How well do you know Annapurna?

“Can you spot the two LHO trekkers at the foot of Fishtail Mountain? This picture was taken on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.”

What is the Annapurna Massif (Himal)?
A Massif, or “Himal” as it is locally called, is a collection of mountains that form a single chain unobstructed by a deep valley. Although Annapurna I is the name of the highest summit in the Himal, the chain itself is one of the largest in the Himalayas covering 7,629 square kilometres.

What is the highest mountain in the Annapurna Massif?
Standing tall at 8,091 metres of altitude, one of only 14 summits on the planet to breach the 8,000 metres mark, Annapurna I is the highest mountain in the Massif. Although it is the shortest of the 8000ders it is widely considered one of the most challenging mountains on the planet for summiteers. Only a handful of mountaineers have ever scaled the impressive south face.

How many mountains make up the Annapurna Massif?
The Annapurna Massif is formed of 30 peaks. Annapurna I is the only 8,000 metre mountain but there are 13 peaks above 7,000 metres and sixteen above 6,000 metres. The most prominent peaks in the Massif are Annapurna II, III & IV, Gangapurna and Annapurna South.

Where is the Annapurna Massif located?
It’s located in northern central Nepal just south of the Tibetan plateau. The Massif is flanked by Manaslu to its east and Dhaulagiri to its west.

What does Annapurna mean?
Annapurna is a female Sanskrit name that means “she who is abundant of food.” The common translation is simply the “goddess of plenty.” The abundance of water and the life it brings to the forests and foothills lower down in the valley makes the reason for its worship as the bringer of plenty quite obvious to anyone who’s ever visited the region.

Who was the first person to summit Annapurna?
Maurice Herzog led the first successful expedition to the summit of Annapurna I and reached the summit on June 3, 1950. It was the highest summit reached by any mountaineer to date and remained so for three years until Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa achieved the summit of Everest in May 1953.

“You just haven’t seen a sunrise until you’ve seen it from Annapurna Base Camp.”

Macchupucchare mountain, commonly known as the Fishtail, is home to which Hindu god?
This iconic summit is situated just across the valley from the Annapurna Massif and is revered as a holy mountain by Hindus because it is said to be the home of the Shiva, the third god of the triumvirate responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world.

How many Life Happens Outdoors trips will there be in the Annapurna region in 2021?
We’ve got three trips happening in 2021. We’ll be leading two treks to Annapurna Base Camp, the trail that leads us right up to the base of the epic south face of the mountain, deep inside the Annapurna sanctuary. This trip has been a staple of our year since we got started and has become extremely popular with our community members. The second itinerary that’ll be new on our bucket list is the Trek to Fishtail Mountain also known as Mardi Himal Base Camp. This trek takes us higher in altitude and boasts the most spectacular views of Macchupucchare summit.

When’s the best time for trekking in the Annapurna region?
The best time for trekking in the Annapurna region is in the spring and fall seasons. That’s when the chances of rain are limited and the weather conditions tend to stabilize. Trekking during the monsoon season is absolutely not recommended because of the heightened risk of landslides, avalanches and flooding.

Does trekking in the Annapurna region with LHO require past experience?
Absolutely not. Both our Annapurna Base Camp trek and Trek to Fishtail Mountain are designed to enable first-timers to walk these hills and experience the spectacular beauty of this region with confidence. In fact, 90% of our joiners on past treks literally put on their trekking boots for the very first time with us and most of them have either come back to the region or gone on to trek with us elsewhere.

Annapurna or Mardi Himal Base Camp? Reach out to us on info@lifehappensoutdoors.com and we’ll plan your next epic adventure together!