Bad weather turns Annapurna trekkers back at Manang

From 22 to 28 September, 246 foreign tourists walked back from Manang to Lamjung without crossing Thorong La (5,416 m). Of them, 151 were men and 95 were women. Bhupendra Gurung, head of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office in Dharapani, gave the figures.

A few days earlier, 100-150 foreigners a day were still passing Dharapani toward Manang. Now one or two continue up; the rest turn around. Rain has not let up, and the trail is riskier.

On 27 September, reports citing ACAP listed the Annapurna Circuit, the Manang route and the Jomsom-Muktinath route as closed. Permits for the Annapurna, Manaslu and Gaurishankar conservation areas started again at noon that day, but entry was allowed only from the morning of 28 September, after roads and weather were checked. ACAP asks trekkers on longer routes to go with a licensed guide. A guide is not required for Jomsom, Muktinath and Ghandruk.

In the same Manang district, an avalanche buried Himlung Himal base camp.