as soon as we crossed the pass, the views were quite hazy, creating the illusion of floating peaks - snow caps only were visible if we were lucky. this is not to say it was unenjoyable. they were behind blue and purple layers of foothills.
observing the changing landscapes more than kept our interest along the entirety of the trek: from hot, moist and green to drier subalpine climates where pine trees surrounded our senses, then the more barren landscape above tree line but more open mtn views; as we made our way back down, the landscape was desert-like dotted with various bushes and sporatic tufts of grass, then rocky dry terrain where the winds picked up to gale-force speed a couple of days; then eventually rhodadendon trees hovered around the trail; apple country in Marpha; and then we were back to hot, sunny, humid green weather with banana trees and corn and wheat fields.
after a couple more downhill days, our screaming quads and kneecaps welcomed the hot springs of tatopani (literally meaning "hot water"). after a couple more days of up and downhills, it was bittersweet to cross the finish line of the trail (although there were no ribbons to bust through or crowds to cheer us on. it was our own personal gratification that was the prize.)
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