Day 3 – Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Tadapani (2520m/8268ft)
The accomodation was very cosy and in the evenings they lit a fire in a big barrel in the dining room so that we could dry our wet clothes and get warm. The rooms as such were freezing cold. (No heater in the room). We all have to sneeze in the sleeping bag and cover up with the heavy blanket. An early start and an hour hiking to Poon Hill (3195m) leads us to a brilliant spectacle, this vantage point provides an unobstructed view of sunrise over the high Himalayas. We will see the paramount of Annapurna 1, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre from here. There is an observation tower for you to climb up for a better 360 degree view. After spending about 40 minutes on the hillside (it is freezing up here), we come back to Ghorepani, have a hot breakfast, and start walking to Tadapani. Which meant we had to climb down again. I couldn’t believe it. I had just mastered all the stairs and steep climb up and now we descended again towards Tadapani. After hundreds, no thousands of steps, my left knee gave up. It really wasn’t happy. From Ghorepani the trail climbs along ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests to Deurali (2960m). We descend to reach Banthanti, before winding our way to Tadapani (2540m). Overnight at View Top Lodge. This is the place where you have the best view of Machhapuchhre (Fish Tail).
