ekoVenture Guru Blog

The Snowman Trek in Bhutan is touted as one of the world’s greatest walking journeys and the small, jealously guarded Himalayan country of Bhutan is still considered to be the ‘Shangri-La’ of trekking destinations.

For those not already familiar, Bhutan is a sparsely populated country which lies in a hidden corner of the eastern Himalaya, sandwiched between China (Tibet) to the north, Sikkim to the west, Assam and West Bengal to the south and Arunachal Pradesh to the east. The country within these borders forms a giant staircase of stunning mountain scenery where 90% of the population are hill farmers living in small villages spread over rugged mountain country. There are no teahouses here among some of the most isolated communities in the world.

From October 8 to November 1, 2010, One World Trekking is offering a fully guided and supported trek into the high valleys of Bhutan’s Lunana District. This region of the Himalayas, beneath the world’s highest unclimbed peak (Gangkar Puensum) is cut off from the rest of the world by snow on the passes for six or seven months of the year. Even with careful planning, many groups are not able to complete this trek in its entirety as the monsoon weather of the eastern Himalaya is known to come early and stay late. This is a hard pill to swallow when paying such a high price and taking close to a month away from work, but Bhutan is certainly worth it.

Starting out at the Winter Capitol of Punakha, this unique and challenging itinerary spends three days climbing the steep gorge leading to the outlandish village of Laya, before crossing the mighty Karakachu La Pass and entering the remote district of Lunana. After spending seven days walking through this ‘‘paradise on earth,’’ our route crosses the Gophu La Pass which enable us to explore the valleys to the south of Gangkar Puensum. Finally, our route turns south to the wide-open, fertile valleys of Bumthang.

Since the 7th century, Buddhist teachings and philosophy have been influential throughout Bhutan. The people of Bhutan have a deep and traditional reverence for nature that has led to imposing some of the strictest standards of environmental preservation in the world. More than 65% of the land is still under forest cover and some of the rarest of Himalayan wildlife, such as the blue sheep, takin and golden langur, are quite common. In this country known as Druk Yul, ‘‘the Land of the Thunder Dragon,” the fortunate visitor will find a rare combination of harmony and accord, amongst incredible natural beauty.

1. Drink Plenty of Water: This is the #1 rule for a successful trek at high altitude. Over the course of a 3-week trek to Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit, you will drink more water than you ever thought was imaginable. Drinking plenty of water is the number one way to help your body adjust easily to our higher altitude, as dehydration is a major cause of altitude sickness due to the lower humidity and increased breathing rate.

2. Pace Yourself: Himalayan treks are not races and it is very important that everyone walk at his or her own comfortable pace. You’re on vacation and are immersed in a different culture. Enjoy yourself, stop and take pictures, sit and have a cup of tea at a family-run lodge and watch local life go by. You have all day to get to the next camp of lodge so enjoy the journey.

3. Keep Your Hands Clean: With the invention of waterless hand sanitizer there is no reason for not keeping your hands clean. Become an obsessive hand cleaner while on trek. Use the gel before and after every meal, after using the toilet, blowing your nose, playing with the local kids, handling money… you get the picture here.

4. Stay Warm: Even in November, you can wear shorts on a trek in Nepal. Outside of getting the backs of your legs burnt, this is fine. Just remember to wear warm clothing including a hat and gloves on those chilly mornings, when stopping for lunch in the middle of the day put on a dry shirt and fleece jacket and bundle up at night especially on camping treks. Refrain from washing your hair at the higher camps. An innocent cough can quickly turn to bronchitis and pneumonia in the dry air at high altitude.

5. Eat Plenty of Healthy Food: Even those of us who have no problem woofing down food at home after exercise will experience a loss of appetite after a hard day of trekking at altitude. Don’t fret, it is normal. Most people, regardless of how much they eat on trek, will lose weight. Stay conscious of your eating patterns on the trip. Rice, pasta, lentils, vegetables and fruit will always be available, so try to eat a healthy and trek-sustaining diet.

Bonus Tip… Wear a hat, make sure you remember to cover the back of your neck and please use plenty of sunscreen.

For more information you can visit the CIWEC website at: http://www.ciwec-clinic.com/index.php

As a Himalayan tour operator and trekking guide, I get asked a lot about the best way to combine the hike to Everest Base Camp and the ascent of Kala Pattar. These are the two main high-altitude goals of any Mount Everest trekker and trekking companies tend to offer slightly different approaches.

For a fit and acclimatized hiker it is possible to combine Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar in a single day. From Lobuche, it is a 3.5 to 4 hour hike to Everest Base Camp walking at a comfortable but steady pace. After a wander around Base Camp, you can begin the 1 hour hike to Gorak Shep in time for a hot lunch. After a bit of a rest in your lodge room or tent, you can set off around 2pm for the 4 hour round-trip hike up to the viewpoint peak of Kala Pattar at 18,190 feet.

Yes, this is a long day and should only be undertaken by those in proper acclimatized fitness. The advantage of hiking Kala Pattar in the afternoon is that the sun will be at your back and will make for incredible photographs. Most trekking companies, and rightfully so, will have you rest at Gorak Shep after returning from Everest Base Camp. You’ll then get up very early the next morning and be on top of Kala Pattar for a beautiful sunrise. This is also quite an enlightening experience.

