Hin's 4th C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 22nd – Oct 16th, 2012)

​

4. Final test - Thunderstorm, howling winds, snow, rainbow, moonlight.

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com>   Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Dear all,

After 10 days, the totals are 276,760 steps, 169.6km, 10,212m total ascent. Still a long way to go and progress has been slow but getting better.

For those technically inclined, the GPS meter measures the total ascent as the cumulative climb we did thus far, eg. up 100m, down 100m and then up again 100m counts as only 200m. This is a measure of how challenging the terrain is. (Mt Everest is only about 9,000m), The max elevation indicates the highest point we reached for the day.

26/9  07:01 - 17:48.  Shuijingtun Waiying - Houshao Gouman (14.9km), 18,867 steps. TA 854m, ME 1.798m.

Bright clear day with more treacherous loose rocks and stones. The thorn bushes beside the wall were even worse to take on than the rocky wall. Towards the end, it took me 2 hours to get down a slope of a mere 800m with an ascent of 200m. Each time I put my foot forward, the rocks would just roll down hill and many times, landed on my bum, eventually made it just as the sun set at Houshao Gouman village. Drove to the ski resort town of Chongli, refused stay at the Business Hotel Edelweiss(?) - no police permit. Directed to a tourist hotel, where they took hours just to record the passport information. This is the first time I'm experiencing this and not going to be the last.

Oh yes, Edelweiss (Noble White), this brings up the story of a Swiss youth who braved the Alpine in late autumn for 2 days, searching for the biggest and whitest edelweiss flower. He then return and gave it to his fiancé to "prove" his undying love. Unfortunately, the edelweiss on these China mountains are little ones. Nonetheless, I picked a few for my girls, as even a little love is better than no love. I shall continue to pick them and by the end of the trip, I shall have a big plastic bag of big love - watch out.

27/9  07:05 - 20:26.  Houshao Gouman – Heitugou. 16.1 km, 26,255 steps, TA 1,966m, ME 1,805m.

The day started with a drizzle, rain and thunderstorm. After waiting for 20mins at the Houshao Gouman dam, we decided to proceed up the mountain. It was a tough, tough climb made tougher and dangerous with the continuous drizzle. Each time we hear the thunderstorm, we would drop into the bushes and trees to avoid any potential lightning. Just past noon, a heavy thunderstorm brought down hailstones, then snow with whipping winds up to 26miles/hr. lasting about half an hour. I took shelter under a poplar tree, shivering and had a snack. When I resumed, my rain covers were in shreds but the rewarding scene was the beautiful wall towers hit by a rainbow.

I thought the worst was over, only to find myself on a road on the southern side of the wall at 6pm (sunset). CH was on the northern side and AL, who continued on the wall, managed to reach him and had his beer. It was getting dark and even though, where I was, the wall is only 50m away, it was difficult to find the route through the darkness and the trees. Continued on the road and the final GPS location was only 300m from me, but I was on the north and they were on the south of the wall - there was no road connection across the wall. I was then asked to go back where the wall first hit the road and walk the rocky wall to them. It was already darkness, with a near full moon and the blistering wind. I put on the head torch, the wind blew my shredded rain covers away and I started walking the wall, with the comforting knowledge that my guardian angel, AL, shall be waiting. Several times, was nearly blew off the wall and eventually after about 1.5hrs, found AL with a spare heavy coat, assuming that I would be in deep hypothermia, and he led me to the waiting jeep at 8:26pm. Gratefully safe, sound and out of the cold winds.

We made our way to Heitugou village, found an eatery and had a good dinner. Not wanting to face the problem of tourist rejection in the town again, CH then used his charm, persuaded and cajoled the owner to put us up for the night for a mere Rmb200 for both meal and board.

What an experience, what a final test (I hope).

Good night folks, no worry. the days ahead can only get brighter.

Rgds,
Hin

PS. Did I mention that I broke 2 of my hiking poles when they got caught in the rock crevices and I then rolled over? Luckily I brought along a spare pair.

​