Maoist slogans painted on the cliff along the trail to Chame on the Annapurna Circuit.

The jeeps make a very scary drive across the Marsyangdi from where we hiked on the footpath of the Annapurna Circuit.

Another bridge, but this one gets high marks for its beautiful location along the Annapurna Circuit.

Some interesting fauna along the Annapurna Circuit.

Some interesting fauna along the Annapurna Circuit.

A portrait of a resident of the tiny village of Odar, a detour which required Britnee and I to make a long, steep climb while trekking the Annapurna Circuit.

Traffic jam while departing Odar along the Annapurna Circuit.

A local from Bagarchhap along the Annapurna Circuit.

Our hosts stoke the fire to cook lunch for us in Danaque on day four of the Annapurna Circuit.

Our hosts stoke the fire to cook lunch for us in Danaque on day four of the Annapurna Circuit.

We didn’t make it all the way to Chame but happily stopped in the village of Timang after a very long day on the trail.

That night in Timang we were rewarded with breathtaking views of Manaslu, our first sighting of an 8,000m peak in the Himalaya.

Britnee pauses for a rest and a photo as we get our first glimpse of Annapurna II.

Stopping to spin a big prayer wheel in Koto along the Annapurna Circuit.

Our new friend Chris taking in the colors of Chame where we stopped on day five along the Annapurna Circuit.

Chris lights up a cigarette after settling in for the night in Chame along the Annapurna Circuit.

Day six on the trail leading out of Chame and heading for Upper Pisang on the Annapurna Circuit.

Beautifully painted stones at one of the countless religious markers along the Annapurna Circuit.

Day six on the trail leading out of Chame and heading for Upper Pisang on the Annapurna Circuit.

The impressive kani that marks the western entrance to Chame.

The landscape begins to change as we pass through pine forrest and climb higher toward Pisang.

Stopping to admire Paungda Danda, (Swarga Dwar, Gate to Heaven), along the trail to Pisang. The altitude was much higher and the climate much dryer by this point.

A young boy/panda stops to stare as we pass to Pisang on the Annapurna Circuit.

Lemon tea in Upper Pisang! I can’t tell you how much I grew to love cups of warm lemon tea along the trek.

Chris explores the beautiful village of Upper Pisang as Annapurna II dominates the skyline beyond.

A monk performs the morning puja at the monastery above Upper Pisang.

A monk takes in the view of Annapurna II after the morning puja in Upper Pisang.

A young monk all the way from Bhutan sits for a portrait in Upper Pisang where he spent most of the year. Come winter he and the other monks will return to their monastery in Kathmandu.

Sunset over Annapurna IV, viewed from Upper Pisang.

Our hosts prepare lunch in Upper Pisang along the Annapurna Circuit.

Our wonderful host and owner of the teahouse we stayed at in Upper Pisang.

Troy and Paula relax in candlelight as we live without power for two nights in Upper Pisang. The blizzard that blew through two weeks before we started the trek had knocked out power lines to many of the villages along the Annapurna Circuit.

Sunrise on Annapurna II as seen from Upper Pisang.

Paula awaits warm tea on a chilly morning in Upper Pisang.

Back on the trail after a day of rest in Upper Pisang. It was one of my favorite stops along the entire Annapurna Circuit.

Looking west through a valley to Manang’s airstrip at Hongde. Already feeling the effects of altitude, we opted for the lower and easier route to Manang and were glad we did.

A young boy greets us at the entrance to Hongde along the Annapurna Circuit.

A local woman photographed in the village of Humde on the Annapurna Circuit.