Many groups will trek from Gorak Shep to Dingboche, which is a 5 to 6 hour spectacular walk at a comfortable pace.

If you want to trek in view of Mount Everest but don’t have the time of fitness to do the entire Everest Base Camp Trek, you can consider a shorter and lower altitude hike in the Khumbu region. For more details, please visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3648394.htm

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Jessica Reynolds and Ryan Miller are independent filmmakers living in New York. In preparation for climbing Kilimanjaro they started to do some research. “We were astonished to find that of the hundreds of tour operators listed in the guidebooks and websites, only a handful were partners with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project and followed proper porter practice. Even more surprising was how little information was readily available about the porters themselves and the conditions they were made to work under. We feel that we could help raise awareness of the situation by producing a short film about the porters of Kilimanjaro and the suggested treatment of them outlined by the Kilimanjaro National Parks and the KPAP. We hope that this piece will bring awareness to prospective climbers, so they can make responsible decisions in choosing a tour operator and in turn ensure that they aren’t a part of this exploitation.”

Video Link: http://vimeo.com/4963455

1. Prayer Flags We see them flapping everywhere – on roof tops, on flag poles and wildly waving on snow covered mountain passes. Prayer Flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers, and mantras. Prayer flags are said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity.

2. Singing Bowl You’ll see these in many shops throughout Kathmandu. In Buddhist practice, singing bowls are used as a support for meditation, trance induction and prayer. Today, singing bowls are made from a combination of many metals and, when struck with a small wooden mallet, create a beautiful and calming hum.

3. Thangka Painting Originally, thangka paintings were popular among traveling monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and transported from monastery to monastery. These thangkas served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha. Today you can visit one of the thangka painting schools in Kathmandu to see how these works of art are made and take home your own.

4. Tibetan Rug Tibetan rug making is an ancient, traditional craft. Tibetan rugs are traditionally made from Tibetan highland sheep's wool. The process of making Tibetan rugs is unique in the sense that the knotting method is different from that used in other rug making traditions worldwide. The Jawalakhel Handicraft Center in Patan, established in 1960, is a must visit and you can purchase beautiful Tibetan Carpets in this camp.

5. Pony or Yak Bell The chorus of pony and yak bells of the Himalayas will remain in your memory well after returning home. The bells, hanging around the large necks of hairy yak, are a great way to keep track of these beasts of burden, but not desirable if you are looking for a good night of sleep in your tent. Get a bell, hang it somewhere in your house, ring it often and relive some great memories!

In my humble opinion, these are five of the greatest trekking adventures in the world’s greatest mountain range. I call these “gourmet” treks – off the beaten path walks in the nooks and crannies of the Great Range. You won’t see Mount Everest on any of these trips (or many people for that matter), but you will have the opportunity to wander through obscure mountainous regions, visit remote villages, pitch a tent in picturesque campsites and immerse yourself in some of the world’s last enclaves of pure Buddhist culture. Go with greatness!

1. Bhutan: The Snowman Trek Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is home to the world’s greatest mountain walking journey. The Snowman Trek traverses the remote high valleys of Lunana beneath the world's highest unclimbed mountain, Gangkar Puensum.

2. Pakistan: The K2 Base Camp Trek Hands down, the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan is the wildest on earth. The trek to K2 Base Camp begins at the small village of Askole and works its way up the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia, where we are treated to spectacular views of some of the world's greatest giants - K2 (8616m), Broad Peak (8048m), Gasherbrum II (8035m), Gasherbrum IV (7925m), Chogolisa (7665m) and Golden Throne (7240m).

3. Nepal: Upper Dolpo & the Snow Leopard Trek In the footsteps of Peter Matthiessen, this epic journey is both a cultural journey and Himalayan exploration ripe with pristine mountain vistas, high pass crossings and adventurous, challenging territory. For 22 days, travelers walk through “the last enclave of pure Tibetan culture on earth” into the heart of the least developed district in Nepal.

4. Nepal: The NarPhu Valleys and Annapurna Circuit A unique and seldom traveled route which offers a bit of everything that makes Nepal so special. Visiting the NarPhu Valleys of Upper Manang is as if you've been transported into a land where time has stood still; remote Tibetan villages built of stone, ancient Buddhist monasteries and grand views of the Annapurna Range.

5. India: The Zanskar Traverse The route across Zanskar, the Land of Passes, follows the Zanskar River along an ancient trade route westwards over 5 high passes and through remote and isolated villages. This incredible walk offers spectacular campsite and visits centuries-old hill-top monasteries.

Bonus Trek:

Nepal: Humla & the Hidden Himalayas 'Humla. The name resonates like a hymn. Vast and humbling. Humla echoes in whispers'. In their book 'The Hidden Himalaya', Thomas Kelly and Carroll Dunham take us to the strangest place in the world. Beautiful, bitter, joyous, and holy, it is Humla, an ancient territory at the edge of Nepal. Bordering Tibet, hidden in the Himalayas.

