The next few days continued much the same as the first as we climbed ever further towards the ceiling of the world. The landscape gradually changing from acres of rice fields carved like giant staircases in the steep slops of the otherwise heavily jungled Himalayan lowlands, to vast alpine forests that reminded us of the familiar pine forests of Europe, to the epic barren plains above 3000 metres that give the appearance of the surface Mars or some other far away alien land. The crystal white tips of the great peaks ever sparkling in the distance louring and motivating our heavy feet ever onwards ever upwards.

On the 6th day we arrived in Manang where we were to spend an acclimatisation day, we drank beer, tried Yak steaks (delicious) and played cards long into the evening. A visit to the highly seated Buddhist temple and some light shopping rounded off our stay in the cliff top village. Acclimatisation over we started the steep accent towards Thorung High Camp our final stop before the big push to the top of the pass. Disaster struck on the 7th day when desperately close to the end a fever confined Martin to bed, shakes, sweats and shivers had us fearing the worst - the dreaded altitude sickness may end our journey all to prematurely. There was however light at the end of the tunnel, with a weakened body and relieved back (the porter was given a second bag to carry that day!) we trudged on, climbing ever skywards arriving at high camp in good time with spirits lifted.