status excessive at 5,416 meters (17,769 toes), in addition to the locally regarded tallest point around, Thorong l. a. pass on the Annapurna Circuit is the maximum exhilarating, hard, and unforgettable phase of the trek for lots. No small feat, overcoming that high mountain pass. Thin air, steep climbs, and the elements are all things to be physically and mentally prepared for.
With a little preparation, however, Thorong La does not have to be scary. It can be one of — if not — the most rewarding things that you’ll ever do in your life. If you are an experienced walker, you are likely to recognize many stretches, and this book will assist you in planning a crossing safely.
1- Know What Makes Maes Thorong La So Challenging
Annapurna Circuit Thorong La is not a summer-camp high; it is extremely high. The air at five,400 meters holds approximately half as many tons of oxygen as it does at sea level. That in itself can sap the power from the most mundane of chores. Throw in gradients that would turn thigh muscles to jelly, trails latticed with rock, a temperature that hovered slightly above freezing, and a 3:30 a.m. start time, and you begin to see why this pass is as much a sinewy test of the body as of the mind:
By foot, Tribes nearly always begin the crossing in the dead of night — say 3 or 4 a.m. — from their overnight perch at Thorong Phedi (4,540 meters) or High Camp (4,880 meters), and aim to be at its apex before the winds pick up in late morning. The climb is 3-6 hours on its own, and if you are not in your best shape or best acclimatised that day, add another 3-4 hours to Muktinath.
Start Training Before You Arrive
It’s not like you need to be a super-athlete to get a kick out of the entire Annapurna Circuit Trek, but there’s no denying that you’ll be in a better frame of mind if you’re in good shape, especially for Thorong La. So start training, in a small way, a couple of months before your trip.
And from now on, you simply work on building your backleg strength, cardio, and stamina. Hiking hills or stairs with a weighted pack, extended walking or hiking, and efforts like lunges, squats, and core work are going to be your new best friend. You’re in the hills, so just hiking up high can expose your body to less oxygen.
The fitter you are, the more time you can stay motivated to hang out at the views — and the less pain you’ll endure once the thin air starts to bite.
Acclimatize Properly on the Trail
The secret to safely crossing Thorong La is acclimatization. Above a certain altitude, your body needs time to send out blood to accommodate the lower level of oxygen. The good news? The Annapurna Circuit is designed quite perfectly as a gradual acclimatization walk-up.
- Slow down: Particularly following Manang (3,540m). Here, most trekkers take one or two extra days to rest and acclimatize. From there, don’t rush. Push upward slowly, and if possible, avoid going to bed more than 500 meters (1,600 toes) higher than when you slept the night earlier than.
Side hikes like Ice Lake or Gangapurna Lake are some of the excellent methods to help construct your acclimatisation without any unnecessary publicity.
Listen to your body. If you do, come down and rest if you notice symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) — headache, nausea, dizziness, or difficulty sleeping. If symptoms worsen, descend immediately. AMS is not something you can “just push on through,” especially at altitudes over 4,000 meters.
Pack Smart for the Pass
The pass is cold and windy, and receives snow, even in the trekking season. Dress (and pack) for the weather so you can also stay warm and safe.
Layering is essential. Then there’s no beating the old three-layer system: Begin with a wicking base layer; pile on the insulating fleece or down jacket; and finish with a windproof, waterproof shell. You’ll also need gloves, a hat or balaclava, and another buff to go around your neck or face.
Good footwear matters. Wear substantial, broken-in hiking boots — the kind that will support your ankles and grip the trail. Microspikes, also known as yak tracks, may also be useful if the trail is icy or snowy.
You don’t want to forget a headlamp — you’ll need it when you start your alpine start at 2 a.m., because that’s part of the fun of high-altitude peak bagging — sunglasses (because where and when I was, you got snow glare just walking around at 20,000 feet, and multiply that by however long you’ll be out in the sun), and sunscreen (70+ SPF minimum; UV penetration at high altitude is no joke). – Pack energy snacks; 1.5+2 liters of water and a thermos of hot tea – if you have it. A couple of featherweight trekking poles can provide stability while you’re going up and down.
Temper Your Expectations for Your Big Day
You’ll get started in the pre-dawn dark, very likely while it’s still night, at Thorong Phedi or High Camp in far eastern Nepal. It serves as a jump, but it is hard to sleep on account of the altitude. If you have problems with altitude, live at Phedi and permit an extra hour in the morning.
The ascent is pretty unrelenting, however, with lots of switchbacks and long, open stretches. Relax, and maintain that rickety rattle: You can’t drive up here, in the thin air, with any vigor at all. Between the passes, it may not all be roses, but as you pop out at last to the prayer flags at the pass summit, you are rewarded with some of the most iconic views in the Himalayas.
It’s all downhill from there to Muktinath (3,760m) — an attractive village and sacred pilgrimage site that reminds you that you’re now in the low country and can finally breathe.
And the mind needs a workout, too.
For many, if not most, it’s as much, or more, a mental battle as a physical one to “get” over (emphasis on the quotation marks). It is hard on the body, cold, and dark. But it is also one of the most marvelous things you will ever do.
Stay upbeat and breathe deep, and step through point by point. Always remember why you are doing it. And it’s one of the consolations to know there have been so unbelievably many people who, for weeks or months or years or centuries, have walked the same path you walk now: local people, pilgrims, trekkers, all of them breathing the same thin air, grappling with similar obstacles.
Final Thoughts
At the pinnacle of Thorong La Pass — the pièce de résistance of the Annapurna Circuit — each of those gasps earns its keep. With the proper training, a little patience, and respect for the altitude, a pass crossing doesn’t have to be only a physical adventure, but also equipment as well.
And even after weeks or months of shaking our fists in frustration, it will still be weeks or months before we mask ourselves and our loved ones in busy outdoor places without giving a second thought to who can or cannot fight off a virus we gave them. The summit may seem distant, but it is closer than you think — and the view from up there more than justifies the climb.
