Day 132 - 3900 Metres Elevation. Manang to Manang.

Today was our acclimatization day in Manang. We began by sleeping in (6:30 AM!). After a little breakfast, we did a short acclimatization hike up to 3900 metres on a neighboring mountain with good views of the glaciers and surrounding peaks. To spend some time at the higher elevation, we had tea at the small tea shop set up at the foot of the glacier, and I trekked up another 100 metres or so to a currently unoccupied village or monastery complex. There was evidence of people having recently lived there, so I suspect it is active in the summer months, but the weather is too harsh for people to stay there in the fall and winter. From the top, a guide pointed out the peaks of Thorung Mountain, and the pass that we would be walking through. It's well up in the snow, but less intimidating than I thought.

Feeling suficiently used to the thinner air, we began our slow descent back to Manang. The way up had been relatively easy, as the trail was mostly frozen. The way back down proved somewhat trickier, as in sunny places the path had thawed to a slippery, cold sludge. Knowing that I was wearing my only pair of long pants and only set of long underwear was all that kept me from slipping and falling on my bottom. There was no way that was going to spend the day cold and wet.

Last night someone ordered yak meat for dinner. The owner of the lodge said that there was none available, but that today there would be fresh yak. The yak arrived mid afternoon. Apparently today was yak-delivery day for all the hotels as a steady stream of porters bearing large quarters of yak slowly made its way up the street. Our hotel received one hindquarter - leg and hoof intact - a head, and a shoulder. A steady sound of chopping emanated from the kitchen area as the large, obviously yak-shaped pieces were transformed into tonight's dinner. (Not my dinner, I'm a fan of yak cheese. Yaks themselves are far too cute to eat.)

Manang is a veritable city. Last night we went to the movies. The movie hall consists of a fairly large TV with a DVD player in a room with a wood-burning stove and benches covered in yak pelts. We watched "Caravan", set in the mountains not far from here. We had such a good time that we decided to go back again tonight. Unfortunately, they were showing "Caravan" again, so we decided that rather than do a rerun, we would take a little walk.

The moon was nearly full. Though it washed out the stars, it made the mountains glow silver. Luckily Cz figured out how to work the long-exposure feature of his camera, so we were able to take some pictures. The photos don't do the show justice, but at least you can get an idea.