Sunglasses on the Thorung La Pass

[Dave]

My wife and I are trekking the Annapurna Circuit in December and we are concerned about snow blindness. We have heard that the sunlight reflected against the snow can burn the eyes causing a loss of vision. Much like looking at the rays of arc welding.
We have purchased two pairs of snow goggles, one made by Scott and the other made by Oakley. Both have a light yellow lens. We are wondering if these will be enough protection. Since they are made for skiers we feel they are enough protection, but we are not sure. Any information would be of great help.

Now a message for Andree, Thank you for the wonderful web site of the Annapurna Circuit. The photos were great, but my German is lacking. Much of what was said I believe I understood, but not 100% sure. All I know for sure is that with each picture I saw I would say to myself, "Das ist goot."
If Nepal is anything like the Alps then I am headed for heaven.

18 Days and counting.

Dave

[Daniel]

Dave,

While at 5400m on Thorung La the air is more rarefied than usual, hence more UV etc, whatever is good for skiing is good for the Himalayas, as a rule. I found the snow goggles not good for trekking, since you get hot and bothered around the head and eyes because of the padding. You expand a lot more energy and get a lot hotter while trudging uphill at altitude, than you do downhill skiing. I prefer "normal" outdoors kind of sunglasses, the ones that are a bit more wrap-around, but without padding or being too tight around the face. They seem to do the job OK in the snow for me in NZ, Oz (yes, there is snow here!) and Nepal.

As about Nepal being like the Alps, I supose on many areas, in some narrow sense yes, they might be. Just ad a couple of levels.However there is far more to Nepal than just the mountains, majestic as they might be.

[andrees]

Normaly, you should not have to many problems in dezember, there is less light than in other months.
I normaly use normal but high qaulity sunnglasses and had no problems. I guess your sunglasses filter all the UV, so it should be ok. thats the most important point, I had onse sunglases which where just a light grey, but specialy made for snow and high altitude. Be sure that if you have a porter, that he has also sunglases and warm boots.
In december boots can be a problem, have a lot mountain-boot shoecreme with you. Your feets have to be absolutely dry, otherwise you get easely frostbites.
Good luck on your trek Andrées

[Sharon]

I use the yellow lenses when skiing for overcast and poor visibilty days. Good wrap around sun glasses are what you want. Lots available for biking and skiing.

[shiva]

You are lucky in this time to be here!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL IN ONE // ALL TOGETHER
TREKKING!! MEDITATION & REIKI INITIATION!! GURU TSEN-GYE DANCE!! HIMALAYAS INFRONT!!A LOT OF MONASTERIES!!

Enjoy the Padmasamvabha dance and spiritual Pilgrimage Reiki Trek as well.

People have very rarely chances to see this Padmashamvabha’s dance(GURU TSEN-GYE) in Jhyalsa monastery, Reiki initiation in famous monastery of Solu region (Serlo Monastery), let’s make your this step in Buddhists’s spiritual way.
Opportunity does not come always, we just say you not to miss it, because it’s a golden opportunity for all, to gain the spiritual wealth and to participate in Guru Tsen-Gye dance on the way to Mt.Everest, Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.
It’s a present “Les Portes de l’aventure offers you.
Date of departure: 19th and 20th November.

For Further Contact :
Les portes de l’aventure trek and expedition
Thamel,in front of Bhagabatisthan,Kathmandu.
Phone No:422497
Fax No:425289
Http://www.portesaventure.com
E-mail:info@portesaventure.com

[shiva]

You are lucky in this time to be here!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL IN ONE // ALL TOGETHER
TREKKING!! MEDITATION & REIKI INITIATION!! GURU TSEN-GYE DANCE!! HIMALAYAS INFRONT!!A LOT OF MONASTERIES!!

Enjoy the Padmasamvabha dance and spiritual Pilgrimage Reiki Trek as well.

People have very rarely chances to see this Padmashamvabha’s dance(GURU TSEN-GYE) in Jhyalsa monastery, Reiki initiation in famous monastery of Solu region (Serlo Monastery), let’s make your this step in Buddhists’s spiritual way.
Opportunity does not come always, we just say you not to miss it, because it’s a golden opportunity for all, to gain the spiritual wealth and to participate in Guru Tsen-Gye dance on the way to Mt.Everest, Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.
It’s a present “Les Portes de l’aventure offers you.
Date of departure: 19th and 20th November.

For Further Contact :
Les portes de l’aventure trek and expedition
Thamel,in front of Bhagabatisthan,Kathmandu.
Phone No:422497
Fax No:425289
Http://www.portesaventure.com
E-mail:info@portesaventure.com

[Andrées]

Dear Shiva,
obvisioly you where trekking without proper sunglasses in the snow. At least you seem to be blind and not able to read that dave wrote about going around Annapurna.
Or maybe one also needs sunglases if enlighment gets to strong?
Andrées

[Nick]

Hi Andrees I do like this one from you,,,however I thought I was supposed to be the slightly sad funny man leaving the dour factual and precise German and the Australian who has obviousely over achieved for someone from the outback to do the serious stuff.Trust all is well
Cheers Nick