Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [165]
DAILY STAGES
The route descriptions are separated into daily stages. This helps to make them readable and gives a quick estimate of the number of days required for each trek. The stages are those defined by DOT as designated camp sites, and the rules state that you must camp at these places. This doesn’t usually create any hardship because in most cases the designated sites are the only spots with water and a space flat enough for making a camp.
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PERSONAL EQUIPMENT CHECK LIST
FOR ALL TREKS
Clothing
down- or fibre-filled jacket
jumper or pile jacket
hiking shorts (for men) or skirt
waterproof jacket, poncho or umbrella
hiking pants
T-shirts or blouses
long-sleeved shirt
underwear
sun hat
swimwear (optional)
Footwear
trekking or running shoes
camp shoes, thongs or sandals
socks (polypropylene)
Other Equipment
backpack
sleeping bag
water bottle
torch (flashlight), batteries & bulbs
Miscellaneous Items
toiletries
toilet paper & cigarette lighter
small knife
sunscreen (SPF 15+ or 30+)
towel
laundry soap
medical & first-aid kit
premoistened towelettes
sewing kit
bandanna
goggles or sunglasses
sunscreen for lips
binoculars
books
duffel bag with a padlock, a few stuff sacks and lots of plastic bags
another duffel bag or suitcase to leave your city clothes in
Photograph Equipment
camera & lenses
lens-cleaning equipment
film (about 20 rolls)
FOR TREKS ABOVE 4000M
Clothing
insulated pants
nylon windbreaker
nylon wind pants
long underwear
woollen hat or balaclava
gloves
gaiters
Footwear
mountain trekking boots
socks (wool)
socks (light cotton) to wear under wool socks
down booties (optional)
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Be sure you have the itinerary, including rest days, worked out in advance. Messages are sent ahead to arrange pack animals. If you don’t meet them on the specified day, they might not wait for you.
As you discuss the trek with your guide and horsemen, be particularly careful to ensure that everyone agrees on the place you will camp the following night. More than once the horsemen have set off for a camping place beyond the destination the trekkers expected.
Some Bhutanese trekking staff have a very relaxed approach to schedules and late morning starts are common. Because many daily stages are quite long, this can result in late arrivals to camp, sometimes after dark. Always carry a torch in your backpack.
TIMES & DISTANCES
The route descriptions list approximate walking times. These are estimates based on personal experience and information produced by DOT. The times and daily stages are ‘tourist times’ and offer a leisurely, comfortable trek with plenty of time for rest, sightseeing or just viewing the mountains. Bhutanese horsemen and over-enthusiastic trekkers can reduce these times to less than those shown here.
The distances shown are those published by DOT. They are estimates and have not been determined by any accurate method of measurement.
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SCHEDULE CHANGES
Despite all the preplanning and the complicated advance arrangements, there are still numerous factors that can upset a trek schedule. Rain and mud can make the trail slippery and the camping miserable. Snow can block trails, horses can fail to appear on schedule or the horse drivers may consider the trail too dangerous for their animals. These things happen more frequently than you might imagine. There is little recourse when the trek cannot proceed and you should always be prepared for possible disappointment.
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REST DAYS
The route descriptions are based on a reasonable number of days needed to complete the trek. You will enjoy the trek more if you add the occasional day for rest, acclimatisation or exploration – even at the cost of an extra US$200.
Maps in this Chapter
The maps included in this chapter