Pack, Paddle, Ski

Viewing Post for: Bhutan Sept. 26, 2010

Date: October 7
Location: Somewhere in Bhutan

"Hey! What's up?"
'Uh.... The sky??' "
Are you kidding me? We are IN the sky!"

Today was our 6th day of our 9 day trek, and in good fashion we cleared the second [and last] pass of our journey. We woke early around 6:41, and were served tea in our tents. Several members of the group slept in one of the houses as it was flat, as opposed to the tents on the side of the hill. After packing our bags we enjoyed a breakfast of poridge and fresh bread we had made last night in a dutch oven. It was delicious.

Leaving the camp we hiked down the valley, along the way seeing houses scattered throughout. After hiking for about an hour we came to a yack herder's house where we had the opportunity to milk a yak. Let me just throw it out there that yaks are not the friendliest animals on the planet AND they have horns!! In fact, one of the big bulls had the top of its horns sawed off because it had attacked horses along the trail.

Thankfully the locals had it figured out, and roped the yak and tied its hind legs so it couldn't kick. Even being all tied up, it could still jump around. David volunteered to go first, and was shown how by an old lady. Milking a yak is much harder than it sounds, or looks... First off, the utters are MUCH smaller than a cow's. You had to like fish around down there to find them. Secondly, if you touched the yak's body it would jump around. So basically you had to fish around between the yak's back legs without touching the body, find the tiny utter and then figure out how to get milk to come out. Needless to say we only got a couple of tablespoons, most of which came when the lady first showed David. Even if we failed at milking the yak, we did provide entertainment for the locals, who had gotten wind of the escapade and came to watch. By the time we finished we probably had over a dozen spectators.

After the yak entertainment, we continued on our way and went to see two dzongs [fortresses] built into the side of a rock face 4-500 years ago.

Two more hours of hiking brought us to our lunch at the base of the final ascent to our pass. We stopped in the middle of this huge valley floor, and sat down only to find out it was wet! Food was more attractive than continuing on, and everything was already set up so we stayed there. For lunch we had the usual, which consisted of rice, a form of potatoes and meat. As we finished lunch clouds began to move in dropping the temperature. This provided enough of an incentive for us to move and we began our several hour climb to the pass. At the pass we stopped for a while, froze, then moved on racing the clouds down the mountain. Although we tried our hardest to beat the clouds down, we did not succeed and soon the sky ceiling caught up with us plunging us into the clouds themselves. While the group made the way down the mountain, Rick [who had lost his camera] ran back down the other side of the mountain with one of our guides. Fortunately he did find the camera, but it was farther back than he originally thought. Rick rejoined the group before dinner.

Tonight we are camping at our highest altitude of 4150m or 14800ft [I hope that conversion is right], it is pouring rain but we did make it to camp before it started.

Ok now for the good stuff! Sorry if its too long. For the record we are very close to China & Tibet. Earlier in the trip we actually had to pass through two Bhutanese army checkpoints. Interestingly these outposts are also manned by several Indian soldiers [the group decided that to get such an assignment you had to really mess up...]. Apparently the Indian soldiers do not associate with the Bhutanese soldiers and love talking with anyone that can speak hindu. If you have been following us on google earth, the maps are correct. For most of the trip we have been a stones throw from either China or Tibet [literally]. Most of the time throughout our hikes we have been closer to China/Tibet than we were to our camp!

The beard report: After almost a week of no shaving we have observations. Chris, solid, full however with grays George, has successfully grown side burns, reducing a resemblance to Stalin Rick, apparently didn't get the no shave message and/or is trying to match his face with the top of his head. CJ has a solid growth, however it's two tone leading to the appearance of a goatee. Paul, wins the award for quickest growing hairs! Nice. Steve is growing solid but had a head start.

Fashion award: for today goes to Tsering, who sported a hat with yak hair extensions. We are concerned with some of the ladies interest in the topic of yak hair extensions.

We would like to throw a shoutout to E twizzle Fronk, and would be honored if she would grace us with a post.

We are sorry Mrs. Schirmer, but Mrs. Krapf figured out the solution. Sunglasses!

Messages for this post

For: Chris

cut off- webster thomas. good for us though. i hope you are doing well, continue to have fun and take pictures! don't forget to throw your hands up in the air sometimes and let out an ayoo :) oh btw i found some songs you will like with pretty string-background-music. ok, bye! miss you and i can't wait to see you!

Gaylen - 10/8/2010

For: Chris

so i'm currently dying of laughter after having read your shoutout to e fronk twizzle. she is at practice but i will be sure to pass on the message :) haha. i'm kind of intrigued by the idea of you with a beard/goatee, maybe i'll get to see it. i have this entire long weekend OFF from volleyball which is nice! we have a team movie party tonight. homecoming was this past week, the dance was last night but i opted not to go. we won our game yesterday! first set was 25-8... embarassing for

Gaylen - 10/8/2010

For: Sandy

Wearing the vest you made for me many years ago! Sounds like the trek is wonderful... can't wait to hear more.

Mary - 10/8/2010

For: Chris M

Hey Chris, Looking forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your stories first hand. Sounds pretty exciting. I'll probably see you on the 20th when I get back.

