Late season trekkers are down to just a few and everyone in Manang is preparing for winter. The crops are in and the fields are barren. Today in our courtyard, two local women began early to dig two pits and set up a fire and two copper pots still to brew the local moonshine... That raaki.  This is an all-day affair and as evening sets in the two women are still out there tending their liquor crop.  Decision was made to close the HRA clinic early today. We all helped inventory the clinic and pack things away for the four months the clinic closes. We will use the extra day to extend our trek up Thorung-La pass. This will keep our altitude change to less than 300 meter (1000 feet) per night. Pure logistics today as laundry was scrubbed, children were scrubbed (no predictable shower for 3 days) and equipment checked. The distillery is still going here and it appears that several people have joined to supervise. Farewell dinner tonight with the HRA staff.

Manang Village with Ganggapurna Himal