Handling them well on all levels requires, more than anything else, being procured and of a mindset and a taste for the rough simplicity of mountain living. You’ll find practical advice and know-how to prepare for the particular conditions of the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.
Communication and Connectivity
It is a big part of the whole experience, the digital detox side of hiking the Annapurna Base Camp, but that also means that you need to go prepared to be able to cut off from the net. Lower elevation villages such as Ghandruk and Chhomrong have mobile networks from Nepalese service providers such as Ncell and NTC, but the further up you go, the weaker the signal you get. The same goes for Wi-Fi. Most teahouses offer Wi-Fi for a nominal fee, but the connection will be slow and unreliable and only good for messages and basic browsing, not video calls or streaming. And tell these folks about these prohibitions before you head over. The trekking agencies and guides all have satellite phones, although mainly for emergencies. Your agency’s emergency contact number is at your side, as well as one for your insurance company.
Limited Access to Medical Care
Another of the best things to be aware of on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the lack of any medical services. Teahouse owners, as well as local guides, have rudimentary first aid training, but there is no hospital — or clinic, for that matter — on the trail. The nearest major medical centers are in the city of Pokhara, reachable by days of walking or an expensive and weather-disruptible helicopter evacuation. That is why being self-sufficient for minor medical issues is essential. Both individual and group trekkers should carry a first-aid kit containing painkillers and broad-spectrum antibiotic tablets, blister treatment, antiseptic for cuts and abrasions, bandages and disinfectant strip, antacids, antidiarrhea medicine, and any other medicine. For more severe forms of altitude illness (AMS), rapid descent is the only treatment.
Managing Altitude Sickness
The altitude is the number one thing to cope with, relative to distant conditions on the ABC Trek. The further you climb up, the altitude makes the air thinner (less air pressure) and has less O, hence AMS. Your symptoms — headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue — are what your body is using to tell you to slow back down again. There is no road where people can drive to reach a hospital — the trail is far too remote. Through a slowed and steady ascent, prevention is the key. One must listen to one’s body and never allow oneself to be coerced into keeping up with everyone else. And the “climb high, sleep low” strategy might help, as is staying well-hydrated. The only true treatment for sustained or worsening symptoms is to de- vour (to descend to a lower altitude at once), and in extreme cases, to request a helicopter evacuation.
Power Supply and Charging
On the trekking routes on the ABC circuit, power is generally generated locally, from small hydro plants or solar panels. The farther up, the harder-to-get, harder-to-trust power. Most teahouses offer charging, but usually at a cost, and there are limited units (or, as in the trail to Everest, the electricity cuts out at times). You’ll also probably be able to hunt for a single outlet in the communal dining hall, typically one that dozens of other trekkers must share. A portable power bank is a lifesaver for this. We recommend bringing one 10,000mAh power bank or one solar charger so you can recharge your phone and camera batteries as well as other small devices. You can document your trip and chauffeur in safety, without wondering where the next recharging station is coming from.
Dealing with Simple Accommodations
During the treks to Annapurna Base Camp, the accommodation is at teahouses, which are simple lodges, operated by a local family. “Nothing has been used yet,” the source says, adding that he expression “remote conditions” also applies to the facilities. Dorms are functional and usually contain two single beds on a thin mat and a simple blanket. Shared bathroom facilities are almost always standard, and in the more remote areas, squat toilets are common. Hot showers are a luxury, and they typically cost extra. If you are coming in the cooler months here, you will need to carry your own sleeping bag (In winter, the rooms are unheated, so the extent of a -10 degree C bag will do). The common eating room – described on our left, the elegant interiodining room; on the right, the barroom and so forth – where there is a great chimney taking up practically the whole of the wall, is the only place in the inn that is warm, and the great source of attraction to the hikers.
Food and Water Limitations
Teahouses offer a variety of food, but the variety is limited and prices are higher the higher you go. Delivering supplies to the country’s many remote villages is an expensive and arduous exercise. Their staple is dal bhat — lentil soup, rice, and vegetables. And it is the best and the cheapest. As for water, bottled water is expensive and bad for the environment, so I would consider bringing an iodine purifier or some other kind of filter. But one of the best ways to manage water needs when heading out-of-the-way source points is to take your own and serve it as water you have purified using a water filter, purificattabletsblespurifier-stylestyle a UV water purifier. The best and most environmentally friendly way to do this is to purify water from streams or boil water in a teahouse.
Environmental and trail conditions
Get admission to: As you move deeper into the wasteland of the Annapurna Sanctuary, the situation of the paths adjusts hastily. Even well-traveled trails can become slick and muddy after an unexpected downpour and, in the colder season, icy or full of snow, then melt in the sun to shape streams of icy water at better elevations. Be it water-resistant trekking boots with exact grip on the soil, the right shoes to deal with these modifications are important. It’s highly suggested to bring walking sticks to help us walk on uneven ground. Given the beauty of this untamed area, you will want to adhere to the ethic of “Leave No Trace.” Carry everything back with you- empty plastic bottles, wrappers, etc., to leave the caves in the state it was meant to be in.
The Unpredictable Weather
Mountain weather is infamously finicky. One moment you are enjoying a nice morning on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, but the very next moment, it can be snowing on you, especially in high season. The weather, too, is anything but predictable, and far-flung climes mean that you can’t simply check the trusty ol’ weather channel for the week aheadSoso that you know, you gotta put together for the entirety, any time of year. Get dressed in layers to house temperature fluctuations. You’ll need a cover to protect you from the rain and wind (anything that’s water-resistant will do), a heat fleece for the day of your life, while you’re wearing a coat, and a down jacket to hold you heat on any day, while rain, in, or snow may infiltrate.
Final Thoughts
Half the appeal of the ABC Trekking is managing the isolated Annapurna Base Camp Trek conditions. It requires an independence of spirit, precise planning, a proand found respect for the mountain environment. Charged by the admission of spotty wifi, the chance of illness, and the discovery of facilities to emerge amidst the stunning craziness of the Annapurna Sanctuary. The challenges faced during the trek are just some of what make the Annapurna Base Camp trek so fulfilling. As ze up into the heart of the Annapurna massif, there is a real sense of accomplishment.
