Inside Nepal’s Deadly Blizzard

In October 2014, a severe blizzard struck Nepal's Annapurna Circuit during peak trekking season. Hundreds of hikers were stranded and dozens died in one of the world's worst hiking disasters. An eyewitness shares his tale - http://www.backpacker.com/survival/natural-hazards/weather/inside-nepals-deadly-blizzard/

Thanks @waynowski - a sobering read given I'll be over there in eight weeks time. Major difference being I won't be wearing jeans and sneakers. Have to wonder how long it will be before something similar (but on a lesser scale) happens on the Tongariro crossing. All of the hallmarks are there - alpine environment, unfit, poorly equipped and inexperienced hikers, rapidly changeable weather systems. I'm walking it again next weekend and will report back.

Your going to absolutely love Nepal and the Sherpa people (if your heading to the Khumbu). Im planning on heading back but this time with the missus and boys (who will be 8 & 11). Ironically we all did the Tongariro circuit over the New Years. Two and a bit days. Fifty km at seven years old with a pack on is not to shabby. We met a couple on top of Tongariro summit in thick clag. The bloke asks me which way to the carpark hahaha. Wrong turn mate. Effing idiot. More people do that crossing than hikes Ive done around the world. Its a golden egg.

@gaiters yep, excitement level is building nicely. I'm also going solo (and also have a seven year old who'll happily carry a pack for days) with an eye to taking the family back in a couple of years. Did you happen to post a 'meds to take' list for me here last year? Somebody did and now I'm buggered if I can find it...

tongariro crossing usually isnt extreme enough to imobilise people even in bad weather.. the shuttles dont run in the worst weather cutting the no of potential problem people on the track, people usually can get themselves off the track before hypothermia immobilises them, if the track was a bit longer or a bit higher it might be a different story.. people go back to their warm cars and accommodation to recover if they are getting hypothermic.... my guess is a lot of people come off that track in bad weather in the early stages of hypothermia with the clothing choices , or lack of choices a lot of people make

"tongariro crossing usually isnt extreme enough to imobilise people even in bad weather" 'Usually' being the operative word - visibility can reduce to zero (and temperatures plummet) in a matter of minutes, and if you're three hours from the carpark in jeans and a cotton tee shirt you're going to be in big trouble.

in theory yes, but in practice a lot of people scrape through. making the place seem a lot more benign in the media than it really is... its kicked a lot of peoples arses over the years..

@hutchk I think the thread you maybe referring to for medication is http://www.tramper.co.nz/?view=topic&id=4824&messageid=28515#message28515

Cheers Scottie - that's the one. Have actually saved it this time :-)

All good hutchk.