Emei Shan
Trip Start
May 03, 2007
1
9
65
Trip End
??? ??, 2008
Emei,
China
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Emei Shan stands at 3099m at its peak. We climed to the Golden Summit which is at 3077.
Day 1 - we left at 8am roughly and I am embarassed to say that we only started on the mountain proper at about 9am.....we got lost trying to find the start.......<blush>
The mountain climb consists of steps. Thousands of them! It was really tough work. It took us 9hrs to reach our bed for the night - a Monastery at about the halfway mark. We were shattered.
Day 2 - W had a bit of a lie in and left the Monastery at about 10:30am after a breakfast of noodles with egg and spring onions
01) Day 1 - Emei Shan
. This was a much easier day in terms of climbing but I was more exhausted than the previous day by the time we reached our next Monastery lodgings. I don't think that I could've walked any more.I should mention at this point that we were joined on our walk by lots of pilgrims, since this is a sacred place for Bhuddists. Most of the pilgrims were Chiese ladies in their 60's and 70's, probably carrying as much weight as we were and making it look very easy. My Nan would've been proud to see that.
What is probably more astonishing are the people who are maintaining the mountain steps. There are men carrying slabs of stone, bags of cement or stacks of iron roof tiles up and down the mountain steps. These are really heavy loads and their calf muscles are a sign of the effort which goes into their daily routine. So are the bruises on their shoulders from the straps on their rudimentary wooden backpacks. If I was wearing one I would take my hat off to them. Don't think that you have had a hard day.
Day 3 - We got up at 3:45am and left for the final 1 1/2 hour climb to the summit to see the sun rise. Not so spectacular but it felt like a real achievement.
We didn't walk the full 52km back down though. We allowed ourselves a ride in the cable car, a mere 20min walk to the bus station and a bus to ferry us the rest of the way back to our bed. We were back in time for breakfast.
Comments
hey you!
Hi alex and chinoir,
sounds like your travels are really exciting and very adventurous. I can't believe you have been gone for almost three months! we all miss you madly. The weather is atrocious. It's been raining since you left. Send us some sun!! Going to the usual audley end bonanza on sat. Going to an eighties do. Limahl, T'pau, belinda calisle ( or bell-ender as steve calls her!). WE have a two week holibobs booked for end opf august! thank god! We went to our cousin( nick) wedding on saturday and it was very messy! Steve and I stayed up in our hotel drinking shots and cocktails and trying to 'steal' complementary oranges. Hooooo hoo. Everyone is doing well, jo is due in nine weeks! Great about mel and ian too. Just think when you come back they might have had it! stay in touch sweet peas and I 'll keep you posted on all the humdrum here x x sooz steve x
Hiya Sooze!!!!
Thanks for your message you sent us on the travel log site. Sorry that I haven't replied sooner - it got lost amongst some others and I've only just found it again. Better late than never tho.
I can't believe Jo's baby is going to be due so soon! It only seems like 5 mins ago that we were in Mel's kitchen learning bout the big secret that you weren't supposed to mention. heehee. That was funny.
Steve says that you've been smashing up your home. lol and that you did running man later on once you'd recovered from the situation.
How was Audley End btw? Hope you didn't get rained on too much.....
Lou says that you're all off to Portugal soon - we hope that you have a smashing time. You lot need some sun after the severe lack of it.
We are in Cambodia now, as of this afternoon. It seems like a nice place. Everyone seems very friendly. We're going to visit the killing fields tomorrow. Learn a bit about the recent history and try and understand what the country has been through.
Anyway Sooze, thanks for sending us a lovely message and sorry to take so long to reply.
Take care of you and that man of yours.
Lots of love
Alex
xxxxx