Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [164]
SUNSCREEN
During April and May and at high altitude throughout the year, sunburn can be severe. Use a protective sunscreen; those with sensitive skin will need a total sunscreen such as zinc oxide cream. Snow glare at high altitude is a real hazard; you’ll need a good sunscreen, not just suntan lotion.
To protect your lips at high altitude you need a total sunscreen such as Dermatone or Labiosan.
CAMERA
A trek is long and your gear will be subjected to heat, dust, blowing sand, and moisture. Carry lens caps, lens tissue and a brush to clean the camera and lenses as frequently as possible.
A telephoto (or zoom) lens is more useful than a wide angle, because it will allow close-up pictures of wildlife, mountains and portraits of shy people. A polarising filter is a useful accessory. Insure your camera equipment.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
If there are two people travelling, divide a lot of this material to save weight and bulk.
Bars of Indian laundry soap are available in Bhutan. This avoids an explosion of liquid or powdered soap in your luggage.
Premoistened towelettes are great for a last-minute hand wash before dinner. Frequent washing helps avoid many stomach problems. If you bring these, check the way they are packaged. Buy them in a plastic container and avoid leaving a trail of foil packets in your wake.
A pair of scissors on your pocketknife is useful. Also bring a sewing kit and some safety pins.
Put all your medicines and toiletries in plastic bottles with screw-on lids.
Bring a cigarette lighter or matches to burn your used toilet paper. You might also bring a small trowel to dig a toilet hole when you get caught on the trail with no toilet nearby.
Always carry items to deal with blisters. It’s important to treat blisters as soon as you discover them.
If you own a satellite phone, bring it. These are legal in Bhutan and are useful in emergencies.
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MAPS
The entire country has been mapped by the Survey of India at 1:50,000. These maps are restricted and difficult to obtain. There is a related series of topo maps produced by the Survey of Bhutan, but these are also restricted. The US Army Map Service produced a set of now-outdated maps in the 1950s (Series U502 at 1:250,000, sheets NG45-4 and NH46-1), based on the Survey of India maps. The topography is extremely inaccurate and they, too, are difficult to obtain. Another series is the 1:200,000 Russian Military Topographic set which takes 10 sheets to cover Bhutan, but its text is in Russian.
In cooperation with an Austrian project, DOT produced large-scale contour maps of the Jhomolhari and Dagala Thousand Lakes treks based on the Survey of Bhutan series. These are the best (although not entirely accurate) trekking references available and can be purchased from the DOT office in Thimphu for Nu 300 each.
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TREKS IN THIS BOOK
In this chapter, 12 of the 13 officially permitted trekking routes in Bhutan are described. The other trek, in Cheli La, is described briefly in the Paro section of the Western Bhutan chapter Click here. Other trekking routes may be possible with prior negotiation between tour operators and DOT, but the major treks offer everything that a trekker could want, including what is described as the world’s most difficult trek. Numerous variations are possible, even within the prescribed itineraries. Most of the routes can be trekked in the reverse direction, although this sometimes causes logistical problems because horses are not always available at the standard trek end points.
Several other treks are possible, including the Nabji Trail and several routes in the Haa district. Treks to Gangkhar Puensum base camp may become officially permitted, which would allow the reopening of the extension of the Snowman trek from Thanza to Gangkhar Puensum base camp and on to join the Duer Hot Spring trek.
Route Descriptions
The trek descriptions in this book provide a general explanation of the lie of the land and cultural background, but are not self-guiding trail descriptions.