In Search of Bhutan's Yeti: The Merak Sakteng Trek

The yeti (or migoi, as they are called in Bhutan) is extremely, perhaps vanishingly rare. But the idea of the migoi packs a lot of interesting cultural heft, rather like the crazy notion of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series.

In fact, the migoi is important enough to the Bhutanese that way out in Bhutan’s far east, they’ve created a national park dedicated to its protection. This tour and trek (which our Michael Steigerwald was recently one of the first outsiders to make) gives us an ultra-lovely look at Punakha, Phobjikha, and Bumthang, quintessential Bhutanese treasures, and takes us into far, far eastern Bhutan for a typically top-notch trek in the new park—which, in addition to being prime migoi habitat, is also a beautiful and spectacularly rare Himalayan experience. And at trek’s end, visions of the elusive ape-like cryptid dancing in our heads, we head 50 or so miles and many thousands of feet south and down, into India, and then on home.