My “Annapurna” Story

A Few years ago when I was 24 years old I went to Nepal with my partner to do the “Annapurna circuit trek”.

But my story is not about hiking or landscape.

My story is about “Bupal”, my Nepali porter who join me for the whole trek.

We met Bupal on the morning that we started our journey. We bought his services as a porter in a random agency in Kathmandu.

We expect a porter who will help us with our heavy bags and nothing more.

From the very beginning, we realize that this shy, always smiling man is much more than we expected.

We found a wonderful family man that every hiking season goes to do this trek all over again to provide for his lovely family. And he does it with a huge smile on his face.

As the days goes on we made a stronger connection with him. We get to know him, share our stories with him and he was looking out for us.

On the last day of the Hike, we needed to climb to the “Pass”, + 5416 m high.

It was a terrible day to climb. -20 degrees and winds at a speed of 18 km / h.

We decided to continue with our plan and start climbing at 3 am in the morning.

IT WAS SO HARD.

It was so cold and the wind keep hitting my face hard!

Bupal acted like my angel, at every stop he hugged me so the wind won’t hit my face so hard.

20 minutes before the “pass” I felt like I can’t take it anymore. I felt altitude sickness beginning and I really started to doubt myself.

Bupal took me with his hands and we ran till the Pass.

He knew at that time that this is the right thing to do.

At the time I felt he saved my life.

I owe him my success.

We made such a deep connection with him and we still keep in touch today.