Sometimes it's hard to believe we've come this far. When we left home in January, Nepal seemed a lifetime away. It's been nine months since then, with adventures spanning three continents and eleven countries. There were times along the way when we'd talk about this trek, or about going home, as if those things would never really happen.
When you're traveling, you become consumed by the present, whether it's finding your way around a new city or simply sorting out a morning coffee. Every event is it's own little challenge, and while you must plan for the future, buying tickets and booking hotels, it's the now that seems to matter most. That can be a really wonderful thing, and we've tried as best we can to live in the present.
And right now, the present is the dirty chaos of Kathmandu and a 5-am wakeup tomorrow to begin the longest hike of our lives. And truth be told, we're a bit nervous. First, we're tackling the Manaslu and Tsum valleys over about 23 days. Then our guide will head home and we'll continue on our own for 10-15 days across the Annapurna circuit. We did make a last-minute call to hire a porter for the first leg, and the Annapurnas are fairly civilized with teahouses and lodges available, but 30-40 days on the trail is still a long haul.
We're also a bit daunted by one simple fact: this is It. The culmination of our year of travel, the last stop before we fly back to the US and family and jobs and all the rest of it. At the same time, we're psyched. We're getting more and more excited to see the world's greatest mountain range, and coming home in a few weeks means we get to see much-missed friends and family.
So you might not hear from us for a while, while we're out on the trail. But we'll be out there, walking, doing our best to stay present, but with an eye towards home.
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