Poon Hill Trek Difficulty: A Guide to Trekking in the Himalayas
The poon Hill trek is famous for its viewpoint named poon Hill Viewpoint. From there, you can enjoy the beautiful sunrise and views of the mountains.
You can reach the viewpoint after crossing Ghorepani. On the way, you will get to see the beautiful villages, stunning landscapes, and forests experiencing the culture, traditions, and hospitality of the local people.
These terrains, altitude, and weather conditions are the key factors of the increasing difficulty level. You have to climb some steep sections and stone steps too.
These challenges can be managed by doing proper preparations, hydration, and acclimatization.
Normally, this poon Hill trek is moderately difficult best for families and beginners This trail is manageable and covers a distance of around 40- 44 km in 3-7 days.
By analyzing and knowing about the difficulty level, one can make sure that he is ready for the upcoming challenges keeping safety as a priority. Keep reading the blog to learn about this interesting stuff in detail.
Understanding the Poon Hill Trek Difficulty
1. Route and Itinerary
The poon Hill trek’s starting point is Nayapul. You will trek the circular route through the Annapurna region from Nayapul. The real trekking journey is this part. After trekking the circular route, you will end your journey in Nayapul. And return back to Kathmandu.
In addition, there will be a flight waiting for you at the Tribhuvan International Airport ready to go to your desired destinations. During this journey, you will cover a total distance of 40-45 KM in 4-5 days.
Outline itinerary
•Day 1- Arrival in Kathmandu
•Day 2- Drive to Pokhara and then drive to the first point of the trek, Nayapul
•Day 3 to 4- Trek from Nayapul to Ghorepani
•Day 5- Early morning hike to Poon Hill and then to Tadapani
•Day 6 to 7- trek around the circular route, visiting JhinuDanda and Ghandruk
•Day 8- hike back to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara
•Day 9- departure from Pokhara and then from Kathmandu to your desired place
2. Altitude and Elevation Gain
Gradual ascent with moderate elevation gain is important for beginners to prevent altitude sickness and complete the journey. You can make an idea about the poon Hill trek difficulty after reading this section.
The highest altitude is the poon Hill viewpoint which is 3210 m above sea level. During the journey, the total elevation gain is around 3000m. These facts make the trek more accessible and low altitude trekking.
Moreover, the comparison result of the altitudes of the Everest base camp and the Annapurna base camp is huge. The Everest base camp has an elevation level of up to 5364 m and the Annapurna base camp has 4130m which is much higher than poon Hill which has a 3000 elevation gain.
The above facts make the poon Hill trek more beginner friendly and suitable for low-altitude trekking.
3. Weather and Seasonality
The weather and seasonality are also important when analyzing and calculating the poon Hill trek difficulty. The poon Hill trekking journey is full of varying weather and changing temperatures.
The most suitable seasons for trekking, spring and autumn, also have varying temperatures throughout the season. In these seasons, you can notice the mild temperature ranging from 10°c to 24°c. During the seasons, you can also enjoy the clear skies and pleasant environment.
The other seasons like summer are quite similar to spring and autumn but the winter is a little colder. You can experience the cold temperature at night. The peak temperature around the daytime is 15°c.
Factors Contributing to Poon Hill Trekking Difficulty
1. Physical Fitness Requirements
You should be prepared for the several hours of the walk to go for the poon Hill trek with occasional steep ascents and descents. This activity requires a fine fitness level.
There are no strong requirements for technical skills, but you must have cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and mental preparedness.
2. Altitude Sickness Risks
As per the history, the normal altitude sickness symptoms are seen above 3500 m. So, there is little risk of altitude sickness during the poon Hill trek as compared to other high-altitude areas treks.
As discussed earlier, you have to ascend just 3210m to reach the trek’s highest point. At this point, the altitude sickness is a rare thing. The gradual ascent and resting in between the trek helps you to adjust to the changing oxygen levels.
Even though there is little risk of altitude sickness, you should stay hydrated, and constantly monitor for the symptoms. These are important for any trek whether difficult or easy.
3. Weather Challenges
The weather challenges can bring more difficulties during the poon Hill trekking. For example, the monsoon season is known for its rainfall. The frequent rainfall makes the paths slippery making it difficult to walk.
In contrast, there is the occurrence of snowfall and cold weather in the winter season. Snowfall is common in the poon Hill area. These conditions can increase the poon hill trekking difficulty level.
However, the best seasons for the trek are spring and autumn. You can experience warmth in day time and coolness at night in the spring season and in the autumn season, you can enjoy clear skies and cool temperatures.
Weather brings various challenges, more than just the temperature fluctuations so, it should be considered an important factor to complete the trek.
Tips for Managing Difficulty
Various challenges can be overcome if proper preparations are done and strategies are followed. Poon Hill trek difficulty is not that much that you have to do hard training and difficult exercises.
By doing certain Pre-Trek preparations, making acclimatization strategies and packing only important things, the difficulty can be managed. Let’s learn more about these things.
1. Pre-Trek Preparation
A pre-trek preparations are important. The basic level of fitness is important for those who barely walk or do exercises. It can be difficult for those who just sit at the office and handle computer-related work all day.
