Friday, January 1, 2010

The Ladhak Odyssey 8

Part 8
Epilogue : The Return


Crossing Chang La 5425 m (17,799 ft) one last time
Name:  LD (1).jpg Views: 2 Size:  133.9 KB

Roads start to deteriorate as we push towards Taglang-La...with an ever present danger of landslides
Name:  LD (2).jpg Views: 2 Size:  125.8 KB

Our primary destination is Pang
Name:  LD (3).jpg Views: 3 Size:  132.7 KB

Taglang-La climb - at 17,852 ft is said to be the second highest motorable pass in this world
Name:  LD (4).jpg Views: 2 Size:  102.0 KB

Prayer flags at Taglang-La
Name:  LD (5).jpg Views: 3 Size:  117.0 KB

The famous Moore plains ( approx 15,400 ft ASL ) Towards my right a sand whirlwind is beginning to form speeding our departure - still we were caught in the sand storm
Name:  LD (6).jpg Views: 2 Size:  96.5 KB

Sand mountains of Ladhak
Name:  LD (7).jpg Views: 2 Size:  129.4 KB

cool cloud formation
Name:  LD (8).jpg Views: 2 Size:  105.0 KB

Pang - at a height of approx 15,600 ft is the highest transit camp in the world - Camp consist of few parachute tents in addition to an army base
Name:  LD (9).jpg Views: 2 Size:  136.0 KB

Surrounded by sand mountains on all sides , Pang can not only give you a claustrophobic feeling , but at the same time intimidate you - need to experience it to understand it
Name:  LD (10).jpg Views: 2 Size:  124.9 KB
Made a crucial decision to push for Sarchu - if we fail to reach Sarchu before night fall then things could be bad - very bad !
Name:  LD (11).jpg Views: 3 Size:  108.4 KB

Ashok and Ajay replenishing our water supply
Name:  LD (12).jpg Views: 3 Size:  141.3 KB

Through one of the most challenging ....
Name:  LD (13).jpg Views: 2 Size:  125.9 KB

and intimidating section of our journey
Name:  LD (14).jpg Views: 3 Size:  177.4 KB

driving through this terrain we realized how small and powerless we were against the mighty Himalayas
Name:  LD (15).jpg Views: 2 Size:  163.9 KB

" The Land is so barren & the passes so high that only our fiercest enemies or our best friends would want to visit us". Ladakhi Saying
Name:  LD (16).jpg Views: 2 Size:  138.4 KB

Forget crossing , don't want to be around when this stream swells up
Name:  LD (17).jpg Views: 2 Size:  185.6 KB

With dying daylight we finally made it to Sarchu. At approx 14,100 ft second highest transit camp on on Leh-Manali route
Name:  LD (18).jpg Views: 3 Size:  113.9 KB

The temperature went sub zero last night and freezing winds howling against our tents through out the night gave us some anxious moments
Name:  LD (19).jpg Views: 3 Size:  104.6 KB

Have we reached Heaven ....at last !
Name:  LD (20).jpg Views: 2 Size:  103.9 KB
Name:  LD (21).jpg Views: 2 Size:  138.5 KB

Amazing view of the great Himalayas - ( Himalay ki Godi mein )
Name:  LD (22).jpg Views: 2 Size:  108.3 KB

The Splendor never ends ...
Name:  LD (23).jpg Views: 2 Size:  111.7 KB

neither does the danger
Name:  LD (24).jpg Views: 2 Size:  129.8 KB

its always present in a different form.
Name:  LD (25).jpg Views: 2 Size:  86.0 KB

on Cloud # 9
Name:  LD (26).jpg Views: 2 Size:  62.3 KB

a wonderful place
Name:  LD (27).jpg Views: 2 Size:  74.2 KB

Gods must have really taken their time to create this place
Name:  LD (28).jpg Views: 2 Size:  123.5 KB

but don't let the beauty make you careless
Name:  LD (29).jpg Views: 2 Size:  105.8 KB

True heroes who navigate these unforgiving terrains with an heavy load and a cabin exposed to the elements. Cheers to our truck drivers.
Name:  LD (30).jpg Views: 2 Size:  116.1 KB
Walls of pure solid ice
Name:  LD (31).jpg Views: 7 Size:  150.6 KB

Hats off to BRO for making the impossible - Possible - 3 cheers to BRO
Name:  LD (32).jpg Views: 7 Size:  109.8 KB

in a bliss
Name:  LD (33).jpg Views: 6 Size:  107.9 KB

I just touched the sky and went above it too !
Name:  LD (34).jpg Views: 6 Size:  115.4 KB

Keylong - the first signs that the journey is coming to an end.
Name:  LD (35).jpg Views: 6 Size:  112.8 KB

What wouldn't I give to stay forever under this towering Himalayan range.
Name:  LD (36).jpg Views: 6 Size:  108.1 KB

With happiness and sadness we head towards Manali - the last crucial pass (the Rohtang 13,200 ft asl) lies between us - however Rohtang now seems insignificant when compared to what we faced and experienced on this memorable trip......... So long.........
Name:  LD (37).jpg Views: 6 Size:  130.1 KB

This journey ends here , thanks for traveling with me

No comments:

Post a Comment