
After a bit of an ordeal finding our bus we still managed to get seats and then commenced the most uncomfortable journey in memory. For 9 hours, with knees jammed tight against the chair in-front, we were thrown around, jolted and jarred as a result of the incredibly twisty roads that in places were no more than what would be 4x4 tracks back home. Surviving all this along wi

th the plummeting drops we escaped with no more than incredibly bruised knees and behinds finally arriving at the trail head of Sebrabessi. My first ever Dal Bhaat went down very well indeed. A simple dish of rice, dal, veg curry and pickle became our main diet for the following 6 days, though what I failed to realise at first was that having wolfed down my first plate every dish was then replenished and not wanting to be rude this was promptly finished too. our first day on the Langtang trail involved a pl

easant tramp through lush woodland, following a raging river, which we appreciated all the more for travelling light with our packs being at most 30 liters. As light was provided that night by a dim, battery operated bulb we turned in at 8pm and the following day we made it to the last settlement, cutting a day off the walk up and providing us with

extra time at the top among the big peaks. that day itself was long with cloud obscuring any view but we had a few interesting encounters with local villagers and Amy painted a sign for a family starting a new tea shop. Day 3 and our porridge ordered the night before was ready at 6:30 on the dot and so we by 7am we were out and walking up the vall

ey. Our goal was a place called Langshesha Kaka and after leaving the weather cleared to provide the most glorious walk through grass plains, across crystal clear melt water streams all with the backdrop of deep blue skies and towering snow-capped peaks. 4 hour later, and with no company other than the grazing yak and several horses, we arrived at our destination which was the most amazing setting for a sit down with a (rather small) cheese

sandwich. We did not tire of the view on the way back either but after walking for 8 hours, covering 25 km at over 4000m we were rather tired! We were up and off 15 minutes earlier the following day, aiming for a peak of 4773m just behind Kyanjin Gompa though we lost the path fairly early (possibly straight away) and ended up heading straight up a grass slope of at least 50 degrees, often involving some rather

exciting scrambling. Still, with hearts in mouths we made the top of a smaller peak and were then able to skirt around a horse-shoe ridge to reach the proper high point. We were rewarded with sweeping vistas of the mountains near and far and were especially close to a couple of retreating glaciers. The difference in elevation from the start of the trail was 3313m and this summit represented the highest I had ever walked to (driving to 5150m at Everest base camp is the highest ever point). From the top we started the descent, taking 3 days rather than rushing to do it in 2. The cloud did lift for us

on the way down so we saw views that had previously been hidden and for the final day we took the alternative high path which was not only more interesting but also provided more wildlife. We were fortunate enough to spot a large troop of Rhesus Macaques, the large male sitting in the open feeding while the younger members

frolicked in the trees and undergrowth nearby. Amy also spotted a brown bear having heard some rustling in the undergrowth nearby, as it came closer both parties ended up running in opposite directions while I was in front oblivious. The journey back to the capitol was no better for although there was slightly

more leg room it appeared that half of Nepal was on the move with every available inch of room taken up both inside the isle and on the roof of the bus. Still we survived and headed straight out for a steak after spending a week of enforced vegetarianism.
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