Hiking near the Himalayas: Mules
About this recording
- Creator
- Kristin Post
- Date created
- October 19, 2000
- Duration
- 0:30
- Location
- Ghorapani Loop, Nepal
- File
- MP3
- License
- This recording copyright ©2000. Terms of use
Related media
Learn more
- Search LEARN NC for animals, Annapurna, bells, donkeys, herding, mountains, mules, Nepal, trails, and trekking.
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Trekking in the Himalayas in Nepal is not like trekking on the Appalachian Trail. Nor is it the same as climbing Mount Everest. Most tourists take certain routes, either to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, or a shorter route along the same trail. The trails are paved stone stairs, they are dotted with villages, and trekkers stay in guesthouses along the way. The views of the tallest mountains in the world are always present, but distant. The trails are narrow and steep, and well traveled by animals and people making their living, like these mule (or donkey?) drivers we walked by.
The sound you hear is the bell the mules wear around their neck. You can also hear the noises the young men make to keep the mules in line and moving along.
From my journal:
By the time we get to Ghandruk, I am sore in the back and feet, and sick of stairs. Shower is hot. But I am cold, so I crawl into the sleeping bag. Sabine and I are talking, Devi [our guide] wants us to take a tour of the town. Beautiful view. Pretty luxurious place. Take pictures of sunset, then decide to take tour- which is late — we get to great view, but sun has set. Machapuchare, all the Annapurnas in view. Devi takes us through local museum. We look at cooking pots, weaving implements, jugs, clothes, lanterns, guns, churn, etc. Back to place where we visit with some Canadians then go watch a video about ACAP- the conservation organization that also gives money to the villages where these trails are.
[next day]
Rest of trek is uphill. It’s beautiful. These terraced hills, and the rivers- with the color of the glacier — and all the little waterfalls that highlight the mountainside.
