This is the itinerary we have submitted to the Bhutanese Government. It was put together by Verdell who stated with innocent candor that "it is not going to be a holiday if you leave it up to me."
We decided to forego the communities who live along the fabled Snowman Trek this time as its failure rate is 50% and there are annual fatalities given the extraordinary time spent at altitude (more than when attempting Everest). After all, this is an expedition to serve the people, not climb mountains. That said, in future years, we hope to get out their way.
There was an excellent article about the Snowman by National Geographic:
In this remarkable travelogue, the author speaks of coming to a remote village and meeting a fellow who begs for them to help his sick mother. The trekkers are at a loss as they can offer nothing to relieve her suffering. Their frustration and sense of helplessness is intensely palpable. It is these accounts which spur me on to bring this itinerary into reality, to walk the many kilometers from village to village, to needle whoever needs it, and to be of some help out in the middle of nowhere.
That said, here is our "middle of nowhere":
(Tx = treatment)
29 Sept: Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
30 Sept: Thimpu rest day and acclimatization
1 Oct: Thimpu - meetings, pack for trek
2 Oct: Thimpu - day hike, Tx @Dechenphodrang
3 Oct: day hike, Tx Dodina to Punakha
4 Oct: Punakha, Damji to Gasa, Hot Springs
5 Oct: Gasa Tx Day
6 Oct: Gasa to Koina
7 Oct: Koina to Laya
8 Oct: Laya Tx day
9 Oct: Laya Tx Day
10 Oct: Laya to Rodophu
11 Oct: Rodophu to Narethang
12 Oct: Narethang Tx day
13 Oct: Narethang to Tarina
14 Oct: Tarina to Woche
15 Oct: Woche Tx day
16 Oct: Woche to Lhedi
17 Oct: Lhedi to Thanza
18 Oct: Thanza Tx day
19 Oct: Rest Day in Thanza
20 Oct: Thanza to Tashorim
21 Oct: Tashorim to G/Puensum Basecamp
22 Oct: G/Puensum Basecamp to Geshe Woma
23 Oct: Geshe Woma to Warathang
24 Oct: Warathang to Dhur Hot Springs
25 Oct: Rest at Dhur Tsachu
26 Oct: Dhur Tx day
27 Oct: Dhur Tsachu to Tshochenchen
28 Oct: Tshochenchen to Chokchomey
29 Oct: Chokchomey to Jakar
30 Oct: rest at Jakar
31 Oct: rest day at Jakar
1 Nov: Jakar to Mongar
2 Nov: Mongar to Trashigang
3 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
4 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
5 Nov: Trashigang to Radi, Tx day + Nunnery
6 Nov: Radi to Phongmey, Tx day
7 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
8 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
9 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
10 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
11 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
12 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
13 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
14 Nov: Merak/Sakteng to Trashigang
15 Nov: Trashigang Rest day
16 Nov: Trashigang to Khaling, Tx day
17 Nov: Khaling to Pema Gatshel, Tx day
18 Nov: Pema Gatshel Tx day
19 Nov: Pema Gatshel to Mongar
20 Nov: Mogar Tx day
21 Nov: Mongar to Lhuntse
22 Nov: Lhuntse Tx day
23 Nov: Koma Tx day
24 Nov: Koma to Komagong
25 Nov: Komagong Tx day
26 Nov: Komagong Tx day
27 Nov: Komagong to Lhuntse
28 Nov: Lhuntse to Dungkhar
29 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
30 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
1 Dec: Dungkhar to Ura
2 Dec: Ura Tx in am, then to Tronogsa
3 Dec: Trongsa Tx day
4 Dec: Trongsa to Punakha, Tx day
5 Dec: Punakha to Thimphu
6 -9 Dec: Thimpu
We decided to forego the communities who live along the fabled Snowman Trek this time as its failure rate is 50% and there are annual fatalities given the extraordinary time spent at altitude (more than when attempting Everest). After all, this is an expedition to serve the people, not climb mountains. That said, in future years, we hope to get out their way.
There was an excellent article about the Snowman by National Geographic:
In this remarkable travelogue, the author speaks of coming to a remote village and meeting a fellow who begs for them to help his sick mother. The trekkers are at a loss as they can offer nothing to relieve her suffering. Their frustration and sense of helplessness is intensely palpable. It is these accounts which spur me on to bring this itinerary into reality, to walk the many kilometers from village to village, to needle whoever needs it, and to be of some help out in the middle of nowhere.
That said, here is our "middle of nowhere":
(Tx = treatment)
29 Sept: Arrive in Paro from Bangkok
30 Sept: Thimpu rest day and acclimatization
1 Oct: Thimpu - meetings, pack for trek
2 Oct: Thimpu - day hike, Tx @Dechenphodrang
3 Oct: day hike, Tx Dodina to Punakha
4 Oct: Punakha, Damji to Gasa, Hot Springs
5 Oct: Gasa Tx Day
6 Oct: Gasa to Koina
7 Oct: Koina to Laya
8 Oct: Laya Tx day
9 Oct: Laya Tx Day
10 Oct: Laya to Rodophu
11 Oct: Rodophu to Narethang
12 Oct: Narethang Tx day
13 Oct: Narethang to Tarina
14 Oct: Tarina to Woche
15 Oct: Woche Tx day
16 Oct: Woche to Lhedi
17 Oct: Lhedi to Thanza
18 Oct: Thanza Tx day
19 Oct: Rest Day in Thanza
20 Oct: Thanza to Tashorim
21 Oct: Tashorim to G/Puensum Basecamp
22 Oct: G/Puensum Basecamp to Geshe Woma
23 Oct: Geshe Woma to Warathang
24 Oct: Warathang to Dhur Hot Springs
25 Oct: Rest at Dhur Tsachu
26 Oct: Dhur Tx day
27 Oct: Dhur Tsachu to Tshochenchen
28 Oct: Tshochenchen to Chokchomey
29 Oct: Chokchomey to Jakar
30 Oct: rest at Jakar
31 Oct: rest day at Jakar
1 Nov: Jakar to Mongar
2 Nov: Mongar to Trashigang
3 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
4 Nov: Trashigang Tx day
5 Nov: Trashigang to Radi, Tx day + Nunnery
6 Nov: Radi to Phongmey, Tx day
7 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
8 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
9 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
10 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
11 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
12 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
13 Nov: Merak/Sakteng
14 Nov: Merak/Sakteng to Trashigang
15 Nov: Trashigang Rest day
16 Nov: Trashigang to Khaling, Tx day
17 Nov: Khaling to Pema Gatshel, Tx day
18 Nov: Pema Gatshel Tx day
19 Nov: Pema Gatshel to Mongar
20 Nov: Mogar Tx day
21 Nov: Mongar to Lhuntse
22 Nov: Lhuntse Tx day
23 Nov: Koma Tx day
24 Nov: Koma to Komagong
25 Nov: Komagong Tx day
26 Nov: Komagong Tx day
27 Nov: Komagong to Lhuntse
28 Nov: Lhuntse to Dungkhar
29 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
30 Nov: Dungkhar Tx day
1 Dec: Dungkhar to Ura
2 Dec: Ura Tx in am, then to Tronogsa
3 Dec: Trongsa Tx day
4 Dec: Trongsa to Punakha, Tx day
5 Dec: Punakha to Thimphu
6 -9 Dec: Thimpu
You will do well. Sounds like a good crew. Kevin will keep you in line. Virtue will carry you far. Probably no donuts in Bhutan. I expect many tales to be told and told well.
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