Day 17 : Langtang to Bamboo Hotel
Our lovely hostess at the Pilgrim Guest House.
Today was our last full day on the Langtang track. We needed to walk for 7 hours and to descend 1400m. We seemed to be the only group heading west with a constant stream of trekkers heading east up the valley on the first day on the trail. They were mainly Europeans and Americans on gap year holidays and there were a few older groups as well. An older German fellow (b.1943 - we became very intimate in the few seconds we spoke) told Glenis and I that he was impressed with our fitness for women of our age!
We passed through small hamlets with tea houses, handicraft stalls,a fascinating parade of locals carrying a variety of heavy, awkward loads, mule trains taking over the trail and walked over suspension bridges. An American family had organised a porter to carry their young child in a traditional basket. There was a change of scenery - pine forests replacing snow covered mountains. We followed an undulating path ascending stoned steps followed sliding down steep earthen pebbled sections and then sheltered soft,flat track by the raging Langtang River.
Checkpoints dotted along the path
Another delicious cooked lunch at Lama Hotel, which we took over for the meal.
Lunch at the Lama Hotel, a popular stopping point on the trail.
The last stretch was 2 hours to our destination, which is the Bamboo Hotel, an enclave by the river. En route some people saw monkeys and a wild goat with the constant singing of birds and cicadas.
We kept to a good pace today but we are all a little weary and worn down. A few have bad colds, one has a recurrence of shingles, cold sores, aching knees. Despite this we are in good spirits and enjoy our time together.
Bamboo Hotel has been perfect for a stopover. It is very basic but comfortable and has an appealing atmosphere being so close to the river. Our eating area sits high above the site and it is fascinating watching the activities of the other lodges and locals. Apparently during the monsoon in June and July, this area has been often affected by floods and the changing shape of the river. Life is precarious for so many Nepalese in so many ways but they just accept that as part of life.
M&M
17/5/2014
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