Carroll - 10/8/2010

For: Barbara & Greg

I just read through all the posts. What an amazing adventure to - and through - the clouds at the top of the world! Can't wait to hear more - that means you'll have to write a very long book when you return. It sounds like yaks rule - milk, butter, cheese, and ... yak hair extensions?! lol Love!

Connie G - 10/8/2010

For: Gina

I haven't forgotten you. I'm just fairly inept at getting these messages to go through. Brian's starting a class on rustic furnitue making which he says "apparently they give college credit for". Things are good on the homefront - lots of sink dogs. Enjoy the rest of the trek.

Rob - 10/8/2010

For: Gina

Rob - 10/8/2010

For: Gina

Rob - 10/8/2010

For: Barbara & Greg

It's been great checking the updates. What an awesome trip. Be safe and take lots of photos!

Lisa P. - 10/8/2010

For: George

If you haven't already done it, please try to take pictures of the night sky. What is being "at altitute" like?

Joyce - 10/8/2010

For: Steve & Melissa

Just to send you some "warm" thoughts, the temps this weekend in CT are going up into the 70's. Sounds like you are having a Yakking good time. All is well here, Happy Naval Architects Day on Monday.

The WK Group - 10/8/2010

For: Gina

2nd. try It was good to see those prayer flags in their appropriate environment---they are sending prayers to heaven that your wonderful trip continues going well, with much fun, satisfying exertion, memorable scenery and experiences, and adequate food and rest. A perfect Colorado fall day here,with a great hike into the Eaglesnest Wilderness Area.

Mom - 10/8/2010

For: ChrisM

I just have to say it again, that is one cool photo. :)

Deb - 10/7/2010

For: Gina

Milking a yak sounds crazy! And the checkpoints sound interesting too. You are going to have amazing stories. I hope you managed to stay warm on the break that he described in this post. Things are going well here. I started the food justice work, which so far has included going out to some farms and talking to workers and farmers (in Spanish, occasionally!), attending a workshop on crop cover, and picking apples in an orchard. I also learned that serial killers are real, which is a bummer. Anyw

Your buttercup - 10/7/2010

For: Chris

Hey Chris- what's fuzzier Your face or S'Women's legs?

Mrs. Daniels - 10/7/2010

For: Chris and David

Greeting from the wonderfully uneventful place called home! Just kidding. Well, no not really. I hope you guys are having a great time. I miss you and I appologize that I'm writing to you only now. David I hope your teeth aren't permanentely blue from your toothbrush/chisel. Lacey says hi and I hope you enjoy your last couple of days!

Nina - 10/7/2010

For: Gin & Sandy

This is not a political comment, it is a statement of fact: The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel endorsed "our" candidate for State Senate District #7. Amazing and Wonderful!!

Mary & Clee - 10/7/2010

For: ChrisM

Now there's a beautiful sight, good to "see" you! What a great pic and an excellent post, thank you again to those writing these updates. I talked with our cousin Jeffrey today, he cracks me up, I'll fill you in when you get home. Thinking of you. Enjoy the rest of your journey. peace & love Added later, PS: I'm channeling you as I swear at my computer trying to upload this. I sincerely apologize to all if there are 20 or 30 copies of this msg out there tomorrow. argh

Deb - 10/7/2010

For: Gina

.I am so excited that Mary shared this blog with me--I can only imagine your adventure and I'm glad to hear you're safe and having what sounds like the trip of a lifetime. All well here--no frost yet! Beautiful, long fall. The big West SLope mountain passes have never been more beautiful. Jake is good--he tells me he misses Brian. We'll be there in two weeks, but I'll see you first. Be safe!!! Lots of love--

Barbralu - 10/7/2010

For: Gina

Barbralu - 10/7/2010

For: david

so i just found out about jingle jam! its like summer jam but in december! WE ARE GOING! im so excited :)

mags - 10/7/2010

For: david

it cut off "with packing. byeee."

maggie - 10/7/2010

For: david

heyy! sounds super duper over there! and an fyi i am not seeing you until you shave. i cant remember who i had a convo with about guys not shaving the other day but i did and the verdict was that guys need to shave. you would volunteer to milk a yak first. haha hope that was an experience.... swim practice was cancelled so it was a good day today :) notre dame tomorrow! i gots to go packk but at least i know how to pack unlike you. just kidding. hmm well ill write later if i have time/get bored

maggie - 10/7/2010

For: Gina & Sandy

Have you seen any Bhutanese falconers? It sounded like you were getting ready to describe some excitement on the Chinese/Tibetan border... did that ever happen? Huge, tornado-like storm here yesterday!

Clee - 10/7/2010

For: Gina

Gina, Mom will be going to Boulder to spend the afternoon with Doug and Rob on Saturday. Then she'll go to the airport to get Emily. The Evil Three are losing...

Your Sister - 10/7/2010

For: Gina, Sandy & Group

Awesome post! So we had it right that you did another 16,000 pass on Thursday... congratulations! We had heard that yaks are not the friendliest creatures on the planet... hope none of you have a run-in with one (or many). Wondering if they switched out your horses for yaks. Are you able to find yak hair extensions that match your own colors, or are they in contrasting colors? Sandy & Gina, at least, will fit right in in their home state with such an accessory. Gina, Mom will be going

Mary & Clee - 10/7/2010

Viewing Post for: Bhutan Sept. 26, 2010

Messages for this post

No more comments are allowed at this time.