Snowman Trek – Challenges Personified

One of guests said “We are aware that the trek is extremely challenging but we believe that we have good chances to complete it. We summited several mountains, to name but a few Mont Blanc, Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali, Elbrus, Island Peak and accomplished several treks in Nepal namely Everest Base Camp, Annapurna circuit, Langtang, but Snowman Trek was always our dream” This trek is among the top draw trek in the world. Undoubtedly, its rugged terrain and weather-beaten trail that traverse through Lunana, one of most remote region in the world, is a challenge in every sense. Generally, there are only handfuls of trekkers to undertake this trek which dictate you to be the best in physical shape and squeeze the best out of you. Trek as such, to be fair, cannot be categorically put in toughest bracket but three weeks in complete wilderness, in the remotest region of the world can be a real challenge.

Challenges can come in varying degrees, and it applies to the organiser as well, as the local of the region are mostly focused in collecting the lucrative Cordyceps Sinensis an insect, which supposedly have medicine value and fetches handsome price, legalised in 2005 in Bhutan, these are endemic to higher Himalayas region, than supplying logistic in term of porter, yaks etc .It take a lot out of organiser to put together all the pieces for the trek.
Recently trend have been to customise the trek in order to suit the guest’s needs and time length involved to complete it, it can be as long as 32 days. Based on the available time, trek can be completed ranging from 24 to 32 days. Partly what has helped in saving time has been for instance motor able road has been paved in the new head start of the trek like till Sana in Paro. Paro is the mecca of major treks in Bhutan.
At Wind Horse Tours, we have recently upgraded our trekking equipment, which are state of art, redefining the concept of trek as Trekking need not be uncomfortable anymore
Needless to say, all the high altitude trek involve certain degree of altitude related sickness and emergencies, with the ever ready medical and other contingencies backup, these add to our guests peace of minds which readily reflects in enjoyments of the trek.

The way to Snow man trek is adorned with higher Himalayan passes, which spell cold, hostile climate, snow during the other season. During the few months that is accessible provides the beauty that is out of the world, these are the region that is snow bound except few favourable month in a year. There are as many as eleven passes over 4500 m that has to be crossed, what unfold during these can be something that can be simply inexplicable in words. Few guests what they have to say. Martin said “when he unzipped the tent and peeked outside in the morning, peach orange Mt Jhomalari that greeted him, the sight that he behold mesmerised, stunned and made his mind, body and spirit soars high above just like those footloose and fancy free clouds into the union with the one. A profound sense of peace and tranquility prevailed for long time”

Alex said “You have to be here to believe this, this is something surreal, dreamlike”
This trek offers in its nature canvass a wide array of natural beauties in varying colours. For the wild life enthusiast, Jigme Dorji National Park, that stretch long, while covering it can have major chance of sighting herd of Blue sheep grazing on the wall of the hills and bearded vulture and Himalayan Griffon fly overhead.
The trek is the Botanist delight, during the season, as the trek progress, the valley and hills carpeted with blue pine, juniper and rhododendron and wild flowers greet you with welcoming bloom. The ubiquitous prayer flags fluttering as the wind caress it and the sound it generate can resonate forever. While on the way the village that you will come across is Laya. It’s a unique village of about 800 people with their own language, customs and distinct dress. The women keep their hair long and wear peculiar conical bamboo hats with a bamboo spike at the top. They wear a lot of silver jewellery on their backs; on many women this display includes an array of teaspoons.

Following the trail , amid the constant back drop of peak over 7000 m , the sight that unlock are the numerous empty yak herder encampment, which the local uses on their journey and secluded Chorten that dotes the lonely hills can make you forget tiredness in your legs.
Along with those serene, tranquil and spiritually empowering sights and experience that this trek explores, it certainly calls to test your power of endurance, gut and physical and mental state. One of guests said “More than the physical preparation it’s the mental makeup that takes bulk of the time.It again boils down to the perennial question.Do you have it in you to do the Snowman Trek with encompassing all its challenges?”