It’s Christmas Eve but it doesn’t feel at all like Christmas season in the Himalaya. This is actually a good thing – otherwise I am sure I would have missed Christmas at home a lot. But here I am in a different world and don’t need to celebrate Christmas, I get to see the beauty…
AC: Thorong Phedi – Muktinath | Dec. 23, 2015
This is the long awaited – dreaded – looked forward to (?) day where I am going to cross Thorong La Pass at 5416m altitude. The night was horrible, I didn’t sleep much and once even had the feeling I cannot breath at all. I am getting up at 4am, taking a few shots of…
Gear review Annapurna Circuit
What should I take for the Annapurna Circuit? Especially given that I hiked it during wintertime, that question took me quite some time to tackle. I searched the web, forums, weather charts, asked friends, … and prepared myself as best as I could. But I couldn’t conceive what -25°C means – the worst case scenario for…
AC: Khangsar – Thorong Phedi Camp | Dec. 22, 2016
After a good night of sleep we’re up early again for the long hike to Thorong Phedi. The sun is there as every day and I enjoy the great view from the window of my room. Would it be like 20 degrees warmer I really could hang around longer everywhere and just enjoy the nature….
Hello San Francisco | March 2016
My second visit to San Francisco – again a business trip but which still allows me to discover the city a little bit further! I love this city, it has a very special atmosphere and I enjoy that you can actually still walk around. Plus it is so close to great outdoor sites such as Redwoods,…
Hello white mountains: Skiing at Wilder Kaiser – Austria | March 10-12, 2016
While I started hiking a couple of years ago, it seems I have completely forgotten about the second best thing to do in the mountains: skiing! It’s been 6 or 7 years that I didn’t go skiing and just thinking about glittering white mountains makes me wanna leave immediately. As my work keeps me extremely…
AC Side Trip: Tilicho Lake | Dec. 21, 2015
I cannot believe I really made it to one of the highest lake in the world! Once I decided on doing the Annapurna Circuit in winter, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to to the side trip to Tilicho Lake. Usually in december there is too much snow, making the crossing far too dangerous. But…
AC Side Trip: Manang-Tilicho BC | Dec. 20, 2015
What a day! Impressive landscape, quite different from the trail so far on the Annapurna Circuit (AC) and a lot more difficult. It feels great to start the day as a group. With my guide, we are now 9 people to walk from Manang to Tilicho Base Camp today. After checking in at the Tourist…
AC Side Trip: Ice Lake | Dec. 19, 2015
Most trekkers take a rest day in Manang for acclimatization. Walk high and sleep low is the best way to get used to the altitude. So I decided to go really high today, from the 3,540m in Manang up to the 4,600 of Ice Lake. My guide adviced it would be too difficult, but having…
AC: Ghyaru to Manang | Dec. 18, 2015
This morning my water in the drinking bottle is frozen and my thermometer shows -5°C. I am “only” at 3600m, how will this be at much higher altitude? Luckily my sleeping bag is cozy and warm. Getting out of the sleeping bag into my clothes is a completely different thing though. I will probably be a…
AC: Chame to Ghyaru | Dec. 17, 2015
A bad morning, my eyes are completely swollen, I am tired and my nose is bleeding… But I am starting anyway at 7h30 and already in Chame I meet another hiker, Amog from India with his guide. It’s again a beautiful day and the sun is shining and it’s nice to talk to someone for…
AC: Tal to Chame | Dec. 16, 2015
I love that it is so easy to sleep in the mountains after a good day of exercice! Usually I am a very “difficult sleeper”, meaning I have a lot of troubles falling asleep, laying in my bed for hours still awake. But during the whole trip I seem to be tired enough (if not…
Hello Mountains 