The Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most thrilling journeys through planet Earth, which passes through the world’s deepest river gorge to high-altitude desert and ancient trails winding past rice paddies in subtropical forest. Though the trail is generally well marked and there are teahouses, it certainly isn’t a walk in the park. Silly yet common mistakes even experienced trekkers make. Business Insider can be tempting to read a packing list, scan the instructions, and think you’ve got everything under control. But there are plenty of silly amateur mistakes made by newbie trekkers (we’ve all done it), and they’re even easy traps for anyone to fall into if you feel like you have everything else sorted. Avoid these all too common mistakes and you will be well on your way to making the most of your journey around the Annapurna Massif, and it’s no exaggeration to say life-changing!
Not Ready for the Altitude and Acclimatization
The number one mistake trekkers make is ascending too high too quickly, and ignoring the “golden rule” of altitude: climb high, sleep low. If you’re going to be sleeping at 2,500 meters or higher that day, do not allow your sleeping elevation to increase by more than 500m in a day. The highest point on the circuit (Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m is serious as it gets from a physical standpoint.” Overexerting your good body by skipping essential rest days so that you are trekking for fewer unavailable days on paper is a risky gamble that works in favor of picking up AMS, HAPE or HACE syndrome instead of winning the lottery, and provide with proper treatment (which ought to be down All we considered was a few hundred meters off; offering an unbelievable view over the etrestment) enough may as well lead to some nasty sensation.
Stop this from becoming a reality by planning an appropriate itinerary that includes acclimatization days – typically in Manang (3,540m). Take a ‘climb high, sleep low’ day (maybe even on the second one) to side-hike to places such as Ice Lake or a viewpoint, and then return to Manang. Hydrate: drink 3-5 liters of water/fluid every day and consult with a doctor in preparation to use prophylactic medication, i.e., Acetazolamide (Diamox).
Overpacking or Packing Wrong
Packing items ‘just in case’ leaves you with massive bags, which get regretted on each punishing climb. Overpacking is dangerous in two ways: it’s tiring and it makes you slow, as well as for both your joints (or the back of a porter who may or may not be carrying it). On the other hand, it can also be too little packing and not enough cold-weather gear aimed at high elevations where temperatures drop decidedly sub-freezing at night.
For the Annapurna Circuit, it’s not pack-as-much-bulk descent but smart layering. Protect your frame from cotton, which could absorb water against your pores and skin to keep you cool. Recognition on fine moisture-wicking base layers, an insulating fleece layer or mid-layer, and a water-resistant/windproof shell.
Failing to Account for Road Work
The biggest recent change to the Annapurna Circuit in 2015 is that a dirt road has been built as far as Manang (on the east side) and Jomsom (on the west). Sticking to the old trail where there’s a tarmac road can be the mistake of many trekkers, or jumping in a jeep too high up, only to become subject to altitude sickness. The initial 1-2 days on the classic route apparently had also been supe, but getting dustier and dustier with traffic.
And, if you want to avoid the drawbacks of the road while learning about acclimatization, think about where your trek might start. These days, many trekkers start walking from villages such as Jagat or Koto (bypassing the less scenic lower portions) to also ensure enough time for a slow altitude gain.
Water purification and Hydration
Failure to drink sufficient water is a common error and one that can be misinterpreted as being something else, making the altitude sickness symptoms all the worse. And untreated water can lead to some pretty serious gastrointestinal illness, which will definitely put a damper on your trek.
Never drink straight from taps or rivers or anywhere near running water, wherever you are. Don’t commit the horrible crime of purchasing wasteful, environmentally unfriendly store-bought bottles that only make the Himalayas’ pollution problem even worse. You should carry a reusable water bottle or hydration bladder and refill from a trustworthy purifier.
Travel Insurance and Permits
It’s a real shame, but it does happen: heading out on the Annapurna Circuit Trek without giving thought to your permits and safety is one big no-no – albeit a fairly common one. Most trekkers don’t have coverage that covers high-altitude hiking or helicopter evacuation, a need on a trail that carries you more than 5,000 meters up. Or, extra practically, you may face fines or be turned away at checkpoints if it becomes obvious that you attempted to make the journey without the right permits.
Be sure that your tour insurance covers trekking up to 6,000 meters and emergency helicopter rescue. Be sure to verify such coverage before you travel. In Kathmandu or Pokhara, before starting, you’ll also have to obtain an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card.
Pushing Through Illness or Injury
A similar mistake is a psychological trick played by our ego, seeking to test us as we keep going when being sick or feeling slightly injured, such as having an awful blister on our foot, and struggling to keep pushing on. Mountain pain or nausea can quickly turn into a medical emergency. And even a trivial blister, without due medical care, becomes a festering ulcer that makes walking impossible. Even those trekkers who do adhere to a timetable fall into this mental pitfall.
Safety is the most important concern, always over arriving at the destination on time. Be honest about your symptoms. If you start to develop symptoms of AMS, such as a throbbing headache that doesn’t go away with painkillers, turn around and take a day off. If things keep getting worse, try to get down as fast as possible.
And a road so long to travel …
The Thorong La becomes the obvious pièce de résistance and false endpoint – it’s how the majority of those trekkers will view the remaining stages of the trek if they bother to think about them, anyway. This perspective sees them rushing through the lower altitude early days and passing on some of the most beautiful and cultural sections of the circuit.
Just enjoy the ride while it’s around. You can hobnob with the friendly local people in many Gurung and Manange villages. If you have a spare day, take a side trip to Tilicho Lake (the glacial lake at 4949m) or Ghyaru or Ngawal- two of the wonderful villages in this way. They are also really beautiful and very good for acclimatization.
Final Conclusion: Embrace the Journey
It’s no longer approximately the race; it’s this component known as the Annapurna Circuit Trekking. You realize that each dumb mistake boils down to not giving oneself sufficient time, care, and appreciation for the mountain environment and tradition. With a slow and healthy ascent for acclimatisation, a piece of realistic packing, cultural cognizance, and suitable covering insurance, you may clear lots of the unnecessary hazards and do nothing more than experience Himalayan nirvana. Learn how to love the mountain pace, embrace the Nepali manner, and permit the remarkable Annapurna Massif to teach you that endurance and humility weigh heavily in any trek. You’re organized, and you will be exceeding a secure, wholesome factor of your life you’ll never forget.