A Typical Trekking Day

Tea is served at 6 in the morning, just when it gets light. Then a pan of hot water to wash, pack up and have breakfast at 7:30. Usually consists of hot porridge or cereal, toast & eggs, or egg omelet, sometimes pancakes. We are under way by 8:30 and only carry our own day pack with extra clothes, camera and water bottle. Lots of rests, but stop for tea around 10:30 Lunch in the sun at 12:30, always different: salad (carrots, cabbage), potatoes, japatis, cheese or sardines or salami. Walk some more until teatime at 4:30 at which point we would arrive at camp. For dinner at 6:30 we always had soup first (mushroom, tomato, with lots of garlic), main course: rice or spaghetti or potatoes or dal bhat plus some vegetable and dessert. By then its dark and some of us would play cards. Most of us are in bed by 9:00.

Most of the meals were vegetarian, simple, tasty, nutritious and varied and delicious yak meat was served on two occasions. No complaints about the meals, always plenty. Washing water was provided prior to all meals. The emphasis always was on hygiene!

Since we must drink lots of water, it is well boiled first. After dinner, most of us would fill our drinking bottles with hot water and then keep it inside the sleeping bag to act as a hot water bottle. It was sure nice especially when it got down to –10C.