Why Bhutan? Synchronized Hiking in the Himalayas
'You put your left foot in and you shake it all around.... Hey, everyone, is that a Yeti up ahead?' (Photo Courtesy: WhyBhutan/via Flickr)
What does it take to move 10 novice hikers through the foothills of the Himalayas on a trek tackled by outsiders only once before? Start with teamwork and preparation, and finish off with every last shred of the team’s combined ingenuity. The payoff? A tight-knit group bonded through struggle, support and exhilaration. This transformation occurred among the Bhutanese people, in the mountains of their homeland.
The Challenge
Our group of 10 relatively inexperienced trekkers, four film team members and four expedition team members set off to take on seven passes, each over 14,000 vertical feet, the highest—the Naro Six Pass Trek—a towering 16,100 feet. All told, we covered more than 85 miles and a total elevation gain of 20,910 feet in just eight days. Sometimes the scenic route is also the tough one.
Moving the group together, maintaining a brisk pace to make our destination each night through hailstorms, snow, altitude and limited daylight, required teamwork and shared loads.
At altitude, appetite is often suppressed and distractions keep people from taking care of the basics.
Hikers feeling strong on a particular day tugged on one of three towlines to assist others feeling weaker. Straightforward pushing or lifting someone’s pack makes a world of difference on a steep climb.
Offloading heavy items such as digital cameras to a buddy is another way to work together.
Pacing is extremely important. Slower trekkers were often sent out ahead from rest stops and lunch to give them a boost that might keep them at the front of the pack for the day.
Reminders to eat, hydrate and take electrolytes are essential. At altitude, appetite is often suppressed and distractions keep people from taking care of the basics. Once a trekker starts to spiral downward, it can take some time to recuperate.
The Bhutanese army men and guides that joined us reported our teamwork to their superiors when we returned. His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Uqyen Wangchuck was impressed and felt they had things to learn from us.
Being Prepared
Carrying various thickness layers of clothing and a handy shell to protect against storms is critical. Trekkers start cold in the morning; sweating too much while climbing would lead to being wet and cold on the descent.
Trekking poles—spring loaded, ergonomic, or basic—are useful for everyone over technical terrain.
Battery packs like the New Trent iCruiser IMP1000 were used to charge small devices, while solar cells powered larger items, such as laptops. The flexible solar cells were essential to power our film team’s computers and battery packs.
Adapting to the Unexpected
When detailed careful planning fails, ingenuity comes in handy. Luckily, we had plenty of MacGyvers on our team.
The coldest Bhutanese November in years led to sub-zero nights and snowier passes than expected. On Day 6, we found ourselves cutting steps into the ice and snow of a pass to descend.
Some trekkers had spikes on their boots for traction. The rest resorted to driving short screws into their soles.
We came prepared with four radios to stay in constant contact while separated. However, the battery life was not what we had expected. The radios died on a daily basis. We set up a protocol to turn on the radios each hour on the hour for three minutes to establish communication, and then powered down to conserve energy.
Reaping the Benefits
The rewards of this arduous and dangerous trip, starting with the conversations in a crowded tent under full-moonlit mountains and twinkling stars, are countless. All 10 trekkers have returned safely home, filled with new memories and friendships.
The rest of us continue on our expedition, now on our mountain-biking section, across the country toward the eastern border.
This post comes from the Why Bhutan? film team, which is currently following four endurance athletes as they make their way across Bhutan by foot and by bike over 42 days in an unprecedented border-to-border crossing. Follow the jouney at whybhutan.com.
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