Can anyone tell me something about the conditions of the trail on the Druk trek from Paro to Thimphu in Bhutan? I have a pretty clear idea of what the trek is like except for the question of how smooth vs uneven it it is etc.

thanks.

Hey, cmstraf, I thought about you when I saw the article on the return of tourism to Nepal in the NYTimes. I posted a thread here with a link.

Hi Kathie,
Haven't checked the forum in a while. We did decide to go to Nepal. I'm going to go check under your name now to see if I can find the ink.

<i>> question of how smooth vs uneven it it is</i>

Have not trekked in Bhutan, but if pre-earthquake Nepal trekking offers a clue, then the answer is: "all of the above"!

Have a great trip.

BTW, a good tip for walking these trails is to get behind a local who is carrying a heavy load and watch how they move: slow and steady with grace, favoring several small steps over one big step, maintaining an even pace that allows for a song or conversation while walking.

Google "hiking rest step" for a technique that takes minutes to master but pays off in spades in terms of increased endurance on the trail.

For breathing concentrate on a nice strong exhale, timing breaths to some number of steps. If you focus on the exhale, the inhale will just happen.

Apologies if you already knew this stuff. Have fun!