Taplejung to Jiri
(October-November 2012):
4. Tudham to Hongon (3 days)
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Soon after leaving Thudam,
the trail became narrow and steep, occasionally dangerous. After a long hard
day we put a camp in a small kharka above the Arun river, near the village of Khimbuche.
In contrast, the next two days were easy. We first crossed the Arun river to reach the villages of Chyamtang
and Chepuwa (where we spent one night). Then, from Chepuwa a good trail led us to the village of Hongon, where we spent another night. |
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The Chujung Khola. The trail
from Thudam cuts across the steep slope on the left.
At
times the trail traverses steep rocky terrain ... (Third photo by
Matt Scott)
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... and at other times some densely vegetated areas.
Making lunch along the way on steep terrain.
Finally, the
village of Chyamtang was in sight, but still on the
other side of the Arun river.
Beautiful
millet fields near Chyamtang.
Drying millet in Chyamtang.
Street scene in Chyamtang.
People of Chyamtang. (Matt Scott
photos)
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Soon after
leaving Chyamtang (visible on the left side of the
photo below), we got a good view over the canyon of the Chujung
Khola (on the right) and the terrain traveled on the
previous day. Thudam (not visible) is at the far end
of this canyon. The Arun river
runs between the yellow ridge in the foreground and the green ridge in the middleground. The Chujung Khola flows into the Arun river.
On the trail between Chepuwa and Hongon. The village of Hongon
is visible just above the first ridge. Increasing landslides across the village
during the monsoon season will soon force its inhabitants to move to a safer
location.
In Hongon (2300m).
Most houses in
Hongon have this kind of small religious structure at
their doorsteps.
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Other parts of the trek:
1.
Taplejung to Olangchun Gola (4 days)
2. Olangchun Gola (1 day)
3. Crossing
Lumba Samba pass (3 days)
4. Tudham to Hongon (3 days)
5. Hongon to Yangla Kharka (5 days)
6. Yangla Kharka to Sherpani Col High Camp (4 days)
7. Crossing
of Sherpani and West Cols (1 day)
8. Hongu basin to Namche across Amphu Lapsta (3 days)
9. Namche to Jiri (5 days)