June 23, 2013.

I've reached the Machapuchare Base Camp in the afternoon of third day. It has been raining since the morning and by the time of arrival, visibility reached absolute zero- unable to see anything beyond a metre. Disappointed and physically tired, there was no other option than to spend countless hours in the lodge.

About an hour before the sunset, the clouds and fogs moved away and revealed all the majestic surroundings that it kept itself to. When the whole panorama came into sight, I simply couldn't leave this rock. It was gratifying. It was rewarding for every hour that has been put into physical deed. I realized that the expectation has become the reality. I felt like I achieved something on that day and could achieve anything in the future.

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Epilogue.

In general, Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is done for 7-8 days but I've finished in 5 by hiking longer hours per day (about 9 hours with periodical rest). I've been preparing for this particular trekking since the beginning of the year by spending more time on cardio and visiting mountains near Seoul. However, carrying 10kg on the shoulder was different kind of experience- body condition varied the feeling of the weight and few hundred grams significantly influenced how each step would feel.

June to August is considered as monsoon season, so it's not the most ideal time for trekking. Regardless, there are few hours in a day that visibility get better and there is advantages of having more space in a lodge and intimate interaction with fellow trekkers. Rain usually last longer than a squall event but it's possible to avoid concentrated precipitations by avoiding certain hours. However, leeches could cause some problem.

At the end of the day, I slept without getting a change for the wet (sweat and rain) shirts and pants because it wasn't possible to carry much spare clothes and taking them off would loose too much body temperature. There was no previous time in my life that I wanted fresh clothes or a shower that badly. Hardest thing was to get into those wet socks and the shoes again in the morning.

None of the less, I can't forget those moment of walking out of the lodge in the morning and seeing the snow covered peaks standing in grand form; staring and craving at them while brushing teeth or drinking a hot lemon tea. Feeling the inner desire to get to them closer and faster.