TRAIL
The impressive , awe-inspiring Annapurna massif
The company owner , Apollo , a highly-decorated triathlete , had planned the initial Yeti Marathon in 2022 , but torrential rains had damaged or blocked roads , and curtailed the itinerary . He was unable to hold the event on the planned route , and instead presented a shorter event nearer to Nepal ’ s capital , Kathmandu . Now in 2023 , he was hoping for better luck with the weather . Unfortunately , although WildMarathon and in-country partner Makalu Adventures advertised the new Yeti Marathon extensively , there were eventually only five participants : The three McIvors , Larry from the USA , and Thom from the UK . We were to meet up in Kathmandu in mid-October .
Makalu Adventures is a well-established Nepalese outfit , mainly specialising in treks , mountain climbs , and other unique or bespoke outdoor adventure pursuits in Nepal and Tibet . The itinerary for the Yeti Marathon trip therefore included an optional post-marathon ascent of the 6000m Pisang Peak , straddling the edges of the main mountain range in the central area of the Annapurna massif . We signed up for that as well .
The Mythical Yeti
The Yeti is a mythical , ape-like creature covered with brown , grey or white hair , and is sometimes depicted as having large , sharp teeth . It is purported to inhabit the Himalayas , and is also commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman . Followers of the ancient Bon religion in greater Tibet believed that the blood of the ‘ wild man ’, as they termed the Yeti , could be used in spiritual ceremonies . The Yeti was then adopted into Tibetan Buddhism , where images of Yetis are paraded and occasionally worshipped as guardians against evil spirits .
Many dubious articles have been offered in attempts to prove the Yeti ’ s existence , including sightings , video recordings , photographs and plaster casts of large footprints . Western interest in the Yeti peaked dramatically in the 1950s . A well-known British climber , Eric Shipton , took photographs of several large prints in the snow at about 6000 metres above sea-level . The distinct footprints had two large toes , and three smaller digits close together . Some argue that they are the best evidence of the existence of the Yeti , while others contend that the prints are those of a mundane creature that had been distorted by the melting snow .
The myth has been tarnished somewhat as several publicised sightings have subsequently been discovered to have been hoaxes . The misidentification of Himalayan wildlife has been proposed as an explanation for some Yeti sightings , including the langur monkey ( living at lower altitudes ), the Tibetan blue bear , and the Himalayan brown bear . Who knows for sure ? What is beyond doubt is that as we would be trekking and climbing in a popular area , in the most popular time of year , our chances of seeing one would be extremely remote !
The Annapurna Circuit
Our journey would take us on part of the eastern section of the Annapurna Circuit , a popular tourist trekking route in Nepal that is regularly voted as one of the best high-altitude treks in the world . The total length of this circuit is approximately 160km to 230km , depending where one starts from , and whether one uses any transport along the way . In its full form , the Circuit combines a wide variety of climate zones , from the tropics at lower elevations to the Arctic at the high points , with cultural variety from Hindu villages in the low foothills to the Tibetan culture of Manang Valley and lower Mustang further north , towards the border with Tibet . The trail also passes sub-tropical forests , several waterfalls and gigantic cliffs .
The trek is called the Annapurna Circuit because it circumambulates the Annapurna range , encompassing Annapurna , the 10th-highest mountain in the world , at just under 8100m elevation , lying in the province of Gandaki in North-Central Nepal . Annapurna is named after the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment , who is said to reside there . Many streams descend from its slopes , providing water for the agricultural fields and pastures located at lower elevations . The Annapurna massif comprises several satellite peaks in addition to the main summit – Annapurna II , III and IV , Gangapurna and several others – nearly all of which we would glimpse on our approach trek to the start of the marathon .
The whole area was only opened to foreign trekkers in 1977 , and the original trek started from the market town of Dhumre , situated on the highway between Kathmandu and Pokhara , the second city of Nepal . Heading in an anti-clockwise direction , the trail runs on the eastern side of the Annapurna massif , passing through the larger village of Manang , and then over the Thorung La Pass at 5400m , where it reaches the edge of the Tibetan plateau to the north . It then descends on the northern side of the massif , passing along the Kali Gandaki Gorge , one of the deepest gorges in the world , lying at an average elevation of 2000m between two 8000m peaks , Annapurna and Dhaulagiri . The trail then returns to Pokhara , making for a magnificent trek !
The mythical Yeti of the Himaayan Mountains
Annapurna III and Gangapurna seen from the Annapurna Circuit
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