Nepalese Porters Most Efficient Load Carriers

Here's a Monday morning snippet for you - apparently Nepalese porters are the fittest and most efficient load carriers in the world.

According to a recently published study by physiologists in Belgium, the Nepalese are more far efficient at carrying loads than trained soldiers and also outclass African tribeswomen renowned for toting huge loads on their heads.

The study took a sample of porters from the Sherpa 'capital' of Namche Bazzar who carry loads using a head-strap arrangement. They found that male Nepalese porters would manage a load almost as heavy as themselves, while women would carry around 70 per-cent of bodyweight.

When they measured the porters' oxygen consumption and CO2 output they found that they operated with greater metabolic efficiency than other subjects tested, apparently they're nearing the feasible limts of human load-carrying ability.

The efficiency is apparently down to a variety of factors including a high carbohydrate diet based mainly on rice, a generally small stature which means their loads are proportionately larger and a measured, slow pace with numerous rests.

Interestingly, the study doesn't seem to have touched on the effects of high altitude or genetic adaptation to it which must have some bearing on the situation. Full story at New Scientist.

Not Indestructible

Anyone who's witnessed Nepalese porters carrying huge loads might get the impression that they're somehow superhuman. That isn't the case. Many porters in Nepal are lowlanders and just as vulnerable to the effects of altitude as western trekkers.

Moreover, porters are often relatively poorly clothed, which makes them extremely susceptible to the effects of bad weather. If you're off on a trekking holiday or simply concerned with the wider issues of porter treatment and expliotation, take a look at the International Porter Protection Group's web site at www.ippg.net