1. Everest Base Camp Trek Far and away the most popular trek in Nepal, if not the world. The famous walk up to Everest Base Camp offers an opportunity to experience everything that makes a trek in Nepal so special; picturesque Sherpa villages, Tengboche Monastery, hiking the viewpoint peak of Kala Pattar at 18,200 feet, huge mountain views and, of course, a visit to the most famous base camp in the world. Sure it is crowded, but totally worth it.

2. Annapurna Circuit Trek In my humble opinion, the Annapurna area is the most beautiful in Nepal and the Annapurna Circuit is the king of the area’s trekking routes. Unlike the Everest area, trekking in Annapurna starts at much lower altitudes, offering better acclimatization as you make your way up and over the Thorong La Pass at 17,765 feet. This is an incredibly diverse walking pilgrimage in the heart of Nepal’s exquisite Annapurna Range.

3. Annapurna - Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek The Annapurna region has a wealth of scenic trekking trails which can be linked together and make for interesting circuit loops. For those strapped for time, the 11-day hike up to Ghorepani and Poon Hill is an excellent choice. Beyond the last of the bamboo and rhododendron woodland, the valleys narrow and lead to the high hilltop village of Ghorepani and a superb viewpoint overlooking the great rift of the Kali Gandaki Valley, the deepest gorge in the world. From Poon Hill, an hour hike above Ghorepani, the dawn views of Dhaulagiri, Fish Tail and nearby Tukuche Peak are outstanding.

4. Gokyo Lakes to Everest Trek Also known as the Ultimate Everest Trek, this strenuous hiking journey crosses two high passes: the Renjo La (17,521 feet) and the Cho La (17,777 feet). We will also have the option of hiking to the top of two viewpoint summits: Gokyo Ri (17585 feet) and Kala Patar (18,188 feet. At Namche Bazaar, we deviate off the beaten track into the little-traveled Bhote Koshi Valley and begin the ultimate trekking trip in the Everest National Park.

5. Mustang - Forbidden Kingdom Trek A journey into the breathtaking Kingdom of Lo offers a moderate trek into a hidden Tibetan Buddhist enclave. This is a real cultural experience while winding through sculpted canyons and deep gorges and visiting medieval villages, ancient fortresses, palaces and mysterious, ancient cave hermitages. Mustang is a Kingdom tucked away along the deepest river gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki, a remote and starkly beautiful region, Tibet's arid high desert bordered by some of the Himalaya's highest mountains.

1. Namaste: the traditional (informal) greeting in Nepal. During your visit to Nepal, you will say this word more times than you can count. Use the more formal and polite greeting (Namaskar) when addressing an elder or when the situation dictates.
2. Thik chha?: stated as a question means How are you? or You okay? This is an informal way of asking but appropriate when conversing with your trekking staff. A typical reply would be ‘Thik thik’ as an acknowledgement that all is okay.
3. Yo ke ho?: when you don’t know what something is, this is how you ask “What is that? A great way to interact and learn new words from the person’s response.
4. Tapaaiko naam ke ho?: ‘What is your name”? This phrase is a great icebreaker when meeting local children on the trail.
5. Chhiya, chinni and dudh: Nepali words for tea, sugar and milk.

So, this is a good start to some useful words. Find a good Nepali phrasebook and practice before landing in Kathmandu. Some good books are ‘Trekking in Nepal’ by Stephen Bezruchka and a ‘Basic Course in Spoken Nepali’ by Tika B. Karki. Good luck and have fun!

Here are the top five questions we get asked by aspiring Himalayan trekkers…

1. What do I need to carry? Unlike backpacking, when on a trek you will only be required to carry those items needed for the day of walking. All of the group personal gear and equipment is carried by a trained group of porters or pack animals (ponies, yaks, llama, camels…)

2. How concerned should I be about the altitude? The nature of these trips is such that most treks will go up to altitudes many of us have never been before. However, this is not something to be overly concerned about. Our treks are designed to allow for a proper progression of acclimatization as we gain altitude during the trip. Many people will experience a slight headache due to dehydration at first, but with proper hydration this small discomfort is short lived.

3. What do we eat and drink while on trek? The bulk of our lunch and dinner meals while on trek are based on the local diet. In the Himalayan countries, this will consist of rice, vegetables and fruit. This will sound great to those wishing to eat a vegetarian diet. There will also be meat dishes provided. Breakfast items will include tea, coffee, cereal, powdered milk, toast, eggs and porridge. All meals and water on trek will be properly boiled, prepared, cooked and served by the group's kitchen staff or in our lodges.

4. What type of accommodation is provided on the trip? The accommodation on a trekking trip will be a combination of hotels while staying in the bigger cities and lodges or camping in a tent when on the trek. Sleeping tents are provided.

5. How do I get in shape for a trek? You don't need to be a super athlete to go on a trek. Anyone in reasonably good shape can participate and the tour operator will assist in making sure you get on the proper trip for your abilities. Activities such as walking, hiking, jogging, biking, swimming and lifting weights undertaken three days a week are all great ways to prepare for your trip.

For more information, please feel free to contact One World Trekking.