Trekking in Nepal

 Nepal 2019

In October 2019 I traveled to Nepal to join a group of 17 Canadians going on a group trek in Nepal. The goal of the trek was to reach 4,200m (13,779.5 feet) at the Annapurna Base Camp. This is famously called the ABC trek in Nepal. The trek would last 15 days. It was a very memorable experience. 

Trekking in Nepal is rather luxurious in comparison to hiking in the Canadian Rockies as each person is assigned a porter. Your porter carries your main pack with your heaviest items. My responsibility was to carry a day pack with water, warm clothes and my camera. Each night we stayed at a tea house.  This was a small dorm style room with a bed. All our meals were eaten in a small restaurant in the tea house. So it was very luxurious hiking by Canadian standards. I did not have to carry my own gear, pitch a tent upon arrival to the camp or even cook my own food. 

The highlights of the trip were:

•  walking across many suspension bridges - the longest was 287 meters long and 135 meters high,
• drinking masala tea,
• eating dal bhat (24 hour dal bhat power - my guide's favourite saying),
• meeting locals in the mountain villages with no road access,
• visiting a local school and playing volleyball with the students,
• stunning mountain views of the Himalayas,
• attending a harvest celebration with traditional dancing and music,
• watching porters carry all of our stuff without complaint and
• watching the filming of a bollywood movie in Chhomrong.  
• trekking a total of 135km in 15 days

Each day we walked between 15-25km depending on the trail. We were very lucky with the weather and we only had one day when it rained on us in the afternoon. We always had a long lunch break with a chance to relax and take our hiking boots off. Our porters would always beat us to each tea house as they were extremely fast hikers even though they were carrying 100-120 pounds. 

 

First Sign of Spring

 Spring 2021

I know that it is spring as today on my walk I saw a Wooly Bear Caterpillar. This little one was hardly moving as it was cold today but slowly it was inching it's way across the road. I wondered where it came from and where it was headed to. It made me smile to see this caterpillar as I know that winter is ending as the ground melts and slowly comes alive.

Spring Has Sprung

End of a Ski Season 

I am sad to see the snow melt. I am grateful for warmer days but it means the end of my ski season. I was trying to ski 100km this month and I don't think I made this goal. I guess I can keep my fingers crossed for a spring storm and more snow. This was a photo of my last day of skiing. The trail was almost gone. I could get by on one ski at times. I guess I will have to get excited about walking and biking. Time to set some new summer goals. 

March Walking Challenge

 Time to Get Moving

Now that the weather has warmed up and the days are longer I am able to for a walk after supper. So I have started adding a daily walk around town each day. This has worked well and I have already completed my March challenge with time to spare. I have logged 50km of walking already. I now hope to keep on walking and perhaps get to 100km for the month....

Cross Country Skiing

Anderson Lake 

I am out on the lake to log some KM on my cross country skis. I had to switch over to my skate skis as the snow is quickly melting and the conditions are icy. I am able to ski if I go out in the morning while the snow is still hard and icy. By lunch time the snow is soft and melting and I can't glide. Today was a perfect day and I was able to ski 10km by completing two laps around the lake. It was warm and sunny and a perfect ski day. I hope I get a few more great ski days in March. 

Spring Skiing

The End of the Season 

The snow is quickly melting and I am unsure how many more ski days I will have. I use to ski here in this field but I think today will be my last day as the dirt is starting to show up. I like skiing in the spring when the snow is soft and the sun is shining. I guess soon I will be walking and riding my bike instead of skiing....

Dog Walk

 Artistic Walk

I decided to attempt some "walk art" with my daily dog walk. I attempted to draw a picture of a dog. It was actually very challenging as I found houses, fences and trees in my way to create the image that I wanted. I think I would have been more successful to go out onto the lake and attempt to free draw it there. However, the lake is now melting and I am not longer confident that I should walk on it.  So for now, here is my artistic dog walk....

Melt Your Heart

 Dog Cuddles

One advantage to being back home in Saskatchewan is I get to hang out with this little cutie. His favourite spot in the evening is on the sofa beside me.  He brings me happiness while we relax at home. 

Saskatchewan's Natural Beauty

 Sunsets

My iphone camera doesn't really do this sunset justice. There was a beautiful pink glow on the horizon. That is one advantage of living in Saskatchewan - the living sky and the open space allowing unblocked views to the far distance. 

Covid Projects

 #GetItDone2021

Before

After

In the true covid spirit it is an opportunity to stay home and work on projects in the house. This is the bathroom in the master bedroom and it was last painted sometime  around 1992. I am not done the project yet but I managed to get some primer on the walls. I will need to put 2 coats of paint before this project is done. I will keep you posted. I have hit pause for a moment on this project as I sliced my thumb open the other day while grating carrots into a salad. So painting is on hold till my thumb heals. 

Ski Challenge

 FEBRUARY

Since I have decided that it is too cold out to go running I have decided to spend each day getting some exercise on my cross country skis. I try to go out and ski a loop around Anderson Lake each day. My goal for February was to ski 200km. However due to the 2 weeks of very cold weather (one day it was -40c) I was not successful with my goal. I did manage to ski 117km. So it has been a good month to log some kms. Let's hope I can keep up the pace for March!