Tilicho Lake
POSTCARDS | OCT 9Manang, Nepal (Annapurna Circuit)
Tilicho Lake was an exciting hike because there was so much snow! It was the most snow I’d seen since the Feb 2022 snowstorm in New York.
The hike started off in the early morning while it was still dark outside which meant I could observe the glittering stars overhead. However I took a bit of a detour down the wrong path because the right path had a giant “x” drawn in the dirt and only noticed my mistake when I saw the moving lights marching above me.
I love sunrise hikes because you get to see the beauty of the night sky turn into magic. The sun rising over the mountains and painting them with a rainbow of colors filled me with wonder.
The section of the path right before Tilicho Lake was covered in snow with enormous snow crystals. I loved how quiet and peaceful it was, especially given that I was one of the first hikers to arrive. At the top I met a group of Nepalese police officers who were completing the hike as part of their training. They offered to take my photo and use their Nepalese flag as a prop.
The hike down from Tilicho Lake was equally as stunning but also included a tricky landslide-prone area. It was incredible to watch the locals transport goods to the base camp either on donkeys or their own backs. I saw a man carry a mattress! It really made me think about how much labor goes into supporting tourists who hike on this trail.
Stars and snow caps.
The first glimpses of sunrise over the mountains.
An early morning start
Walking in awe.
Stomping in the snow.
Arriving to the lake
Creating memories
Celebrating with friends. Taking photos to prove we made it.
Our group trekked together up to Tilicho Lake, some of us together since Day 1, others since Day 4.
I was one of the first trekkers to arrive to the lake which meant that I could sneak in some great photos.
Note to self: melted and remelted Twix doesn't break well. Chocolate also doesn't taste as good in high altitudes
Look at how huge the snow crystals are!
The view on the way to Tilicho Lake
A local hiker let us borrow his Nepalese flag, which was tied to his hiking pole.
Commemorating how short I am compared to my Norwegian friend. (Photo credit: Anna F.).
Feeling pretty great! I met a group of Nepalese police officers who were hiking as part of training, and they let me borrow their Nepalese flag for a photo.
Saying goodbye to the snow.
Marveling at the changing landscape.
Carefully navigating through a landslide area.
Headed back to town
The hike to Tilicho Base Camp goes through a landslide area (thanks for the sign) that takes about 30 min to walk through - more so if you're afraid of heights!
Photo credit: Anna F
Photo credit: Anna F
Photo credit: Anna F
Photo credit: Anna F. She did a wonderful job capturing a photo of me while I was hiking down from Tilicho Lake.
Shenanigans
Relishing in my love of noodles.
Inventing a new dessert.
Enjoying dinner after a long day of hiking
Veg and egg chowmein was a staple in my trekking diet.
Invented a new dessert - the Snickers honey pie. Inside is two Snickers bars mixed with honey and a bit of sugar. I originally wanted an apple pie but they ran out of apples, so I substituted with Snickers instead.
It was so delicious. And very expensive!
All of our backpacks stacked neatly next to each other as we break for lunch