Mardi Himal is the name of the long raising ridge and its summit (5,588m) that forms the southwesterly slope of Mount Machhapuchhre, immediately below its sheer south face. Machhapuchhre, which towers majestically over the Pokhara Valley, is best known as Fishtail Mountain because of its twin peaks that mirror the image of a fish tail. It is superbly beautiful and is considered sacred, permission to climb it has, so far, always been denied. This trek climbs through forests, and above the tree lines to follow the ridge that takes us up to ‘High camp’, 3,620m where time is spent acclimatizing while being awestruck by the views. Annapurna South seems near enough to throw a rock at and Machhapuchhre close enough to touch. Finally, we enter the wilderness territory as we go beyond 4,500 meters where the great ice fields and blue glaciers of Annapurna Base Camp lie below. Around us, in an arc from east to west, are a dozen or more glistening snowcapped giants, with Annapurna I being the highest of them all – a view that is almost impossible to equal. Conquering this wilderness territory and the incredible proximity of 5 of the highest mountains in the world leaves one feeling they have explored.