personal hygiene/porterguide

[xanadu]

i will be going on a three week trek in india in april to nanda devi -- no teahouses, just tents; no hot springs either :(

so....

what do folks recommend for keeping your body (privates/underarms/chest/shoulders/feet) clean, especially after you have been sweating/defecating/peeing all day?

also, after a hiatus of 33 years, i am planning to go back to annapurna/thorung la in the fall

can anyone tell me how far the road now goes beyond besisahar and how long it takes to get to the road end by jeep from kathmandu?

finally, i am also looking for an experienced strong companionable knowledgeable english-speaking porter/guide who can carry his own stuff (and perhaps a little of mine if i flame out) -- roos has been kind enough to recommend ruk thapa -- does anyone else have any recommendations?

thanks for all the help

[yakshaver]

i will be going on a three week trek in india in april to nanda devi -- no teahouses, just tents; no hot springs either :(

so....

what do folks recommend for keeping your body (privates/underarms/chest/shoulders/feet) clean, especially after you have been sweating/defecating/peeing all day?

also, after a hiatus of 33 years, i am planning to go back to annapurna/thorung la in the fall

can anyone tell me how far the road now goes beyond besisahar and how long it takes to get to the road end by jeep from kathmandu?

finally, i am also looking for an experienced strong companionable knowledgeable english-speaking porter/guide who can carry his own stuff (and perhaps a little of mine if i flame out) -- roos has been kind enough to recommend ruk thapa -- does anyone else have any recommendations?

thanks for all the help

The road goes a bit beyong Besisahar. Maybe to Kundi. The major problem is on the Jomsom side.

I suggest you start at Besisahar (or wherever the taxi goes on that side) and then fly out at Jomsom. But not before you revisit Marpha and Tuckushe, then return to Jomsom to fly out.

Taxi would take about 5-6 hours from Kathmandu.

I also suggest you do the side trips to places like Nagwal, upper Pisang, and maybe Lupra.

If you send me a private message, I can give you Santaman's email. He has got a couple of excellent porter-guides, who speak good english and are very good companions.

[Landfall38]

Hygeine: not a problem in AC, as showers are available everywhere except near Pass. Otherwise, nothing like extra deodorant and moist wipes... (as a favour to others:eek: ).


ROAD Oct/Nov 2007: road now goes 6km past Bhul Bhule (on way to Syange, which will be reached in a year or two). Bus available from Dumre to BB -- taxis cannot do road past Besisahar as it is too rough. Road was not busy and still OK to walk from Besi.

Road construction (but NO vehicles) at various points Dharapani to Manang. Especially remarkable are sections (i) between Tanchok and Chame, making old lower route via Latamarang unpassable and (ii) up canyon below Paunda Danda (before Pisang) -- an ugly cut.

In my view the road construction on the Manang do not seriously hurt the trekking experience (and even helps it).


On Jomsom side: road is essentially Ghasa to Muktinath (but landslide between Ghasa and Kalopani stops all but very intrepid motorcycles), but traffic is very sparse (all vehicles must be brought in by helicopter -- too heavy for the poor donkeys....). Regular Landrover "bus" service Kalopani-Jomsom and Jomsom-Muktinath. (Road diverts behind Marpha saving this town!)

Below Ghasa there is very active road construction.

In my view, the road on the Gandaki side DOES impact the trekking experience but not enough yet to ruin trek. In most/many places the trail is separate from the road. But in a few years?????

CAR KTM TO BESI:
In 2007, took 4.5 hours by private car (6000 Rs -- higher now after fuel $ increase?) KTM to Besi. (In 2002, took closer to 6 hours.)

I agree, don't miss "high route" after pisang -- definitely a (the?) highlight of AC.

Time? Everyone is different. In 1996: 22 days. In 2002: 23 days... In 2007: 21 days [:) getting better as we get older?]. Many others do it in 18 days; but many don't even get around due to AMS problems (ie maybe they went too fast). Be sure to give yourself acclimatization time AND time to enjoy.


GUIDE:
Dorjee is a great guide (see my post in "Guide Recs") -- see
http://www.letsgonepalnow.com/aboutus.php


Landfall38
Vancouver
(Planning on returning to Nepal in December....):D

[Escher]

Especially remarkable are sections (i) between Tanchok and Chame, making old lower route via Latamarang unpassable and (ii) up canyon below Paunda Danda (before Pisang) -- an ugly cut.



Does the trail not go through Latamarang at all any more? One of my favourite lodges is along that section I was looking forward to staying there once again in a month's time.

[Landfall38]

Does the trail not go through Latamarang at all any more? One of my favourite lodges is along that section I was looking forward to staying there once again in a month's time.

In October 2007 you could still take the trail to Latamarang (though its cutoff from Tanchok trail after Danagyu was hard to see). However, after Latamarang one had to then take the trail up to Tanchok. The trail "above" Latamarang along the river to Koto Qupar, which was always subject to landslides, is now definitely closed an very dangerous. Directly above this trail is the new road cut into rock and one can see all the rocks that have been dropping on to the "trail" below.

For our 2 previous AC treks we went the Latamarang route and didn't get too bothered by the landslide areas (though it was clear you shouldn't linger). This time it was clearly unused. This was our first time via Tanchok and frankly, we liked it better: better trail, better (excellent) views, and Tanchok was interesting.

Were you thinking of a lodge near hot springs (Annapurna? Tatopani?)? Perhaps it is still there but there would be VERY few trekkers going that way so they may have closed. No idea.

The road in this area is still a "wide trail" with no vehicles so it actually is an easier faster walk than it used to be. (It is the Paunda Danda road cut that is ugly.)