Nepal is heaven for trekkers. They can, in fact, trek up into the heavens themselves, triumphing over Himalayan giants like Annapurna and Everest.
Reaching Pokhara, I decided that I couldn’t be bothered with it.
Here are my top reasons not to bother going trekking;
1. Everybody else is doing it. Nobody likes following a crowd.
2. Trekkers can camp out on the mountainside or stay in teahouses, the latter of which is often only marginally better than the former. No chance to properly recover from a hard day’s walking.
3. You might have to wear a silly hat.
4. Altitude sickness occasionally endangers lives. As do avalances. And freezing temperatures. And slippery surfaces. In general, the whole thing is really dangerous.
5. Conservation people make you pay money just to get near the mountain ranges.
6. It’s cold.
7. You’ll probably end up walking with a load of try-hard posers.
8. After donning all the equipment, you’ll probably end up looking like a try-hard poser.
9. If you let porters carry your bag, they might steal it. If you carry your own, you might get a sore back.
10. You can see the best bits on TV anyway.
If, like me, these factors dissuade you from Trekking, then perhaps, like me, you might also be concerned about being branded lazy.
No problem! With all your saved time, money and luxury, you’ll be in the prime position to embark on day trips to Nepal’s greatest viewpoints – all the glory with none of the fuss.
Personally, my ‘mini-trekking’ uphill alone totals over 4500m in altitude climbed, a height equivalent to Everest Base Camp. All without ever gracing a tent and barely encountering another tourist. This, for me, is the best way to encounter the Himalaya; from a nice, cosy distance.
