Our pit stop on day four was at Sara [only one family in the settlement] on the banks of the Marka River. Green vegetation inter spread with fields of barley. A self portrait
Juicy Leh Berries by the tons .... if only there were a road ...
Wild flowers in full bloom
The greenery with yellow flowers is a stark contrast to the surrounding lunar landscape
Some more
We break camp the next day and move towards Hankar through the river bed and the canyon walls in some stretches. A massive senitel rock soaring one kilometer above the canyon floor
The path on the canyon wall is our route - often only nine inches wide with sheer drops
I was invited to the home of our horseman - Tandup Namgyal, at Ulung village and presented a bottle of beer. Obviously repaying the favour of receiving the bottle of whiskey a couple of days before.
On the trail after the brief halt - again through the riverbed, crossing the river several times. The Kyantse Peak is in the background
Close up of the Kyantse Peak [6800m] and glacier. We would traverse the base of the glacier in the next two days to exit the valley via the Kongmaru La Pass.
Looking back into the valley from Hankar
Tired and weary after the grueling eight hour walk and wading the river knee deep in icy water, we set camp at Hankar the largest settlement in the valley [a dozen house holds]. I wonder what keeps them here - days away from the nearest road head, in the remotest part of the valley. I ask Tandup, my horseman. He replies it is peace and being left alone .... isn't this what we all seek?
Continued on this page...
