Hin's 5th C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 20th – Oct 13th, 2013)

​

5. Green and Black dragons.

​

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com>   Mon, Oct 7, 2013 at 10:39 PM

 

Tried hard, but like the mythical dragons, we just have to accept that there is no continuous man-made great wall in this mountainous Miyun area.

 

28/9  08:15 – 16:45.  Qinglongxia (Green Dragon) mountains area. 10.5 km, 17,158 steps. TA 850m, MA 1007m.

 

To reach the scattered towers, we were ready to stay up in the mountain for a night in order to locate as many as we can. Tough slog up the mountain reaching the max elevation of 1007m and reached tower WPT145 and by 4pm, we knew it was too late to proceed to the next. Decided to track back to WPT145 and put up for the night.

 

Started a fire, dinner was macadamia nuts, preserved fruits, 2 pieces of beef jerky, drown in a can of "tower" beer brought along by AL. Night came early and by 6:30pm, crawled into our sleeping bags and before long, were in dreamland, oblivious to any wild animal callings there might have been.

 

29/9  06:45 – 16:30.   Beijing Yunmengsanyu Natural Scenic Area – Xiaoshuiyucun. 15.6 km, 26,179 steps.

TA 376m, MA 1007m.

 

Thought we could find a path to next tower, which by our GPS was no more than 150m away. Tried many paths which led to either high rock cliffs or deep canyons - we just couldn't get through, even after many hours of bush fighting and rock climbing. It was just virtually impossible to cross the deep ravines, cliffs and slippery creeks.

 

It became obvious that these natural outcrops are actually natural defence wall, and the Ming only built strategically located towers as observation points, and which are only accessible from each path from a specific village.

 

By noon, decided to start our descent rather than be caught in these dangerous mountains for the night. After many hours, were fortunate to wind our way down steep slopes, creeks and ended at the village of Xiaoyuetcun? and return to Shicheng for the night. We were told later that a couple of months back, police and search parties were despatched to bring some hikers out from the mountains. Green dragon was nowhere to be found.

 

30/9  07:45 – 17:35. Shicheng-Yumengshan Great Wall Relics Park. 18.1 km, 30,014 steps. TA 820m, MA 669m.

 

Walked up the scenic GW path all the way to the end round tower, atop surrounding canyons - awesome view, then back to Miyun Jiudaowan Grand Canyon Scenic Area. Confirmation that there is no continuous man-made wall - the canyon breaks became the natural wall. It was drizzly, cloudy, gloomy day and dusk fell by 16:15.

 

1/10 11:30 – 19:18.  Shichengcun-Heilongtan-Hebeicun. 12.2 km, 20,343 steps. TA 505m, MA 516m.

 

Persistent rain delayed our start and we were again prepared to spend the night out in a tower to go far as we can along this track. To keep our feet dry, we wrapped them in plastic bags before putting on our boots. Hike from Shichengcun to Heilongtan (Black dragon deep pond), which was relatively easy.

 

We then crossed the "pond" to the other side and fought 2 hours up the slopes to the next tower. At 6pm, reached our target sleepover tower but the white goats had taken residence, we chased them out only to hear more bleating when the goatherd corralled another big group - sorry mates, this is Goats Tower. Our idea to spend the night in the surroundings was quickly squashed when the goatherd mentioned wandering hungry wild boars were in abundance. He suggested taking us down the mountain, which is only 20 minutes - he does that twice a day for the last 40 years. As it turned out, it took 1hr 20mins, and we were in total darkness on reaching the road of Hebeicun. Called CH and took us back to Shicheng. No Black dragons and privileged stay at the Goat Tower - what fortune!

 

Ok, early start again tomorrow.

 

Warmest regards to all.

 Hin

 

PS. Belated photos Jinshanling.

​