"Easy"

July 30

Day 1- Easy

So our guides told us that day 1 is "easy". I don't know that I would call it "easy", but Darren and I made it in pretty good time I think. We sort of ditched the rest of the group and went pretty hard.

It was a beautiful, all be it grueling, hike. The views were absolutely breathtaking. We were constantly in between the two cliffs, sometimes a little close to the edge, or too close to a donkey. And speaking of donkeys, they were everywhere for the first bit of the hike. The local people use them to port goods back and forth. Yes, people live way up here in the hillsides. The government tried to move them but the people wouldn't leave. Anyway, because of the the donkeys there is poo everywhere!  So not only are you focussing on putting one foot in front of the other, but also making sure one of those feet doesn't end up in a pile of poop. 

Today, we started at 2800 meters (above sea level) and climbed to 3300 meters in 14 kms. There isn't much to say on the rest since walking was the prime activity of the day. However, I will tell you about the "basic" food and accommodations we've had on this hike so far. But first, let me predicate by saying that in our group there are 14 hikers and 2 guides. We also have a cook, assistant cook, and 18 porters (including our waiter). Now, the fact that people are carrying our luggage up for us is crazy. They each carry 20 kilos, and yet they still beat us up the mountain. When we arrived at our meeting point for lunch the porters had exactly 14 small bowls of warm water waiting for us. A man came by with soap, and another followed with paper towels so we could wash and dry before lunch. The porters had already been there for 2 hours. They had set up a tent complete with tables and chairs, plates and utensils. As we came up over the little hill, they clapped for us and poured us each a glass of pineapple juice. For lunch, they served us the best guacamole ever, soup, a chicken curry/stew, rice and vegetables. (So much for basic right?!). Lunch was followed by hot tea in a variety of types and flavours.  They also did all the cleaning, repacked and were back on the mountain. 

The leg after lunch was almost entirely incline and Darren and I broke away to go at our own pace. We even beat a few porters to the campsite; mind you, we maybe had 5-7 kilos, not  20.

Once again, these amazing men outdid themselves. They set up our tents, lined them with tarps, laid down our mats, set up the eating and kitchen tents and had tea, coffee, hot chocolate, crackers and popcorn ready for us shortly after our arrival. Oh, and they laid out 2 bowls of hot water per tent (like right in front of the tents) for each of us to wash up first. Once again, they were ready and waiting with soap and paper towel. 

Anyway, dinner consisted of chicken soup, trout, some sort of quiche like pastry made made with spinach, vegetables, rice and potatoes. Here's the best part though...

They flambeed bananas in rum for us for dessert!  It was delicious, but seems absolutely ridiculous!  We of course grateful and wholly impressed with the incredible food, service, and effort out forth by this men. It is more than any of us could have possibly expected or even anticipated. 

So, with all my layers of clothes on this very chilly evening, and my shoes safely zipped away in the tent (so the donkeys don't eat them in the night), I will sleep soundly. 

Wake up call, 530 am.