MANANG! Trekked 16 kilometers to reach Manang at 3540 meters (11,682 feet). Current total trek now is 90 kilometers and have gained 2740 meters. We will be in Manang until the HRA clinic closes December 1. Left Pisang and passed the Humde airport. At 11,145 feet, it is the second highest airport in the world. Twice weekly flights and we saw the two prop plane come and land and then take off again. Beautiful weather here and so todays plane went. It is not uncommon to have cancels and delays. Lunch at Humde with two new friends to play and a chicken. Walked up the the upper Manang valley now flanked by Annapurna 4 and Annapurna 3. Reaching the town of Manang, Gangpurna is now visible. Even as we recognize how many meters we have trekked up, it is humbling to realize the mountains soar miles higher on all sides.

We settled into our hotel, Hotel Yeti, and walked across to the HRA clinic where Greg has lived these past two months. A warm welcome form everyone at the clinic with tea, popcorn and a little guitar playing and singing John Denver. Yak meat has now appeared on the menu: Yak fajitas, Yak burger, Yak steak, Yak yogurt, Yak sandwich, Yak soup, Yak thukpa, Yak thentuk, Yak curry, Yak chili, Yak roast, Yak mo-mos. Tonight, no one is so brave to order yak but we will let you know. We are here for the next week.. all trekkers are recommended to stay and acclimatize for at least 2 nights before heading over Thorong-Lu Pass out of the valley. Thorong-Lu Pass is as high as Everest Base camp and any requires these days of acclimatization before walking over. At the clinic we checked everyone’s pulse oximetry (measures percentage of oxygen in the blood). The Tracy and kids clocked in 91-94%, PopyDon lower at 78% and so he is on Diamox. Expect improvement of 2-4% a day during acclimatization. Popy feels well otherwise. The guidelines to go to a lower altitude are altered mentation, altered gait or shortness of breath at rest.