It is also essential to research and learn about the trek. By knowing about the difficulties that may come along your way, you can be mentally ready to face the challenges.
Moreover, the expert suggests that you should start early in the day while trekking. This will help in managing the trail difficulty more easily. By starting early, you will have a general idea about the weather and can enjoy the beautiful sunrise too.
2. Acclimatization Strategies
While going on trekking, you should not forget to plan the acclimatization strategies. For the poon Hill trek, there are not vast strategies but you have to do basic acclimatization activities.
The basic acclimatization activities include gradual ascent and proper hydration. Gradual ascent means trekking while taking rests. It helps the body to adapt to the decreasing oxygen levels. Rapid ascents can be dangerous if you are a beginner.
Moreover, proper hydration is an important part of the acclimatization strategy. It helps to manage the headaches and fulfill the fluid loss from your body. The other activities include maintaining cleanliness, protecting yourself from the sun, and allowing your body to adapt naturally.
3. Packing Essentials
Packing the required items also helps to manage the poon Hill trek difficulty more easily. In case you haven’t any idea how your clothes and other required accessories help you to overcome the challenges then stick with me.
Layered clothing can help you manage the temperatures in a better way. There are generally three layers; base layers, insulation layers, and outer layers. The base layer includes all the moisture-wicking thermal tops and bottoms. It helps to conserve your body’s moisture. For example, thermal tops and bottoms, thermal underwear, and so on.
Insulated layering is to preserve your inner heat. For example, lightweight fleecejacket, wool sweaters, down jackets, synthetic insulated jackets, and so on. And outer layer helps you to stop the outer cold. Insulated layering’s examples are waterproof and windproof jackets, and so on. You can remove the layers according to the temperature fluctuations.
Other items like headwear, gloves, and proper footwear are also necessary for the trek. Before packing, make a list of the items that are needed in the trek and pack accordingly. You can take the help of the guides or the trekking company that you are going with.
The above are just clothing. The accessories and gears that are needed are as follows.
• Trekking poles
• Headlamp
• Reusable water bottles
• Backpack(35-40 l)
• First aid kit with medications and bandages
• Toiletries and personal items
• Power bank
• Chargers and other required electronics
Personal Experiences and Testimonials
1. Stories from Trekkers
Many trekkers have experienced the poon Hill trek difficulty and shared their stories with us. Some of the key points from the experienced trekkers that may be helpful to you are given below.
• Many trekkers, who have extensive knowledge and experience, have found the trek to be easy.
• Trekkers found the trail path well-maintained with stone steps, wooden bridges, and clear signs. They found
• By taking proper fitness training, acclimating properly, staying hydrated, and slow ascent, hikers were able to maintain their positive attitude while facing altitude-related problems and we were able to successfully defend against the problem.
• Those who have gone for monsoon trekking find difficulty in walking the paths as the trails are slippery. They had to postpone their itinerary plan.
• Many trekkers from the USA and India found the accommodation and facilities budget-friendly and easy to book via trekking operators.
• Even the challenges to a newbie, they find an opportunity to forget their pain while immersing in the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the local communities.
• Almost all trekkers got an opportunity to enjoy the sunrise and panoramic views of the mountains from the poon Hill and feel blessed to get that opportunity.
2. Challenges Overcome
Here are the lists of the challenges that those trekkers faced and overcame from that.
• The physically demanding steep ascent to Ulleri and the climb up to Poon Hill.
• Slippery and muddy trails in the rainy and winter seasons
• Erosion in some sections of the trail
• Altitude problem because of not acclimatizing properly
• Limited access to electricity, Wi-Fi, ATMs due to the remote nature of the trek
• Heavy rainfall during monsoon, snow, or cold temperatures in the winter season
FAQs
1. How difficult is the Poon Hill Trek?
The poon Hill is one of the moderate treks for the beginners. You have to walk 4-6 hours daily.
2. Do I need trekking experience for Poon Hill Trek?
It is an advantage if you have trekking experience. But, you can also go for the trek if you are a newbie with a fit and healthy body.
3. What is the altitude gain of the Poon Hill Trek?
The Poon Hill Trek altitude gain is 3210m above sea level.
4. What is the best time to go for Poon Hill Trek?
The best time to go for the Poon Hill trekking is during the spring and autumn seasons. During this season, the skies are clear, and you can enjoy the beautiful views in the mild temperature.
5. What are the accommodation facilities at the poon Hill trek teahouses?
The teahouses have basic facilities with clean rooms and shared bathrooms. You can also enjoy the luxury lodges by paying premium prices.
6. How do I prepare physically for the Poon Hill trek?
For the preparations for the Poon Hill trek, you can do cardio, strength training exercises, and flexibility exercises. These activities increase your overall stamina and endurance capacity.
Closing Thoughts
The poon Hill trek is an easy to moderate trek. If you are a newbie, this trek difficulty will be moderate for you but if you are the one with previous trekking experience, this trek is much easier.
There are certain things to consider like packing essentials, Pre-Trek preparations, and acclimatization strategies. By doing these things, the difficulty can be overcome and you can enjoy the trek along with the beautiful sunrise and vistas of the mountains from the Poon Hill viewpoint.
