Kamba La Pass Climb Up, Then Down, Back Around and Over to Nyemo95km Riding Time 6hrs
Being awaken at 7am by the Sherpa saying "good moooorning" and handing me a cup of black tea isn't so bad.
We were up and riding by 830am. Todays going to be a tough one. The first is a climb up Kamba La Pass. Our starting elevation is about 3600m, but the pass summit is 5000m! Imagine
We were up and riding by 830am. Todays going to be a tough one. The first is a climb up Kamba La Pass. Our starting elevation is about 3600m, but the pass summit is 5000m! Imagine
climbing Mt.Athabasca, then biking up the same elevation from that top.
The climb was chilly, and slow going. I rode mostly on my own today and concentrated on keeping a pace and making it up in one piece. I ended up getting to the top 4th out of the 15 of us, but it really didn't matter, whether you fly up or take your time, you're going to be tired out. On the very top, theres an amazing view of Yamdruk tso lake, its an emerald green lake. Lots of tour buses around, noone can believe we just biked up. It took me about 3 hours just up. The lake view is worth it though, unfortunately the Chinese wisdom has recently been to start draining this sacred lake (the Tibetans believe a god lies within it, and wont fish/wash/shampoo/cook with the waters of it, leave it completely undisturbed), and using it for hydro electric energy that inevitably goes to Beijing, not to Lhasa, a well known fact here. What they didnt realize (or care about), is the lake isnt re filling. Its sinking, the shores are exposing themselves higher and higher, and parts of the lake are now seperated from the main body even. Within 7 yrs it is expected that the lake will be empty if nothing changes. My tibetan guide Palden thinks the pressure of the Chinese tourists, not the Tibetan voice, will eventually change their mind to save the lake.
The downhill was.... a screamer. 65kph at one point. It took only 30 minutes. Once back at camp we had lunch and then set off for the next part of the ride, a 45km jaunt. Everyone was getting pretty tired though, lacking energy after such a huge climb this morning. There were a few more flat tires today, and a bit of a head wind too. Eventually we found the camp set up by 730pm, a LONG day in the bike seat, just as it began to get dark. I ate as much as I could, but was just so sleepy. The stars here (we're camping at a place called Nyemo, pronounced NEMO), are like Ive never seen. Its amazing how they look when youre out of the city lights. I was out cold by 930 shivering in my down bag.... with the biggest day to come tomorrow still.
The climb was chilly, and slow going. I rode mostly on my own today and concentrated on keeping a pace and making it up in one piece. I ended up getting to the top 4th out of the 15 of us, but it really didn't matter, whether you fly up or take your time, you're going to be tired out. On the very top, theres an amazing view of Yamdruk tso lake, its an emerald green lake. Lots of tour buses around, noone can believe we just biked up. It took me about 3 hours just up. The lake view is worth it though, unfortunately the Chinese wisdom has recently been to start draining this sacred lake (the Tibetans believe a god lies within it, and wont fish/wash/shampoo/cook with the waters of it, leave it completely undisturbed), and using it for hydro electric energy that inevitably goes to Beijing, not to Lhasa, a well known fact here. What they didnt realize (or care about), is the lake isnt re filling. Its sinking, the shores are exposing themselves higher and higher, and parts of the lake are now seperated from the main body even. Within 7 yrs it is expected that the lake will be empty if nothing changes. My tibetan guide Palden thinks the pressure of the Chinese tourists, not the Tibetan voice, will eventually change their mind to save the lake.
The downhill was.... a screamer. 65kph at one point. It took only 30 minutes. Once back at camp we had lunch and then set off for the next part of the ride, a 45km jaunt. Everyone was getting pretty tired though, lacking energy after such a huge climb this morning. There were a few more flat tires today, and a bit of a head wind too. Eventually we found the camp set up by 730pm, a LONG day in the bike seat, just as it began to get dark. I ate as much as I could, but was just so sleepy. The stars here (we're camping at a place called Nyemo, pronounced NEMO), are like Ive never seen. Its amazing how they look when youre out of the city lights. I was out cold by 930 shivering in my down bag.... with the biggest day to come tomorrow still.
Pictures from Top to Bottom:
1-Terry and Marks artistic sunglass photo shoot.
2-Roy and Alene powering up the Pass
3-Spoke view of Yamdruk Tso.
4-Yamdruk Tso Lake from over 5000m.
In the distance is a 7000m mountain.
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