Trip Reports

Annapurna Challenge 2019

Annapurna Challenge team reach base camp!
Trip Report

Written by Leader Mungo Ross, December 2019

Steps.

Lots of steps.

Lots and lots, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots, lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of steps.

Why would anyone choose to spend their holiday walking up and down lots (and lots) of steps?

Because they’re there? Because you can? For the challenge? To fully understand “stepness”? To be at one with steps? To discover oneself through “stepping”? To overcome a fear of steps? Perhaps some people just enjoy walking up and down lots (and lots) of steps?

One particularly good reason is - because you have to - in order to gain access to the Annapurna Sanctuary, which is exactly what this group of friends have just done. Amyn brought together a group of twenty of his friends and friends-of-friends who were joined by Rosie from the Jagged Globe office, so along with our support crew of thirteen porters and five Sherpas meant that there were lots (and lots) of us negotiating the so many steps that are encountered on this spectacular trek.

Blessed with dry weather throughout, clear views (whenever needed), good health (apart from a cold which insisted on doing the rounds), good humour (no need to mention dodgy jokes here), everyone heeding the advice of not to fall off the steps, and adjusting admirably to the rarefied atmosphere of the High Himalaya, and a collective appreciation of the privilege of experiencing one of the truly classic treks in Nepal this was indeed a very happy and successful expedition (did someone say “holiday”?).

For some, with considerable experience of being in and on the mountains, it was perhaps a bit of a walk in the park (albeit a very large park); for others it was a personally challenging experience both physically and of being away from the home comforts that we so take for granted (no need to mention the steps again). As the “Annapurna Challenge” it was just that, everyone rising to meet the demands of a large group sharing the range of “challenges” encountered on a trek through the Himalayas. That the whole group made it to Annapurna Base Camp but also had the opportunity to find the space to be alone in what has to be one of the most spectacular locations in the mountains of the world is testimony to a successful trip; the South face of Annapurna 1 is one of the great mountain walls with as huge a climbing history as it’s own vastness; the surrounding mountains of the other Annapurnas, Dhaulagiris, Nilgiris, Machhapuchhre just can’t fail to inspire, so it was not surprising to hear admissions of being brought to tears. Wouldn’t it be a shame to make the effort (and cope with all the steps) to get somewhere like the Annapurna sanctuary and not feel anything? To not experience something emotional, psychological and spiritual is surely to miss more than half the point, a sentiment shared by this whole group. Thank you all for having me share this personal journey with you, it has been a pleasure and privilege. And an equally huge thank you to Dawa and his superb crew and Jagged Globe for the organisation and support, and the Gods (or who or whatever) that granted us such good fortune, not forgetting the steps - lots of steps!


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