unshaken: Trekking 101

A few lessons learned while trekking through the Himalayas last month:

1. Just keep walking.

2. Water is your friend. And Red Bull is your best friend. We'll choose that over Gatorade any day!

3. We'll never be truly "local." While in our own estimation a 20-lb. pack between the two of us equaled traveling light, you should've seen the laughs we inspired each evening as we pulled out sleeping bags, down jackets, and water filters.

4. Beware the flying squirrel! (Click here if you missed it.)

5. Nepalis are, without a doubt, the strongest people in the world. We were constantly passed by teenagers running up and down the trails in flip flops, carrying 100+ lbs. strapped to their heads.

6. There's a common t-shirt in Nepal that says, "Daal Bhaat 24-Hour Power." We now know why--and we agree! The local rice and lentil combo kept us going.

7. If you're not sure which path is the main trail (i.e. the road to/from China), just follow the mule poop.

8. Trekking poles = knee-savers. And quite possibly life-savers.

9. In addition to being the strongest people in the world, Nepalis are the most hospitable as well. We were regularly given yak cheese, tea, and beds to sleep in, simply because we were guests.

10. Speaking of those beds: I need to shrink a few inches (and I'm only 5'4"). The average height of Nepali men is 5'4" and women, 4’11½". The beds were made for exactly that. So learning to curl up, sleep diagonally with legs hanging off the bed or over the footboard made even lying down a little more interesting.

11. Ramen noodles become increasingly delicious the more miles you trek.

12. Just keep walking. It's worth repeating. The days can be long and the trail difficult, but just keep walking. One step at a time.

Logistically speaking, the lessons really were as simple as 1-2-12. But the deeper reality is that many Nepalis have no choice but to walk for hours--sometimes days--just to obtain basic necessities like firewood, clothing, food, and medical care. Not a single Nepali we met along the way was trekking. They were simply living. We're incredibly grateful for the privilege to walk alongside so many.

Perhaps these pictures will tell a bit more of the story as we trekked from Lingam to Num, where we subsequently took a jeep followed by an airplane to get back to Kathmandu.