Tiger Leaping Gorge

(Tiger Leaping Gorge)

Pictures, while nice, will never do justice to the scenery of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. My trek was even more spectacular than I imagined.

An Australian girl, a Chinese guy and me--the American, set out by bus to Quiatou. It was a 2 hour windy bus ride. When we arrived we were sacked by people trying to sell us a ride to the start of the trail. Nick, the guy from China, got us a ride. We didn't actually need the lift as the ticket office and trail head were much closer than we thought. The taxi drivers ended up being horse owners as well. Dian, the Australian girl, and I distrusted the taxi/horse owners. We wondered if they were showing us the "right direction". Even Nick wasn't sure about them at the beginning. However, they proved to be nice guys. The two taxi/horse men followed us up the trail for half the day. They were hoping that we'd relinquish our desires to hike the harsher part of the trails and allow their horses to pack either our stuff or ourselves up the mountain. At one point they pointed out their village and the school where their kids attend. If I would have known more about them from the beginning I probably would have taken them up on the offer to haul my stuff and not because I needed it but only because their families could have used the money. Trust makes all the difference and on this trip. Trust isn't given easily! Shortly after lunch we reached the hardest part to the trek--the 24 bends. The horse men asked our Chinese companion one last time if we wanted to use their horse. NO, was the answer once again. After we declined for the last time both men left us. They must have followed us and waited for us for 4 hours.

(Our Taxi/Horse Men)
( Nick, Horse Man, Me, Horse Man)

The scenery was surreal. It just kept on going. We'd turn a corner and see a view people only dream of. Then again we'd hike up and around for another breathtaking moment. There were moutnain peaks, water falls, sheer rocky clifs, rice and corn fields, and villages along the whole route.

There were mostly foreigners hikeing the trail. The only other Chinese toursit on the trail was Nick. A large group of foreigners from New Zealand, the USA and France were hiking behind us for half of the day. However, my group hiked slow and stopped often to take in the sights. So the other group passed us. When the group caught up with us we a jolly New Zealand guy shared he'd just asked his girl friend to marry him. Gratefully she said yes! What a place to make a marriage proposal! We talked and hiked with the others for a short time. It didn't take long for them to hike on out of sight. We didn't see them again until that evening at the Half Way Guesthouse.

(Dian and I at the top of the 24 switchbacks...the hardest part of the hike)

The scenery made the trek spectacular but it was the local people who were traveling on the trail with goats, horses, and bamboo-like backpacks which made the whole experience feel surreal. As we went we saw countless people working in the fields or in their work sheds. There were Naxi women sitting and resting from hard work. A few times we saw couples sitting with their goats. We met up with a mother and her two children. The kids were so playful with us and the mother wasn't shy to let us interact with her kids. This wasn't your typical trail. Instead it was the path taken by the local people and we happened to be walking it with them.

(Can you imgaine growing up in this setting? )

We hiked 6 hours and took an hour rest for lunch. Guesthouses dotted the trail so we didn't have to bring food with us. As it began to rain we arrived at the Half Way Guesthouse. We checked in, cleaned up and sat in the dinning room over looking the gorge. We saw a rainbow! 9 foreigners from Australia, New Zealand, France, China and the USA enjoyed conversation and dinner together. I'm again aware of how poorly the USA is viewed in other parts of the world. We really have a negative reputation.
(Half Way Guesthouse Room)

I couldn't have asked for a better group to hike with. We had similar hiking paces and we all enjoyed each others company. What a great find on this solo journey of mine. I've been grateful for the people along the way.