Well… close to…
I visited Hailuoguo glacier park today, about 600km southwest of Chengdu and got an astounding view of mountains up to 7500m. The largest was Gonga mountain (贡嘎山).
As a Dutchman (we have one ‘hill’ at 300m) I might be easily impressed but it was truly epic.
Alhough most recommended to go to the hotspring, really enjoyed the views so I spent up the mountain from morning until the maximum time for descending. The pictures tell it all, the mountain wasn’t easily photographed, size and clouds and all…
Slept in the small town of Luding, where life is simple and slow.
The glacier ‘tongue’ with ‘middle mountain’ behind it. Gonga moutain is on the right, behind the clouds. (click for large) For someone living in Chengdu, it was nice to see far for a change. This was so far that it was confusing. “Hey look at those moving.. oh those dots are humans!”
The ascent to the glacier (click for large)
Took the cablecart up (hiking path was closed) and visited the climbers memorial museum (of 22 that reached summit, 16 died on way down) and the temples.
“Red stone beach”
Some brought oxygen up.
I was so happy! Maybe it was the lack of oxygen…
Tibetan writing, I think. Looks very deep.
