October 15, 2026
Our original itinerary included two more days of trekking, but after seven days of strenuous hiking, repetitive meals, and less-than-ideal accommodations, everyone was ready to return to the city. Half our team was already back in Pokhara, so when our guide, Ram, asked whether we wanted to shorten the trek, we enthusiastically agreed. Although we would pay for an extra night in Pokhara without a refund for the unused mountain accommodations, we were ready to call it a trek!
At 7:00 a.m., we set off from Bamboo for our final day on the trail. I moved slowly, taking extra care with every step.
As I descended, I thought about how uncertain I had been when I signed up for the ABC trek. I had never done a multi-day trek, much less one at high altitude with seemingly endless stone staircases. My family had tried to talk me out of it, but I felt that if I wanted this experience, now was the time. Ram later told us that the oldest person he had guided was 75. Most of the trekkers around me were much younger, which made completing the journey feel even more significant.
When my daughter Christine decided to join me, I was thrilled. Her companionship gave me confidence, and she watched over me throughout the trek. We had previously climbed one of Colorado’s fourteeners together, but this was an entirely different challenge. Having her beside me made the experience especially meaningful.
Our first break was at a teahouse in Upper Sinuwa. While we rested, Ram received a call from the porters ahead: they had found my missing sleeping bag! After worrying about it for several days, I felt tremendous relief. The news also reaffirmed my belief in people’s kindness and honesty.
We stopped for lunch at Elysium Guest House and Restaurant, then rested for an hour before continuing our descent. After two days of downhill hiking, my neck and back were sore from watching my footing on the stone steps. I needed frequent breaks and focused on taking each step carefully.
Near the suspension bridge marking the end of our trek, I asked Ram how much farther we had to go. Usually, he gave us an estimate, but that day he avoided answering—perhaps knowing that I was better off concentrating on the next step.
At around 2:30 p.m., we crossed the bridge and reunited with our waiting teammates. We had done it! After eight days of challenging climbs and descents, we had completed our Annapurna Base Camp trek.
I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, relief, and accomplishment. I was grateful to Christine for accompanying me and to our guides and porters for their patience, encouragement, and care. Sharing the journey with old and new friends made the achievement even more special. After all my uncertainty before the trek, reaching the end safely was truly a happy ending.
Soon afterward, we climbed into jeeps for the drive back to Pokhara. The first part was extremely bumpy, with roads damaged by recent flooding. At times, we drove through flowing water or passed stretches where the concrete had broken apart and slid toward the roadside.
Once we reached the highway, the ride became smoother. Along the way, we saw numerous fenced enclosures filled with goats—hundreds, perhaps thousands. We wondered whether some had come down from the mountains, like the herds we had encountered earlier.
After checking into our hotel, we gathered for a farewell dinner with our guides and porters at a Chinese restaurant. We presented each of them with a hongbao, a traditional Chinese red envelope containing a monetary gift, as an expression of our appreciation. It was a fitting way to celebrate the journey and thank those who had helped us complete it.
Today’s trek covered approximately 6.2 miles (10.0 km), with a cumulative elevation loss of about 3,600 feet (1,097 m) and an elevation gain of 1,800 feet (549 m).
Eight days earlier, I had set out unsure whether I could complete the journey. Now, having reached Annapurna Base Camp and returned safely, I felt proud to have challenged myself and grateful for everyone who had supported me. The trek tested my endurance, but it also showed me that age need not prevent us from pursuing new adventures—especially when loved ones and good friends are beside us.
P.S. Our eight-day Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek covered a total distance of approximately 50 miles (80.5 km), with a cumulative elevation gain of about 20,400 feet (6,218 meters).
