To halfway up Yarle Shung La: Alt 4897m

May 24, 2007

The wind has calmed a bit, there is no frost this morning. Joanna has a flat, Patrick offers assistance which she declines, so we set off.

The road continues to be the same, dusty, loose dirt. We make our way toward the first pass across the Himalayas, Lalung La. The road steepens in places, we stop for a food break halfway up the switchbacks. Joanna catches up with us and we see the Kiwis in the distance behind us. A few catch up with us just as we summit. The wind is picking up, Joanna is ahead of us.

We descend to where we hope to find a restaurant, Joanna is there and just setting off again, says the house along the road is the only place for food. Patrick buys two instant noodle bowls and two Pepsi, then goes to the river to filter water so that we can camp. It is 14km from the summit of the first pass (LaLung La) to the second pass (Yarle Shung La). We start the 8 km climb to the second pass and stop after a few km to eat again. We watch the Kiwis descend to the river, some taking the steep shortcut used by landcruisers.

The wind becomes stronger and stronger, the road steepens, we have to walk pushing the bikes. Patrick says "just like Patagonia". We are 4 km from the summit. There is nothing to block the wind, the hills are brown and barren and the snow capped mountains in the horizon. Patrick spots a depression at the side of the road that will give us some protection from the wind, so we set up camp.

For dinner we have the noodle bowls, finish the brandy and settle in as the sun goes down....and the temperature drops