How the Subculture of Backpacking is Similar to Regular Culture in Bhutan

If you are reading this then you got past the title enough to click on it, perhaps by thinking, “Hmmm, that’s odd,” or, “Is that a cultural slam to Bhutan?” (non-backpackers might go there), or perhaps, “That doesn’t seem accurate.” From my big experience with both backpacking and Bhutan none of those suppositions are correct. So what’s with the fringe title to this post? On my recent fastpacking trip in the Sierra, the friendly warmth of Bhutan came to mind many times. Here’s why.

When backpacking, it is not only common practice but kind of an unspoken ‘rule’ that when you come across another person on the trail going the opposite direction that you’ll stop and chat with them. At minimum, you’ll heartily greet them while passing, but the greet and pass is much less common than the chat. Backpackers passing each other on the trail who have never met and will most likely never see each other again tend to be expected to stop and have a brief (or long) conversation.

Topics range from a quick, “how are you doing,” to “isn’t that [insert nearby landmark] incredibly beautiful,” to the most common offering—trail beta. While hiking on the John Muir Trail a few weeks ago it became clear that backpackers on a popular through-trail like to be the bearer of useful information. Sometimes in dissertation form.

If you happen to be moving in the same direction and at the same speed as another backpacker, dialog can become vast and deep depending on how long you are in each others vicinity. You may get someones life story in one day then never come across them again. Or, you may become fast friends and vow to keep in touch forever with someone you would never even think to give the time of day to back in civilization.

So what does any of this have to do with Bhutan?

When Bhutanese move through or between their villages on foot, they tend to do so at a meandering pace and often are escorting children, livestock and goods they are bringing home or taking from home to somewhere else. They share not only a similar lifestyle and religion, but most likely they are either related to each other by less than 6 degrees of separation, or they have mutual friends. They will not only stop to chat about similar useful trail/village/cultural beta that backpackers may share but they may also help each other with their burdens as needed. Just as backpackers are incredibly helpful and supportive humans while on the trail, Bhutanese are this way every day.

All of this is readily in process because just as Bhutanese tend to instantly have something in common with their fellow countryman, backpackers sameness will cause them to bond with ease. But place the western backpacker back into their non-backpacking life and they will most likely revert back to compartmentalizing their interactions. Bhutanese remain in “backpacking-mode” for the duration because thats just part of their culture.

If you are a backpacker you may enjoy the fluid and easy connection with fellow backpackers while on beautiful trails. You may gravitate to the slower paced and scaled back lifestyle that time in wild places offers us. Imagine that your day to day life was at a similar pace to that of being on the trail—inclusive of physical hardship combined with regular human connections—and through it all you’ll get a taste of life in rural Bhutan.

The allure of Bhutanese culture is one of the reasons I’m offering a one-time 25-day, The Snowman Trek in the fall of 2015. This trip will combine several things you love—being on the trail for extended periods, warm, supportive human interaction and access to a remote traditional culture. Join me for this trekking experience of a lifetime.

– Terri Schneider