There are about 600 trekking companies in Kathmandu and many organise trekking groups. Since I was more committed to the idea of going through Rabi's company than I was to finding a group, I was fully reconciled to doing the trek with just a porter and a guide. About a month before leaving, however, I was talking about it with Maria, a fellow volunteer at Orchid Garden, and invited her along too. After much umm-ing and ah-ing, she decided to join. She also invited along Henry, a photo-journalism intern in Kathmandu who was lodging with the same family as her. So our final party comprised me, Henry and Maria along with our guide Vivek and two porters, Dil and Ram. This is the only group shot I have of us, taken on day 13 when we were all pretty dishevelled. It's not a good shot of any of us, but it's all I've got. From left to right: Dil, Henry, Vivek, Maria, Ram and me.
The ACT attracts a fair number of trekkers, 10,000 a year. In peak season (October and November) about 200 people a day cross the pass. Thankfully it wasn't so crowded when we were there. There were enough people on the trail to get a sense of camaraderie, especially at the lodges in the evenings, but not so many that it felt crowded. As we progressed, we got to be pretty friendly with some of the other groups and that was a part of the whole trekking experience that I enjoyed very much, far more than I actually would have expected to. You'll be hearing more about the people we met along the way when I write up the diary style posts. For the time being, here's a shot of some of the people I became friendly with. From left to right: Hans, Patrice, Jolie, Maria (hereafter, in order not to cause confusion with the Maria in my group, I shall refer to her (not undiscriptively) as cute Maria), me and Gord.
For centuries before trekkers started trundling through, the path has been used by local villagers and, for the first half of the trek, it's still the only way around the area. I lost count of the number of porters we passed carrying ridiculous loads over steep, rough terrain whilst wearing only flip flops on their feet, if anything at all. Here, for example, is a cupboard with legs:
It wasn't only people who were our companions on the trail. Mule trains were also a common sight:
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