JUST ROLL WITH IT: A close call on Manaslu Circuit Trek

OCTOBER 17, 2026

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NAMRUNG TO SHYAULA, NEPAL — We hear it before we see it.

We are walking single file along a narrow bench-cut trail carved into the mountainside. Above is a steep wall of loose rock; the scar of a previous landslide. It continues below, leading to forest and eventually the roaring river.

And right now, tumbling directly toward us is a loose boulder gaining speed as it bounces end over end. With it comes several smaller rocks of different sizes, scattering in all directions.

I can hear our lead guide, Jamin, over the radio urging the team to keep moving. We work our way across as quickly as we can, successfully avoiding the boulder as it passes through one of the gaps between us. It crosses the trail and continues toward the river.

Once safely on the other side, I look back and see a few more pieces of rock sliding their way down toward the area we had just been walking.

At the moment, our team is split: half on one side and half on the other. Those yet to pass have a better view of the high side of the scar and are able to identify the culprit of our near calamity.

It’s animals crossing.

At least, we think it’s animals crossing.

What kind? We aren’t exactly sure, but based on the droppings I’ve been dodging the past few days, I can only assume it’s a wayward donkey, cow, or yak.

Either that or an extremely cheeky herd of musk deer or a troop of monkeys. Hell, at this rate it could have been a yeti for all we know.

Our guides, Smile and Raj, start to shout and make different sounds to encourage whatever is causing such a ruckus to move along, but if there is one thing you learn trekking in Nepal, nature has its own plans.

Even if that nature is presumably local livestock having a good wander.

Eventually the unknown beasts move on and the rest of the team is able to safely cross. It was one of the many landslide scars we’ve had to cross along our Manaslu Circuit Trek.

This one just decided to be a little spicy.

By the afternoon, we are climbing alongside the river that is filled with fallen trees, rocks and debris from slides and floods. The damage to the trail adds an extra mile of distance between Namrung and our stop for the day, Shyaula.

We are led to what we thought would be our stop for the night: the Shanti Guest House.

The building is still under construction. Work was delayed due to supplies being cut off following the most recent landslides and flooding.

What was complete was the dining area. It was absolutely immaculate. Glossy wood covers the walls of the room, which holds rows of handmade tables and chairs. The upper floor location gives amazing views of the numerous peaks that surround us.

It’s truly stunning; only we aren’t staying. There aren’t enough finished rooms for us all to be in one spot, so after finishing some warm drinks, we move to the Royal Gurkha just a few yards up the road.

The accommodations are a pleasant surprise: we are each treated to our own tiny wooden cabin, something I would expect to see back home in the Pacific Northwest.

They are absolutely charming. Newly built, each are painted yellow and white with a covered front porch and matching wooden gingerbread trim.

Seeing the cabins all in a line with massive snowy peaks rising up in the background makes you feel like you are part of a Wes Anderson film.

Maybe we are, and we just don’t realize it yet.

Ultimately, time will tell. There are still plenty of miles left on this trek.