Our crew climbing up to the Dung Dung La
The last day of the trek we set off early so that we could cross the swelling streams before it would get too difficult. As we were setting out, we met 2 salesmen from Chilling who were selling copperware. David decided to patronize these interesting salesmen and bought a small copper spoon from them. We then climbed up scree slopes to the Dung Dung La (4820m).
Our crew climbing up to the Dung Dung La
At the Dung Dung La the beauty and majesty of the mountains around us were overwhelming. The barren mountains were all coloured crazily with purples and magentas and browns and dark cyan and green. Looking in one direction the mountains have soft, smooth, and gentle slopes, but turning around one sees sharp jagged shapes that seem deadly and ferocious. From here we had views of the Ladakh range and the Stok range.
Our cook Gyatzo, our guide Phuntsog, Minette, Matt, and David enjoying
the view from the Dung Dung La
Looking back from the Dung Dung La (scroll right to see the whole thing)
The Konze La, which we had crossed two days earlier, as seen from the
Dung Dung La
After walking along a ridge for sometime we got fantastic views of the Zanskar range. The descent is along scree slopes and narrow paths with loose rocks and multiple stream crossings. Luckily, by then we were quite expert at such things!
David, with the Zanskar Valley behind him
Heading down into the Zanskar Valley. You can see the back of our
guide, and of Minette (scroll right to see the whole thing)
More horns (of Urial sheep)
A desert rosebush tries to outdo the mountains at their own colors
We reached Chilling at about 3 p.m., and a fantastic sight of the Zanskar River awaited us. That was the end of the trek. From Chilling we drove along the Zanskar River to where it joins the Indus, before following the Indus back to Leh.
Gyatzo, donkeyman, Minette, Phuntsog, Matt, David, donkeyman, and
scattered donkeys, all happy to be in Chilling
Zanskar River
The confluence of the Zanskar (gray) and Indus (brown) Rivers. Though
the joined river carries the name Indus, most of its water comes
from the Zanskar.
Extra photos from Day 5
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