After leaving Hinko Cave at 11:50, the trail crosses a ravine and another avalanche track to Deurali (3140m), where I arrived in the sun at 13:15. Deurali sits in the middle of the two peaks, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare (6993m), although you can’t see them. Leaving Deurali, the mist rushed up the valley and it started to rain. The trail was unrelentingly steep as I struggled into Machapuchare Base Camp (3700m) at 15:05 for some soft drinks. It started to hail heavily as I left MBC; the trail was steep at first but then leveled off, and the hail turned to light snow. I ambled on in the mist to Annapurna South Base Camp (4130m), arriving at 16:30. I checked into the Paradise Garden Hotel, the only one with a room, sharing with another man.