Kang Yatse, Ladakh, India - the trek (04/09/2008)
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Preparing for the start of the trek
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The horses gathered ready to be loaded up
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Group photo perched on the edge of a gorge at the start of the trek
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Start of the route down in the gorge
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Flying the flag at the 1st campsite
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Campsite information
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Continuing up the gorge next day
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Eco-tourism information board - the home of the Snow Leopard!
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Arriving at a small village
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View of the village
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Packhorses against the barren landscape
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Time for a breather
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Looking back into the gorge with the mountain peaks rising above
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Sheep grazing, apparently on stones!
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Campsite above the gorge
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Sunlight on the mountain tops next morning (1)
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Sunlight on the mountain tops next morning (2)
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Setting out on the 3rd morning beneath the jagged peaks
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Looking back down into the valley
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The packhorses coming up below
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The expedition party stretching out ahead across the hillside
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Taking a break beside a stone "bothy"
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Looking along a stony, steep-sided gorge
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Relaxing after the day's walk at the 3rd campsite
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Another sunny start to the 4th day
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The group setting out on the 4th day's trek
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The view towards the campsite at the end of Day 4
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Crossing ice early on the 5th day
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Another great view of the rugged empty landscape and mountain tops
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The group enjoying the scenery on Day 5
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Crossing another patch of ice
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The line of packhorses
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View from a high point on Day 5
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A stream swollen with meltwater
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Looking for a way across the stream
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A helping hand to cross the fast-flowing stream
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Safely installed at campsite no 5
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View from a tent
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Enjoying the evening meal in the mess tent
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Getting ready to set out on Day 6
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Local people living in the remote mountains
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The next valley on Day 6
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"Doorway" built into the side of the valley
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Easier to cross this river using the metal bridge!
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Tented restaurant on Day 7
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The interior of the restaurant
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Good path through a gorge
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Spectacular rock formation
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The track crossing another valley cut into the rocks
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A dodgy section of the path
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Group photo beside a waterfall
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Campsite, end of Day 7
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At the pass of Kongmaru La, 5287m, Day 8
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An hour later - the first full view of Kang Yatse
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The beautiful setting of Nimaling meadow - afternoon on Day 8
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Only yaks for company up here
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End of Day 8
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The group ready for an early start on Day 9
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Taking a breather with the weather still looking good
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Full frontal view of Kang Yatse with the main summit on the left, lower top on the right
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On the shoulder of the mountain, end of Day 9
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Struggling through the snow in the early morning of Day 10
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The mist moving in on the climbers
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View through the clouds of the landscape below
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Still pushing on through the snow
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...but it's getting deeper and taking too long
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Heading back down in the afternoon
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Looking back up you wouldn't realise what it was like!
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Group photo before heading back to Leh
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Detail of group photo
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Final glimpse of the mountain top
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The full group back together again
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Having some fun before flying home
