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Day
1, 23/7 2015: Finally some better weather! With just two days left we
start a
two day trek, to maximize our trip. On the 23/7 we take a
taxicab to Stok Village,
with its huge, golden Buddha statue. |
The start in Stok is at 3600m. A bit into
the mountains, they get a very special
structure. |
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At
the Chang Ma camp, 4000m, after a couple of hours. Here you
can get simple
food or drink, if you don't come too late. We take
a brake with tea and noodles. |
No
comment, except: So true. |
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After Chang Ma there is a climb over a
smaller pass, leading to a long, almost
"boring" route towards Mankarmo camp. |
It's a
lot of stones and occasional water crossings. If there is a lot of water
you may not keep your feet dry here. |
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At Mankarmo camp, 4400m, on
pretty tired legs. (We carry all our gear ourselves)
This is the last
stop before Stok Kangri Base Camp. Here is a tean tent with all
kinds of
service. If the weather had been better, Stok Kangri would have been
our target earlier on. But now there is no time left for that. |
Our
tents (green) with Stok Kangri, 6120m in the background to the right. |
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Stok
Kangri once more. We will probably come back here... |
Day 2, 24/7 2015: The day
begins with crossing this strong stream. And we have
to pass it twice,
on the way back as well. Both times we get aid from helpful
people,
very much needed. |
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These mountains have a smoother character.
The picture is taken at 4700m. |
At
the pass Matho La, 4930m. We notice that our former acclimatization,
from
last week, is mostly gone. It's tough on higher altitudes.
And we will climb even
higher. |
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Matho
La is a very beautiful place. |
A
Polish group reaching the pass from the south. There isn't much down
there,
no tea tents or anything. Normally you have to rent horses,
guides etc. |
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Directly
southwest of the pass, there is an unnamed peak reaching 5000m. It's a
simple climb, apart from the altitude. |
At the
summit. In the background we can see the pass Stok La. |
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And
this is the perfect day to get up here! |
A look
back to the pass Matho La, from the summit. |
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Today
we can enjoy the whole Stok Range, reaching far south of Stok Kangri. |
Far to
the north are the three 7000m-peaks Saser Kangri I, III and II. To the
left
is Saser Kangri I, 7672m. |
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Back
in Mankarmo we can enjoy a group of Bluesheep. I think it's a
nice name,
apart from that they are not blue, and no sheep..
After
this we go back to Stok, on VERY tired legs. We have accomplished a big
task today. But it's our last day and as it was written on
the stone: no pain, no gain... |
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