We arrived in Nepal to a reunion with Gunnar and Jo in Kathmandu. It was great to be back traveling with them, and we certainly celebrated. However we wasted no time, as we only had 1 month and there was a lot we wanted to do. After only 3 days we had our permits and equipment organized and we off trekking the Annapurna Circuit. A great trek... We have so many amazing photos it was very difficult to pick just 30 to share with you!
This was taken near the start of the trek at a lower altitude where the weather was clearly still warm!
Traffic jam enroute. There are no roads in these montains where we were, just paths. However there are still many villages and farms, so all your supplies have to be carried in. Sometime by donkey...
Or a porter... these guys can carry amazing loads.
One of the many suspension bridges we crossed... this one right behind a crew of donkeys/mules.
This was actually 3 women carrying a load of lumber...
Our first snow fall... I think it was day 4 or 5 at and this Village was called Lower Pisang.
Time to check the map....
Second snow fall in Minang... altitude around 3500m above sea level. Starting to notice the thin air, had to take an acclimitization day here...
Did a day hike on our acclimitzation day... Important to help your body adjust to the altitude ~ always push yourself higher and sleep lower than your highest point. Found a nice little lookout just outside of Minang. Not a bad view... :)
On the trail to Tilicho Lake, a 3 days adventure off the Annapurna Circuit. We were doing a little hike in the afternoon after reaching our destination/lodge early so pushed ourselves up another few hundred meters above where we were sleeping. Went off the trail and I nearly tripped on this Yak whom was sleeping behind a bush. We both scared the crap out of each other....
A view from the top when we decided we'd gone high enough and the first symptoms of AMS were kicking in...
Next day on the way to Tilicho Lake base camp where we dumped out bags and spent the night after hiking up to the lake ~ the highest lake in the world!
This picture was taken the same day as the one above, only several hours later. The difference between 4000m and 5000m. More snow, and freaking cold! The wind was blowing so hard here one gust actually knocked Jillene over!
Tilicho Lake, the highest lake in the world. Unfortunately it is frozen now... Would probably best be seen in Sept after the monsoon...
The 4 of us 3 days later at high camp, back on the curcuit and about to go over the worlds highest pass, Throng La (5400m). This was the goal of the whole trek, to make it over this pass... We slept at 4900m this night.
View from High Camp in the morning.
Heading up to the pass... we couldn't have done it on a better day.
We made it!
And heading down... the layers started coming off quite quickly on the way down.
And finally a little celebration afterwards for making it over and to celebrate Jillenes birthday which was the day before we went over the pass. Can't drink any wine at that altitude, so she was forced to have a quiet one... Was a great trek, and an incredible way to spend 16 days in Nepal. We can't wait to go back and do the next one.
A little street meat! A butchers merchandise laid out to entice his customers outside the butcher shop. 
And that's all folks; we're headed home! Can't believe it. It has been a great 4 months and we've seen/done a lot. We'd love to keep going for another 4, but I suppose its time to come home and get back to work. We had an epic weekend in Bangkok first to eat as much Thai food as we could fit into 3 days, and do some shopping. Now just one night Singapore and we'll be on our way. See everyone soon. Looking forward to getting home, hearing about what we missed while we're away and maybe filling you in on a few more of our adventures! Cheers...
