Machhapuchhare at sunrise
A short day of walking through rhododendron forests. We started later (around 8a) and stopped earlier (about 1:30) with a long, long stop for lunch.
We'll hike from Mountain Discovery Lodge to Banthanti
A pack train was being readied for the trail.
Pack train
From the Mountain Discovery Lodge we climbed about 1200′ to Tadapani (8,530′) through a thick rhododendron forest in full bloom. It was a stiff climb, but absolutely fantastic.
This tree with white flowers was a rarity
Annapurna South
Trail through the rhododendron
Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare from Tadapani
We stayed a while at Tadapani–a couple of hours, until after lunch.
Himalayan lizard
Verditer Flycatcher
Large-billed Crows
From Tadapani, it was a steep downhill to a stream and the four lodges that make up Banthanti.
Annapurna South among the rhododendron
Machhapuchhare among the rhododendron
Dishes awaiting cleaning
Walking under rhododendron
The stream
Arriving at Banthanti
We stayed at the Hungry Eye
Hungry Eye at Banthanti
where the chickens foraged among the dirty dishes
Chickens lunching on the leftovers
and I had another room with a stone floor and leaky windows.
My room at the Hungry Eye