Days 05-08 Diary

12th May --> Day-5 Trek Jaubari to Sanam via Salpa-La (3350M)

We left our Jaubari teahouse at 7:00 AM climbing up steeply over the same ridge, on a rocky stony gully trail path leading up towards the Pass. Around 10:00AM we reached a meadow area at Bilbate marked with a sign pointing to a side pilgrim trail to Salpa Pokhari A little further we reached a cattle shed at Gurase where stopped for a rest and had a tea and some biscuits.

As we neared the pass we passed several old stone Chortens and even long Mani walls. At 12:30PM we reached the Salpa-La Pass and stopped there to have a noodle soup and take some pictures. After 30 minutes we started on a gradual down-hill towards Sanam. It took us 3 hours walk to reach and we arrived there around 4:15 PM and took a room in Gumba Lodge (next to the Gumba) operated by two very old couple. Dawa offered to cook evening meal so as not to trouble the old couple.

I walked around the nice scenic setting of Sanam with half-dozen houses all in one street in line with the Gompa. Clouds rolled in by late evening and some rain fell. Had a Tongba with Dal-bhat dinner and slept early.

13th May --> Day-6 Trek Sanam (2780M) to Gudel (1985M)

When I got up at 5:30AM the weather outside was cloudy and misty with low visibility. After breakfast, started walk at 6:45AM through Misty clouds. Trail mostly downhill gradually with parts in forests and stony step gullies.

We reached Sanam Gomba (marked Nimchola in a teahouse) at 8:10AM and I had black coffee there. Continuing on soon we could see Gudel ahead and down below in a misty setting. We reached Gudel's Kopila GH at 10:45AM and took a room there. Though our plan was to go on to Bung but decided to make it a short day instead of going down and then climbing up again to Bung. Had Dal-Bhat for lunch at Gudel. For some 'breakdown' reason there was no electricity in Gudel that evening ... but we could see the entire Bung was well lit up on the hill across the valley!

14th May --> Day-7 Trek Gudel (1985M) to Bung (1560M)

Got up 6:00AM and went outside to see weather. It was raining and has been since 4AM I was told. After breakfast it was still raining so waited for it to stop. At 8:15AM started trek downhill in a stone-stepped gully all the way down to a river bridge at 1340M. On the other side climbing again.

Arrived at Bung (1560M) at 11:05AM and took a room at a teahouse "Aay Bung". Electricity was available here so recharged all my batteries in camera and phone. Tried calling home 2-3 times, but network was failing every few seconds. Had a San-Miguel beer before lunch of a hot and good dal-bhat. After lunch a 2 hour nap.

15th May --> Day-8 Trek Bung (1560M) to Khiraule (2500M)

We left Bung in the morning at 7:10AM and around 8:30 passed a Bhatti where a little girl named "Manila" posed for pic for me. We walked through some forest trail and a light drizzle began to fall.

At Bilbate a sign showing directions to Sanam and Salpa-Pokhari

The Teahouse at Salpa-La (3350M) ... where we had a noodle soup

The Khiraule Gomba inside a circular walled forest of Juniper trees