North India Trekking Trip 北印度行山之旅 (23 Aug - 11 Sep 2002)

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Danzin's grandfather happily posing for the camera. He is also happy that we are buying hats & socks at 100-Rupee each. We later found out that the same merchandise was priced at 60-Rupee in shop on highway.

(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)

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We saw, in distance, patch of white/yellowish surface covering the normally dark gray maintain slope. Looked like a beach from far.

When Acharya told us that it was snow, we though he was bullshitting.

Well, he was not.

In the winter, snow would cover the mountain slopes and the valley that we were trekking. When the summer came, most of the snow would melt away but not all. Some would still cover the river, and the river would flow under the packed snow.

The next day, we got our chance to walk on package snows, which has a running river underneath. The crossing was uneventful.

(26 Aug 2002, probably 70mm, ~1/4 second in S-mode, handheld leaning on rocks.)

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After settle down at camp site, I was taking pictures of the nearby mountains. This shepherd saw me, and offered me to hold the baby lamb. I gestured that I would like to take picture of him instead.

After the picture, he write down his name Shri Ludia and his address so I can send him a picture.

At the end, he said he was cold and without a cap. He asked if I could give him my fleece cap.

I paid very little for the cap. It was purchased in Beijing for about RMB 20 (or US$3). Less than the hourly rate for the parking space in upscale malls in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately for Shri Ludia, I only had one cap at that moment. With another week hiking and 4000 feet in altitude to go up, I need all the warm gears. So I refused his request.

I did not feel great that day. But could not help. :-(

(26 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4, A-mode)

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Almost a daily event in the morning, our horsemen fixing horseshoe.

Our team of 3 horsemen are related by blood - father and son plus uncle, if I remember correctly.

Their experience and knowledge of the area proved to be invaluable, especially few days later when our expected water source dried up and we needed to find drinking water.

(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)

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Harsh, one of our instructors, performing another daily chore of burning garbage before we set off for the day's trekking.

At the background on the rock behind Harsh are certain wild mushrooms picked up by our crew. They would split the mushrooms in half and dry them on rocks. The mushroom can be eaten or sold.

(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode)

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On the way to Hamta Pass.

(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)

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We arrived at Hamta Pass (about 4,200 meters or 13,000 feet) at about noon.

It was freezing cold at the Pass, mainly due to the wind chill. Yet people were excited, busy taking pictures (good!), making their marks (baaaaddd...), etc.

Spencer, of YMCA Hong Kong, was the organizer of our trip. He gets paid to have fun. His only worry is his teenage daughter who likes to watch basketball, instead of playing it.

(27 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)

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View of the valley from Hamta Pass.

After the Pass, gone are the lush green grasses and trees. Only rocks of all size - some bigger than the biggest truck.

(27 Aug 2002, 28-70mm, F2.8 A-mode)

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Iris and Derek working hard at camp site after Hamta Pass.

It was quite an easy downhill walk after Hamta Pass (except for Grace who had a hard time jumping from one big rock to another.) We arrived at the camp site at about 3 or 4pm. Plenty of time to take pictures and have tea.

And also this was the day our guide Acharya stopped asking us to exercise by climb small hills nearby. Perhaps he figured that we should be all acclimatized after the Pass.

(27 Aug 2002, 200mm, F2.8 A-mode)

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Acharya dressed and jumped like Indiana Jones.

(28 Aug 2002, 85mm, F1.4 A-mode.)