10/28/08 - Day 7 - Acclimitization day in Manang

Manang Elevation: 11,614 ft

Daily Distance Walked: 0 miles

Total Distance Walked: 55.9 miles

Today was a rest and acclimitization day, and it was so nice to take a break.  we allowed ourselves to sleep in for a change of pace.  We were able to take a hot shower and wash our hair, which was ultimately the last time we were able to do so until we got over the pass.  We had a major laundry day since we would be able to take advantage of a full day's sunshine and were able to run errands to restock our supplies, namely toilet paper and some extra batteries for headlamps.  The day we go over the mountain pass will start before sunrise, so working batteries in our handlamps will be essential.  I was also able to check my e-mail and thankfully, I had some thing from Heather.  I was so happy to hear she was safe and having a good time in Pokhara.  I let her know that I was having a really good time as well and was starting to consider finishing the entire circuit instead of stopping in Jomosom, where there was an airport that could take me to Pokhara.  I hadn't made up my mind yet.  I wasn't even sure I had enough time to tack on the additional days of trekking at that point, so I wanted her input.  Unfortunately, I wouldn't have access to internet again until I reached Jomosom which certainly wasn't ideal for decision making between two people in different parts of the country.

Our Canadian friends arrived fairly early in the day since they only had 2.5 hours of walking from Ngawal.  We were very happy to see them again.  We all attended a talk on acute mountain sickness given by the Himalayan Rescue Association, a group of volunteer physicians who provide medical care to trekkers and the local population in Manang.  We were able to have our oxygen saturation levels tested (mine was 96%, not bad for 3500 m) and we learned about the symptoms of altitude sickness and the signs of severe illness.  We were also able to go to the cinema, of all places.  We watched "Into Thin Air," a movie based on Jon Krakaur's book about the disastrous Mt. Everest summit attempts in the spring of 1996 (he was on Everest at the same time as the IMAX crew who were filming the Everest IMAX movie for those of you who might have seen that).  The movie was pretty cheesy, but it was fun none the less.

On our walk back to our lodge, we encountered Nepalis celebrating Deepawali, the third day of the Tihar festival.  There were candles lining the path outside of people's homes as an inviting gesture to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Tilicho Peak rising above Manang.