66.20 Nepal: Matikhan Tower: Far, high and a 'wipe-out' or at least a good wipe-down afterwards, a 13-miles day.
From our favorite hiking trail, we look south across the lake, over the mountain on which Shanti Stupa (in picture) sits and toward the 3 dots marker. Below the marker is our target: Matikhan Tower. Upon crossing a bridge, having reached the low point, we head up toward the destination tower which is more clearly visible. At this stage, rumor has it that people hear the sound of a trumpet echoing from the mountains. We confirm, based upon our experience, it's nothing other than people 'blowing their own trumpets'. We do our own share of blowing, too. On this hike, not only did we not see another hiker once again, but at the peak, there were less than a handful of residents. We are developing a complex of the negative aura we give off. Need to ease up on our trumpets as it is only a little less than 3,000 feet elevation gain. (There we go again.) For more perspective, in the distance via the telephoto from the destination Tower (Matikhan) is the multi-level building whi...