{"id":582,"date":"2013-03-01T00:40:49","date_gmt":"2013-02-28T16:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.joel.net.au\/?p=582"},"modified":"2026-11-03T15:41:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T07:41:00","slug":"and-more-stairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/day.lat\/lon\/2013\/03\/01\/and-more-stairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Annapurna Trek Day 4: And more stairs!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Early
Early morning at a mountain guesthouse in Chuile, Annapurna region, Nepal, with a grazing horse and free-ranging chickens in the courtyard overlooking the forested Himalayan foothills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a long recuperation, sleep in a below-average guest house… Well, it was okay except for all the guest signs and rules, including “do not put packs on beds.” Which begs the question: If their beds can’t handle my pack, how will they handle me? It was in a nice spot overlooking a big river valley and received some nice warm morning light. Hardly any other trekkers, save an Israeli couple. I asked for cornbread with my breakfast and got a huge fried pastry, like a papadon, made with corn and sprinkled with sugar, which was quite nice.<\/p>\n

\"Local
Local villagers enjoying the early morning panoramic views of the Himalayan foothills from a guesthouse in Chuile, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Local
Local Nepalese family outside a traditional mountain guesthouse along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From about 2\/3 up the mountain, our trek led us straight down many switchbacks and stairs to a suspension bridge over a river, then back up the other side. Eventually we reached a stretch wiped out by a monsoon landslide four years ago, and we had to take a huge detour way up to a higher altitude than where we started.<\/p>\n

\"Rocky
Rocky mountain stream flowing through a steep, forested valley along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Narrow
Narrow suspension bridge decorated with colourful Buddhist prayer flags over a steep, rocky gorge along the trail between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trekkers
Trekkers crossing a narrow suspension bridge decorated with colourful Buddhist prayer flags over a steep, rocky gorge along the trail between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along the way, we saw terraced farming plots of wheat and other crops, including some marijuana. It was amazing to think these people spent their days working their way up and down these huge mountainsides. We occasionally came across couriers with massive packs of fragile cargo on their backs, like eggs or bottled drinks, that couldn’t be trusted on a mule’s back.<\/p>\n

\"Traditional
Traditional hillside village surrounded by terraced agricultural fields, overlooking a steep forested valley along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Traditional
Traditional hillside village surrounded by terraced agricultural fields, overlooking a steep forested valley along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cabbages
Cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) intersperced with majiuana plants growing in a small vegetable garden along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nepalese
Nepalese porter carrying a large stack of chicken eggs up steep stone steps along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Several massive landslides in the area claimed many lives. One in particular left a huge rock, about the size of a four-story office building, lying halfway down the hill. There were many memorials next to the track for those villagers who died in the landslides.<\/p>\n

\"Ginormous
Ginormous boulder deposited by a rockslide in a steep mountain ravine along the trekking route between Chuile and Jhinu Danda, Annapurna region, Nepal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 4 Hike of the Annapurna Circuit<\/strong>
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Map of the route \u201cAnnapurna Trek Day 4: And more stairs!\u201d: 11,342 m, 452 m of climbing and 953 m of descent, elevation between 1,808 m and 2,301 m, time 03:55:22. It starts at 28.40462, 83.77573 and ends at 28.40998, 83.82424 (latitude, longitude).<\/p>