There are 5 weeks to go before setting off on our trek into the Himalayas. It has hit home that we are not as fit as we were at the begining of the summer....something to do with festivals, too much socialising and everyone choosing to get married in August. So the heat is on now to get back into a routine of regular sunday walks up and down hills. Nothing can really prepare us for the altitude, but being fit and used to carrying our 3 litres of water in our back packs is a step in the right direction.
I have mastered how to put the camel (water carrier) in my back pack after adamantly thinking i had a faulty one. Putting it in the right way so water runs down the tube and into the mouth makes a huge difference! I think my biggest fear is being cold at night in our little tea house up in the mountains. So any pointers woudl be gratefully received. A 4 season sleeping bag & thermals is my preparation.
People who do adventure challenges have many reasons for doing them. My reasons are twofold: the physial challenge and a school in Pokhara that is close to my heart. It is a flight away from the capital Kathmandu and the place so many trekkers start their adventures from into the Annapurna range of mountains. Back in 2009 i volunteered as a Sports Massage Tutor at a school called Seeing Hands which was set up my an english couple to teach blind students massage, to give them a profession and an income. I was extremely touched by the students and promised to return for a paid massage when they had qualified. So this trek is the mountain i climb to meet these students again.
The school in Pokhara has 7 therapists and a new one has opened in Kathmandu with 3. There is now hope they can expand to a third location in Patan, a popular area for ex-pats in Kathmandu. I have written all about my experience teaching these students back in my earliest blogs:
If you would like to donate any funds to the school please visit:
