After 10 days of strenuous trekking - 7 hours a day - we reached Annapurna Base Camp deep within the Himalayas, Nepal.
With burnings calves and a deep appreciation for the world we live in, I watched the Sun rise over the intimidatingly beautiful peak of Annapurna, that stands at over 8000m tall.
One thing that concerned me throughout the trek was seeing the standard of occupational welfare for the porters.
Most wore thongs and carried over 30Kgs of weight on their necks, which is way over the limit that IPPG recommends.
If you go to Nepal with the intention of doing a trek, make sure to do some research and chose a tour company that looks after their porters. Ask about what resources the company supplies; proper footwear, adequate clothing, food and shelter, medical attention when needed, insurance and what percentage of the cost actually goes towards the wages of the guides and porters.
It's very common that porters have to pay for their own accommodation throughout the duration of the trek. Depending on the region (especially the Everest region) accommodation can be expensive, and often porters will end up spending most of their wage in order to have shelter.
Make sure to tip your porters and guides well! Buy them a beer and have a chat in the evenings, they're beautiful, hard working people and should be treated like your best mate!
This trip changed the direction of my life completely. From that day forth I've lived mountainous regions both in Europe and now New Zealand.
Mountains have the potential to challenge and to heal you, don't underestimate their power!