After a four-hour wait (presumable while road crews did some repairs), the road is open again as we approach the second of four high passes, this one in the Himalayan Range.
Now on the Tibetan plateau, it is much drier.
A womens' line has formed at the ATM. Max, my friend from Québec, has taken over martial law and is preventing these girls from completely cutting the line, much to their chagrin.
Monastery above Leh.
Another one.
Starting the trek up toward Kang Yaze, this is also the typical terminus for the famous Markha Valley trek.
Our ponies, with our gear.
Vertical sedimentary beds that we'd come through, the day before.
My animal ID is horrible, sorry!
Wave ripples?
First view of our objective...Kang Yaze...our guide (left), Max and Nathan (to my right).
Amazing, rapidly moving clouds. Lots of entrainment.
Resting for the climb
~1AM start. It was really, really cold!
Dawn hits Kang Yaze...I was still really, really cold!
Max, trying to overcome exhaustion induced by the altitude.
Me, climbing in my down jacket...did I mention, it was cold?!?
Packing up camp after altitude prevented us from the summit.
Nathan (right), Max (left) eating breakfast.
A child I saw wall passing through a village while in the Markha Valley.
My first homestay house in Ladakh.
Host's mother after having churned the goat's milk (perhaps to make curd or buttermilk).
Host's father getting ready to herd the animals.
View along the Markha Valley...gentle convection forming.
The mother of the most wonderful child I've met...I would stay with her family once I crossed the pass. She was visiting her relatives in another village called Skiu.
Stok Kangri...the highest mountain in the Stok Range...Dan Nelson has climbed this one.
The most wonderful child aforementioned. Always had a smile on his face and wanted to play with me.
Giant monastic complex in Indus Valley, not far from Leh.
The second Trek...this is nomad country! We found a sheep (?) skull and decided it was time for lunch.
Debating whether or not to go on or pitch tents.
Salt devils near Tso Kar.
Augustin is resting at one of the many 5,000+ meter passes we crossed on this typically 6-7day trek, that we did in 4 days.
Our campsite, which has a wonderful view of an easy 6,000 meter peak to ascend. We almost went for it.
Tsomoriri at sunset. We waited here at Karzok for our climbing gear to arrive and never found it.
Children in Karzok.
Floating on Tsomoriri.
Tsomoriri again, with fresh snow on the mountains.
Lamayuru...preparing for the festival to ward off evil spirits.
Lamayuru...lucustrine sediments are the very light color.
Festival...drums and monks.
Local policeman playing tourist.
Locals watching the festivities/dancing.
Traditional attire, but unusual hat.
Spinning the prayer wheel during the ceremony.
Lots of spinning is involved in the dance. Masks too.
Flying back to Delhi from Leh. This is the Great Himalayan range.
