One Final Hill to Climb

Day 16 Tatopani to Sikha

Elevation Change:  2411 ft.

Elevation of Sikha:  6348 ft. 

Distance: 4 miles

Time:  4 ½ hrs.

Oh dear god when will it end.  One, oh so short day, of rest and we’re back on the trail again with one last mountain to climb over before this trek is done.  This was a particularly difficult day because it was almost completely up hill.  A never ending series of stone steps is all I could see for hours.  Up and up we went for what seemed like an eternity.  3300 steps to be exact, at least according to our guide.  Add to that the heat of a lower elevation and it made for one tough day.  In fact, it was almost as tough as crossing Thorung La itself.  Oh well, at least this particular area is much more lush and green than I had expected.  Not much of a consolation prize but I’ll take it.  The town itself was rather small and unremarkable.  It was very much like many of the other mountain towns we’ve seen.  We had a small humble dinner as usual and it was off to bed.

Day 17 Sikha to Ghorepani

Elevation Change:  3068 ft.

Elevation of Ghorepani:  9416 ft.

Distance:  4 miles

Time:  3.5 hrs.

Seriously, I’m getting really tired of going uphill.  Our guide promises that this is the very LAST uphill portion of the trek.   If he’s lying I might have to kill him.  Today was another four hours of continuous uphill hiking.  After so many days of trekking and physical punishment my body is literally crying uncle at this point.  Just have to tough it out for one more day.  Just one more day…