Just a quick update letting everyone know we are still alive and having a great time. We've made it over the big pass -- 5545m and are taking it slow on our way down. We pushed ourselves mentally and physically going over the Thoron Pass -- not an easy experience. It was a long day -- 700m up and 2000 down. The downhill killed my knees but they are slowly recovering (two days later).

In a couple days we are in a town with Hot Springs!! And then we decide if we are up for going to the Annpurna Base Camp or if we should just call it a trip. The Annapurna Base Camp is supposed to be a harder trek -- even though the elevation is lower. We'll see how it goes!!

We've tried new things -- new foods (Yak and Buffalo meats) and gone exploring in these amazing villages we've passed through. They have been wild. Amazing how good a "pizza" (flavored with katsup) can taste after hiking a hard 7 or 8 hours.

Yesterday we passed through Jomson -- the largest town we've visited yet. It even had a PAVED runway!! And three checkposts -- military, police, and ACAP. Quite the crowd. Yesterday was also an experience in how aeordynamic you can make yourself while traveling down a valley that is acting like a wind tunnel. The wind would gust probably at 40mph -- with occasionally higher gusts -- and a constant "breeze" of about 20mph. I was happy to have the trekking poles to help push me forward. For a flat day, I felt just as worked as I had the previous day when we had gone over the pass.

Anywase, gotta run -- this is costing a pretty rupy or fifty. Hope everyone is doing great back in the states!