15 Pothana

On 19th Dec morning when I went out to look at the shy it did seem clearer than it was yesterday at Chomrung. I had to decide if I was going to do Mardi-Himal trek as on add-on to this or skip it. Because If I was doing Mardi I had to take a different upward trail from Pitam-Deorali and if not carry on to Pothana. I decided I will take that decision at the last minute i.e. after reaching Pitam-Deorali.

In the morning I had a nice hot-shower (had an attached bath with geyser in this excellent GH). And we left Landruk at 8:30 after the luxury of nice breakfast Toast/Butter, Omleette and Coffee.

We walked mostly on the dirt road and till we passed Tolga at 9:30AM.

GE Waypoints Image > from Chomrung to Kande via Landruk, Pothana

A Bhedi-Kharka Teahouse (11:40AM)

After Tolga, at around 11:05, we left the road and started climb to Pothana at signpost. We passed Bhedi-Kharka at 11:40AM and reached Pitam-Deorali at 12:10AM. Here on a saddle there was a nice square with views on both sides of the saddle. There was the the sign-post for the going-up trail to Mardi trek.

The signpost at the trail to Mardi Himal ... at Pitam-Deorali

Though the weather seemed still clear and good I decided to drop Mardi on a whim. (later in retrospect it turned out to be a good decision as weather turned bad and rainy).

Annapurna as seen over terraced fields of Tolga

The Signpost saying "Very Short way to Deorali, Pothana & Damphus"

As we leave Pitam Deorali there were clouds gathering near Annapurna Range