Hin's 6th C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 20th – Oct 18th, 2014)

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4: Disappearing Wall. 

 

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com>   Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 10:05 PM

 

 

24/9 07:50-17:05 11.9km 21,250 steps. TA 481m

 

Sizuolou-Dongchangyu-Sizuolou.

 

Went to an area where only traces of wall are known, as evidenced by GoogleEarth imagery, in a forested resort. The huge mountain range was covered in dense mist and were told the wall is just behind them. Enroute, saw a majestic nunnery on the top of Yajishan – where else could be safer for girls!

 

At the starting point, we said hello to oldman Huang and were given 1st hand info on the where about of the wall. Trudged for 2 hours, bushwhacking through gaps and finally reached the collapsed wall. Followed the small sections of the wall as much as we could, frequently fighting the bushes and thorns and then the end was a deep drop to a large canyon. It was just impossible to cross and to walk down to the valley would have been dangerous and futile.

 

We decided to backtrack to oldman Huang’s place and found him and dog burning sticks in front of a hole in the Great Wall. He said he had a snort-nose badger and shall have it for dinner – as it turned out, it was a beautiful mum badger pitifully killed for its pelt and meat. Well, such is life in the mountains and of course we didn’t stay for the feast. We said our goodbyes hastily and off for the night.

 

 

25/9 08:00-15:00 8.2km 14,909 steps TA 369m

 

Very good intact wall with many challenges to get around the huge boulders which were part of the wall. Very tough with fierce bushes and when we approached the terraces of an orchard, decided to exit the wall for the day. Picked up a few free soft squashy persimmons for desert. Back to Jiangjingguan again for the night

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