India (October-November 2019): Trek from Thembang to Jang via Tse La (2/3)

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Reminder: The itinerary of this trek is drawn in green in both the map and the aerial image above. To see the aerial image in more detail click here to download the trek-ap.kmz file and open this file in Google Earth. The trek starts in Pangma, a hamlet located 5km north of Thembang and ends in Jang (red pins). The yellow pins (marked #1 to #8) point to the locations of the 8 successive camps of this trek. The other pins indicate the positions of various towns, villages, passes, and peaks.

Sunrise seen from Camp #3 (elevation 3730m).

For most of the 4th trekking day we stayed in the mist, except in the early morning and late afternoon. We initially continued to hike along the ridge followed on the previous day, until we crossed Pshing La (a 3950m pass). After this pass we descended in the upper valley of the Sangti river. We crossed this river near an army post and then followed the right bank of this river uphill until we reached Potak (a summer pasture) where we set our camp #4. Soon after crossing the Sangti river, the forest gave place to a more alpine type of landscape with short vegetation.

Reaching Pshing La (3950m)

Start of the descent from Phsing La.

Forest lower down before reaching and crossing the Sangti river.

After crossing the Sangti river, the trail went up again and the forest was quickly replaced by shrubs and then just grass.

Upper part of the Sangti river.

Large pebbles covered by red lichen along the Sangti river.

Our Camp #4 at Potak (4150m). The area is dotted with brokpas huts. As most huts were vacant at this time of the year and the pasture lies on the territory of the Thembang village, Bodong decided to use one as our kitchen.

Landscape around the camp.

Leaving Potak toward Tse La.

Another pasture with a few yaks remaining.

Woman at this pasture.

Small lake below Tse La.

A bigger lake just below Tse La. The pass is visible at the center of the photo.

The same lake seen from the pass.

Payer flags and stack of stones at Tse La (elevation: 4712m).

During the descent from Tse La. Note the kind of machete (broad blade knife locally called khoyup) pending from the waists of Tsering Wangchu and Dawa Sonam in the second photo below. Most Monpa men routinely carry khoyups.

View (toward the northeast) over the valley of the Gorjo river.

Finally, a view of Mt. Gorichen (6488m).

Reaching Camp #5, at a place called Laap (elevation: 4282m).

Our yaks resting at Camp #5.

Photos taken during the descent along the Gorjo river.

We set Camp #6 (elevation: 3810m) close to the Gorjo river, below Chera La, a pass that we will to cross on the next morning to reach the valley of the Dungma river and then the village of Mago. Rocks along the river were covered by strikingly red lichen.

To directly access the two other pages covering this trek, click on the following links:

- Thembang-to-Jang trek via Tse La (1/3)

- Thembang-to-Jang trek via Tse La (3/3)

Return to my mountaineering/trekking/travel webpage | Return to main India Oct-Nov 2019 webpage