Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 3
November 1, 2024
Lunana is the most remote region in the Bhutan Himalaya. It is a high plateau with the elevation above 5000m. Dotted with nameless mountains and glacial lakes, it is where the spirits live. It is the place where the earth touches the sky and words can’t describe its sublime beauty. Lunana is one of the most beautiful places in the Himalaya, not because of high impenetrable mountains but because of the poetry of light it evokes at every turn. We were lucky to win the wether lottery and be granted passage through its beautiful gates. Gratitude is what we left behind…
Heaven
Loju La Pass 5145m
My birthday at 5145m. It is beautiful and I feel grateful.
Night snowstorm at the basecamp for the highest pass of the trip.
The large mountain in the centre is Kangphu Kang 1 7204, next to it is Kangphu 2 6945m, the pointy peak on the right is Kangphu Kang 3 6502 above the Tsoughu Glacier.
Teri Kang 7130m.
Kangphu Kang 1 7204m
Kangphu Kang 2 6945m and Kangphu Kang 3 6502m. On the right is Shien Kangri 6270 above the Tsoughu Glacier.
Table Mountain is on the right.
The highest pass of the trip: Rinchen Zoe La 5350m.
Rinchen Zoe La 5350m
The glaciated mountains are close to 6000m in height.
The Migoi (a strong man or Yeti in Bhutanese) and Mechum (little yeti that inhabits lower elevation forests) or: Me and Victor.
Now lower down the valley we encountered a large yak caravan traveling to Chozo.
Climbing back up 1000m to the next camp.
Another snowstorm, by now we are used to it. The basecamp for our last pass: Tempe La 4665m.
We camped next to the lake below.
Tempe La 4665m
Tempe La 4665m
Horses ascending to the pass
Looking down at our descent route
Tempe La Pass from the south.
One of the two sacred lakes we passed on the way down.
Descending from the pass
Om Tscho Lake - the destination for pilgrimages for the Bhutanese buddhists.
The way home!
Lunana is well guarded from all sides!
Long, long descent. The Snowman trek keeps you in its grip until the last hour.
And just like that, civilization…and beer :-)
Our last camp. It is finished. I am sad and elated at the same time. The Snowman Trek embodies the extremes of experience. To enjoy it, one needs to employ a middle way, don’t get swayed by either and just enjoy being in the wilderness in each moment. Easier said than done, but what an opportunity for practice!
The view our last camp in Lunana
What remains is gratitude
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All Trips and Adventures by Year
A chronological archive of trip reports, photo essays, and route notes across decades.
2026
2025
2024
- Mon - Bhutan
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 1
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 2
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 3
- North of 60º - Polar Adventures
- East Greenland 66º North
- On the Trail of Teutonic Order Castles in Northern Poland
- Wolfsschanze Hitler's HQ, Ketrzyn Poland and Peenemunde WW2 V1/V2 Research Centre in North Germany
- Central Mexico - Mexico City, Puebla and Teotihuacan
- Venezuela - Orinoco River Delta
- Venezuela - Mount Roraima Trek 2810m
- Venezuela - Angel Falls
2023
2022
- Nepal Solukhumbu - Sumna Pass and Lobuche East trip summary
- Nepal Khumbu and Kangchendzonga from the Air
- Nepal Solukhumbu Sundar Peak 5000m and Sumna Pass 5400m
- Nepal Solukhumbu Chola Pass 5450m Lobuche East Ridge 6090m
- Renjola La 5360m Gokyo Ri 5450m, and Cho Oyu BC Photos
- Iceland - Hellismannaleid, Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals Trails
- The Yukon and the Alaska Highway
- Mount Robson
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks
2021
- The Rockies of Alberta, Western BC and the Yukon
- Columbia Icefield from the Air
- Waterton Lakes National Park
- Colombia
- Los Nevados National Park Colombia
- Colombia Tayrona National Park
- Colombia Teyuna - Ciudad Perdida Trek (The Lost City)
- Mexico Pico de Orizaba 5,630m
- Mexico - Sierra Negra 4,650m and Izaccihuatl 5,350m
- Chitwan National Park Nepal
2020
2019
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 1: Chame to Kagbeni via Thorong La Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 2: Kagbeni to Lo Mantang
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 3: Lo Mantang to TeriLa Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 4: Terila Pass to Chame via Naar and Kangla Pass
- Kamchatka Trip Report
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Mutnowski and Gorely Volcanoes
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Tolbachik Volcano Circuit and Volcano Bezimienny
- Russia Far East - Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Petropawlowsk-Kamchatsky
- Taiwan
- Ancohuma 6,427M Bolivia
- Huayna Potosi 6,088m Bolivia
- Ausangate Trek Peru
- Yellowstone National Park in Winter 2019
2018
- Calgary Mountain Film Festival
- Langtang, Tilman Pass and Ganjala Trip Report
- Langtang Trek - Tilman Pass
- Langtang Trek - Ganjala Pass
- Paria River Wilderness - USA, Utah
- Slot Canyons - USA, Arizona
- Bryce National Park - USA, Utah
- Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks - USA, Utah
- Norway
- Poland - The Slav and Viking Festival in Wolin
- Iceland
- Bolivia Cordillera Real and Sajama National Park
- Bolivia - Tiwanaku and La Paz
- Togo and Benin
- Benin - Egungun Masquerade
- Benin - Voodoo Festival
- Ghana - The Gold Coast and the Land of the Ashanti
2017
- Annapurna Basecamp and Annapurna Sanctuary Photos
- Annapurna Sanctuary Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Basecamp Trek, Dhampus Pass - Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Photos - Nepal
- Peru Central - Huaraz, Cordillera Blanca and Chavin de Hauntar
- Peru South, Sacred Valley - the Land of the Incas, Rainbow Mountain and Lima
- Mt. Brazeau and Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
- China Shanghai Beijing Wuhan
- Papua New Guinea
2016
- China Far West - Kashgar and Shiphton Arch
- China Far West - Pamir and The Tajik Games
- K2 Basecamp North, Shaksgam Valley Trip Summary
- Chinese K2 (BC North), Shaksgam Valley - Chinese Karakoram
- North Peru Chachapoyas Trip Report
- Peru North - Kuelap, Chachapoyas and Royal Tombs of Sipan
- Wapta Icefiled Area, Alberta, Canada
- The Caribbean and the Panama Canal
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road Trip Summary
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
2002
2001
1996
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