Pre-Expedition Jitters
I'm here in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Thunder is booming. I can't help but flinch every time my window frames rattle. The pink walls of my hostel room are no longer holding their bright and feel good appeal. I'm antsy. I haven't left my room yet today and it's already 4pm. I have gear spread all across the floor. One section to take, one to leave behind, and one in the middle that's still to be decided. Just two years ago, I would've rolled my eyes at the thought of hiking somewhere, and here I am preparing for a month long expedition into the mighty Himalayas. How do you pack for that much time on the trail? 'As light as possible!' says my guide.. 'You'll thank me when you're climbing above 17k feet!'
And so I must trust that my body and my one pair of pants will hold up for the duration of the expedition.
I call it an expedition because I chose a less commercialized route along the great Himalayan trail. The Manaslu circuit, promised to be a more unique experience that's growing in popularity. That's where I'll begin. 120 or so miles spread across 15 days with a random partner I found online and a small team of young guides that will accompany us along the restricted route. If things go well, then I'll connect the trail with the Annapurna circuit and do an extra 110 miles on my own.
I'm still not sure about the second part. I know others have done it, but I've never hiked a multi-day trail solo before or carried my own gear for that long. I'm out of shape and have chronic shoulder and knee issues. It doesn't help knowing that this past October, 30+ people died on the trail due to extreme weather.. But I'm determined to try and ready to accept whatever becomes of the effort. This was my dream before I left. To make it into the mighty himalayas! A dream that I now have the time and energy to try and realize. I know positivity is key. Fear and hesitancy have even turned into motivators.. But nature has a way of humbling even the most determined minds. If you can spare a moment, please keep me in your thoughts and send a few positive vibes in this direction. I'm not usually one to ask, but I'll probably need them; especially if there are reports of bad weather in the region. But know that I will do whatever feels right. Even come back early if my body can't take it or settle down at a tea house while I wait out a storm. I'm in no rush.
This was my plan. To learn to embrace vulnerability in India and then bring that strength here in order to test my physical limits. I know. I haven't explained what happened with the rest of my time in India. But I will say that my life changed the moment I posted that last entry. Those details I plan to share in time. For now I need to focus, and get some rest. Tomorrow I start the toughest physical test of my life. And I will try to document the journey and post updates here when I can.
Wish me luck!