This is the eleventh post of a three-week series. Please visit the “Adventure Journal” page of our website and start with “Why Nepal?” to read in order! As always, I have added perspectives from the kids (as they allow me to).

Cover Photo: A candid photo Kapil took during the hike today. My head was definitely spinning with a lot of negative thoughts in that moment.

*Please note that to see Cover Photo on email notification, you will need to click “Read On” at the bottom of the email.

Day 10: Chumling (2,350m) - Lokpa (2,240m)

June 7, 2019

Stats:

Walked: 4 hrs 21 mins
Distance: 6.08 miles
Ascent: 2,178 ft
Descent: 3,423 ft
Elevation Gain: -1,245 ft

Why do we have to go down the same path again? I wish we could have kept going onto the Manaslu circuit from Tsum Valley without having to retrace our steps.

Downhill is killing my knees. I guess I have weak knees because I grew four and half inches in high school.

It’s hot.

My legs hurt.

Oh no! Kaysee’s legs hurt...I hope we are not causing any developmental damage to his legs.

I hate these bugs. I am so itchy everywhere.

Crap—I wonder if I have lice. My scalp feels better after the bucket shower, but they are probably dormant or something. Maybe it’s all the fleas from these damn mules. Well, at least fleas don’t live on humans.

I hate mule poop.

Gosh there are so many flies...because there is so much poop.

I’m so sweaty.

I don’t want to be here.

Whose idea was this anyway?

I’m so tired.

These were the statements of my internal chatter for hours. I was negative and super annoyed. I felt tired and was watching everyone else ache around me. Honestly, I was miserable, and I was having the grandest pity party.

We were officially over the halfway mark, but we were in bad shape…and we hadn’t even truly got back on the Manaslu Circuit. Kapil and I had a very honest conversation about turning back. We talked to our guide, Mingmar, and he suggested we wait one more day and see how the kids were doing. He agreed that if they were not able to complete the next day, we should turn around. At this point, it would take roughly the same number of days to return back to a pick-up point as it would to complete the circuit, only we still had a climb in front of us, to the famous Larke Pass.

That night, we decided that it would be best if we try a third sleeping tent to allow for better sleep. Mingmar informed us that we had a spare tent that could be set up and we opted to do so. Five people among three tents would mean a bit more space and I welcomed that scenario.

I was grateful to have had easy day, but I was worried about the kids. The back-up plan that we came up with (to turn around after tomorrow’s hike if people were not well), was comforting. As beautiful as it was, I am not sure the Tsum Valley extension was worth missing the Circuit, but we will have to see how the kids handle Day 11.

Our Day 10 photo was in the dining tent at camp because I was in no mood to suggest a group picture on the trail. Though I’m smiling, I feel defeated from the day.

This was us in the morning at Chumling, trying to dry our mats and tent before packing up.

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Excerpt from Zayan’s Journal (12 years):

Lokpa was the last stop on the Tsum Valley extension of our journey through the Manaslu Circuit. The hike today was quite uneventful, except for when a very weird bug landed on Mingmar. It was a big green worm with slicked back white hair, as if it was wrapped vertically in a fishing line. Other than that, it was a hot an tiring day.

When we got to the campsite, and after a tasty dal-bhat lunch, we settled down and were allowed to watch something on my mom’s iPad. The only thing that had downloaded was my sister’s cringe-worthy show from the late 50’s called, Bewitched.

However, the iPad was a distraction and while we were watching, my parents were talking to Mingmar about whether or not we should continue. Unfortunately, I was not present at that meeting, so I don’t know the details, but the final verdict was that we would decide what is best for all of us tomorrow.

Excerpt from Kenza’s Journal (9 years):

Today was wet because it poured all night and a little bit in the morning. The walking was mostly downhill but also uphill for a little bit. When we finished the hike, I had over 20 conversations with Daddy.

Everyone is kind of paining so we don’t know if we will continue, but I would be really sad if we didn’t. I guess everyone will see how they feel tomorrow.

Excerpt from Kaysan’s Journal (7 years):

Today was an easy day but with a lot of pain and uphill!!! We only hiked 4 hours. When we were hikeing my legs were herting.

At the beginning of the day it was just DUMPING!! I had to pack my own sleeping bag. Even inside the tent it was wet!!!

At the end of the hike, Tupy [Kaysee’s nickname for Kapil] had to carry me until we got there. When we got there then we were having lunch and discussing if we should continue this trek or not. Then we had dinner and we were discusing the sleeping arangments and ended up being like this [so Mommy could rest}—me and daddy, kenza and mommy, and Zayan by him self in the spare third tent we put up.