Log — November 22, 2025

Annapurna Base Camp: Inside the Necklace of Giants (4,130 m / 13,550 ft)

This morning I touched down at Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and stepped into a natural amphitheatre of ice and light—a 270° ring of 7,000–8,000 m summits so close it felt like I could reach out and trace the ridgelines. Few places in the Himalaya wrap you in their presence the way the Annapurna Sanctuary does.

What I Saw, Felt, Measured

Location & Height

ABC rests at 4,130 m (13,550 ft) at the heart of the Sanctuary, a bowl carved by glaciers and guarded by peaks on every side.

The Wall of Giants (Visible Today in Crystal Clarity)

• Annapurna I — 8,091 m / 26,545 ft

• Annapurna Fang (Baraha Shikhar) — 7,647 m / 25,089 ft

• Annapurna South — 7,219 m / 23,684 ft

• Hiunchuli — 6,441 m / 21,132 ft

• Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) — 6,993 m / 22,943 ft (dominates the approach)

Conditions

A cobalt-blue sky stretched overhead, yesterday’s snowfall frosting the colossal walls. Wind plumes streamed off the crests. Underfoot: tawny alpine grass emerging where the sun warmed the basin. I could hear the deep, distant rumble of icefall—one of those sounds that stays with you.

Why It Felt Unforgettable

ABC brings you startlingly close to massive faces, seracs, and hanging glaciers. The scale is overwhelming yet strangely intimate. Sunrise to mid-morning transforms the entire amphitheatre into a canvas of fire and shadow—an ideal window for photography and quiet reflection.

Closing Thought

STRONG HEART, STEP BY STEP. SPIRIT BY SPIRIT, SOUL TO SUMMIT.

EBC in 2024 taught me patience; Annapurna today gifted perspective.
At 67, I remain convinced: consistent training, yoga, and a calm mind make the high mountains not just achievable—but welcoming.
Onward.