22 September 2016 Druk Path Trek, Bhutan
Photos of Our First Two Days on Druk Path Trek
We begin our 5 day Druk Path Trek – a planned highlight of our trip to Bhutan. Chosen because it was described as a popular trek and said to be the easiest of treks in Bhutan.
Before we begin. Let me go back a few weeks – just before we left Australia for Bhutan we received an email asking if we wanted oxygen tanks to be provided – or would we bring our own personal oxygen tanks. Now neither of us had even thought of the O (xygen) word this was an “easy trek”. Thrown into minor (occasionally hysterical) panic it did provide much entertainment around comfortable farewell dinners.
Working through it and asking questions – mostly calmly – we decided it was in case the altitude affected us. We had tablets should altitude affect us and we could not source tanks, nor transport them even if we chose to at this point. Decision – we would leave it to sort out once in Bhutan.
In the plan we received, and research done before arrival, the trek was described as the most popular and the easiest. Distances and altitude did not look onerous, though it was described as moderately strenuous. The itinerary looked – to our amateur eyes – doable. Once in Bhutan we did the Tiger’s Nest walk (a practice climb) a couple of days before and we were more than OK.
Weather had altered the first part of our planned trip – heavy rain washing out roads to Bumthang. We had not considered this might also affect the trekking paths!
On discussion with our trusty guide Tshering prior to our first day we discovered options to modify what were going to be very long days. Tshering went through the practical day to day describing the length of the walk and elevation of the walk on some days. We provided our guidelines: ‘Enjoyment rather than Endurance.’
Modification readily agreed. Same number of days – less walking on a couple of days. Easy task to modify the trek in consultation with our support crew – a cook, the horsemen, and our second guide. We were also accompanied by 6 strong Bhutanese ponies – sort of little mule and sort of little horse – they were not consulted but I hope they were also pleased.
The first modification came on day one – and a happy one at that. We were driven up the first loooooong steep hill – past other walkers keen for a lift! As we passed over the steep, rocky, muddy road I was ever grateful for the change. The last part of the drive took some magical driving from Dorji – mud and rocks causing the car to slip and slide. Eventually we were safely deposited at the beginning of a pine forest – fresh and ready to walk.
The first part of the walk took us through pretty forest with a muddy though reasonable track often diverging into multiple paths made by ponies, and hikers over time. Little bands of small horses passed at intervals laden with camping excesses for each of our hiking groups.
Passing farmers and people going about their daily life as we were living what we thought was a most exotic experience.
The hike was a short one after our early kickstart. We interspersed an easy walk with a juice stop, a hot tea break, and a hot cooked lunch served from a stack of tiffin-like bowls. All of this carried by Phuntso our strong trek guide. Despite our suggesting we did not need a hot drink during our walking – given the size of the thermos he had to carry – we still had hot drinks served each day.
At about 2.30pm we reached camp for the day and found our tent already set up complete with small mattress covered by a carpet – which immediately became known as our Magic Carpet. Nearby was a small tent complete with a Commode-like seat over the newly dug hole. Such luxury camping I was not used to. And finally a tent complete with dining table for our meals.
Other groups were some distance away, or at other sections of the track. Throughout the week we rarely saw other trekkers. Apart from one memorable encounter over hot tea with a group who were younger (celebrating a 50th birthday), and struggling. At one point they wanted to take our guide realising what a treasure Tshering was! We later heard they had turned back leaving us smug with our 60years and still going.
Our daily routine was similar throughout the 5 days. Wake to the call “Room service” and the delivery to our tent of hot drinks. Followed a little later by bowls of hot water for washing. Up, pack up, dress and into the “dining room” for breakfast which was always cereal AND cooked breakfast, juice and a hot drink.
We would then set off while the gear was loaded onto the ponies – the latter would pass us somewhere along the path.
During the day we would stop for morning tea and later a hot lunch reaching camp for late afternoon tea. Once settled in and out of wet muddy gear time for a short rest before dinner. Again served in the dining room and always 3 courses – delicious soup possibly made so by rich stock or maybe butter! Then multiple dishes of meat and vegetables and finally dessert. One might be tired on this trek but not hungry!
While the routine was similar the walking each day was quite different. After day one the only consistent theme was the challenge of the paths themselves. Late rain had left quagmires of mud which many little ponies footsteps had turned to porridge. When it was not mud it was rocky paths through running water, or a combination of all. Oh but what a sense of achievement – with a slight feeling of inadequacy in our full scale hiking boots struggling and our guide dancing along in her comfy pumps!