2026年10月15日
按照原定行程，我们还要继续再徒步两天。然而，经过七天跋涉，大家已经有些厌倦了大同小异的饭菜和条件有限的山间客栈，开始期待回到城市，享受久违的舒适生活。再加上已有一半队友提前返回博卡拉，向导Ram便征求大家的意见，是否愿意提前一天结束行程。
虽然这意味着我们原本预订的今晚山中住宿无法退款，还需要再额外支付一晚博卡拉的住宿费，但大家几乎没有犹豫，一致同意。
早上7点，我们从Bamboo出发，踏上最后一天的下山路。也许是因为连续多日的疲惫已经累积起来，我走得比往常更加缓慢，每一步都格外小心。
脚下是熟悉的石阶，眼前却不断浮现出出发前的情景。报名参加ABC徒步时，我其实并没有十足把握能够走完全程。过去从未有过连续这么多天徒步的经历，更不用说在高海拔地区攀登那些仿佛没有尽头的石阶。家人对此十分担心，甚至曾劝我放弃。但我始终觉得，既然想体验这样的旅程，就应该趁自己还不算太老时去尝试。
后来，向导Ram告诉我们，他曾带过的最年长徒步者是75岁。一路走来，我也确实算是队伍中年龄较大的徒步者之一，身边大多数人都比我年轻许多。正因为如此，我更加珍惜自己能够走到最后的每一步。
走到Upper Sinuwa时，我们在一家茶屋停下来休息。就在这时，Ram接到了走在前面的背夫打来的电话：他们找到了我丢失的睡袋！
这几天，我一直为睡袋的下落担心不已。听到这个消息，悬着的心终于放了下来。惊喜之余，我也再次感受到沿途人与人之间的善意。正如我一直相信的那样：世界上善良、诚实的人无处不在。
中午，我们在Elysium Guest House and Restaurant吃了午饭。休息一个小时后，大家继续下山。连续两天的下坡路让身体逐渐显出疲态，长时间低头盯着脚下的石阶，我的颈部和背部开始酸痛，只能不时停下来调整状态。山路似乎比想象中更长，而我能做的，就是放慢脚步，专心走好眼前这一段。
当吊桥逐渐出现在视线中时，我知道徒步终点已经不远了，便忍不住问Ram还要走多久。平时他总会给出一个大致时间，这一次却没有直接回答。也许他觉得，与其让我一直惦记着还剩多远，不如让我把注意力放在脚下，稳稳地走完最后的路。
下午2点半左右，我们终于走过吊桥，与已经等候多时的队友们会合。那一刻，所有疲惫仿佛都被喜悦冲淡了。八天的跋涉、无数级石阶，以及一路反复经历的爬升与下降，终于在这一刻画上了句号。
今天徒步约6.2英里（10.0公里），累计下降约3,600英尺（1,097米），累计爬升约1,800英尺（549米）。
随后，我们乘坐吉普车返回博卡拉。刚开始的山路依旧颠簸，沿途不少路段都受到近期洪水的破坏。有时，车辆不得不直接驶过流淌的溪水；有些地方，混凝土路面已经断裂，甚至滑落到路边。车子一路摇晃，直到驶上平坦的公路，大家才稍稍松了一口气。徒步已经结束，沿途的景象却仍在车窗外不断掠过，仿佛提醒我们，这段经历并没有随着走过吊桥而立刻消失。
回到博卡拉、入住酒店后，我们与向导和背夫们在一家中餐馆举行了告别晚宴，感谢他们一路以来的辛勤付出和悉心照顾。临别时，我们还给每个人送上了一个中国传统的“红包”，表达我们的谢意。用这样一种充满中国特色的方式，为这段难忘的旅程收尾，显得格外温暖而有意义。
八天前出发时，我还不确定自己能否走完全程。如今，我不仅抵达了安纳普尔纳大本营，也平安走完了全部徒步路程。回想一路上的所见所闻，我为自己能够坚持到底而感到欣慰。回望这段旅程，我心中充满喜悦、欣慰和成就感。而这段旅程之所以格外特别，也离不开女儿Christine的陪伴。得知她愿意和我一起参加徒步时，我既惊喜又安心。一路上，她始终留意我的状态，处处照顾我。为了这次徒步，上个月我们俩一起登上过科罗拉多州一座海拔超过14,000英尺的高峰作为训练，但连续多日的高山徒步显然是另一种经历。能够和女儿并肩走在山路上，让这次旅程成为一段值得珍藏的共同记忆。另外也由衷感激向导和背夫们给予的耐心、鼓励与照顾。与新老朋友们共同走过这段路，更让这段旅程增添了难以替代的意义。
附记： 此次安纳普尔纳大本营（ABC）八天徒步，全程约 50英里（80.5公里），累计爬升约 20,400英尺（6,218米）。