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Post by chefying on Dec 17, 2014 4:29:08 GMT
chefying fanTAStic scenery! makes the trek up worthwhile, hmm? Yes, the scenery was amazing. I loved it. But I would not spend a night up there again. Never. I still have a cough from that experience. Probably caught a chill in my chest. But the durian season just started. Maybe a few durians will sort out my chest. And I am so pleased you liked the photos.
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Post by siuyiu on Dec 17, 2014 6:52:05 GMT
chefying oh dear. a chill in warm weather is the worst. haha, you may wanna consult the medical texts, make sure durian won't exacerbate the condition--it might be "hot", but it's also "moist", so it may not help the cough.
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Post by Admin on Dec 17, 2014 15:42:21 GMT
The cable car took me up somewhere near the West Peak, from which I had to start climbing a bit to get there to see the sunset. Is it difficult to climb? Well, there are bits that are difficult, but on the whole it is not too bad if you are relatively fit. I was not quite fit enough - well, when I was in my 20's I did not have any problems trying to go up all those steps! Some parts may be a bit difficult, having gloves helps. The chains give the climbers something to hold on to for security...... but sometimes the chains themselves are suspect. To be fair, this broken link is not from the photo above. Some parts can be a bit steep. For this section, there was actually an alternate route. But generally, the conditions of the steps are like this. Not so bad. This photo is taken from the (highest) South Peak looking at the West Peak. Yes, I climbed/walked all the way from the West Peak to the South Peak - and back. chefying : when I went there, it had rained a few hours before. So you can imagine how was it, climbing those slippery steep steps and holding the chains! But it was a good experience
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Post by siuyiu on Dec 18, 2014 2:33:50 GMT
Admin aiya, climbing in the rain! thank goodness no one was hurt!
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Post by chefying on Dec 18, 2014 4:21:56 GMT
chefying : when I went there, it had rained a few hours before. So you can imagine how was it, climbing those slippery steep steps and holding the chains! But it was a good experience I was fortunate it did not rain AND snowed at the same time. I only had snow, but I had to be careful because some places had ice.
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Post by Admin on Dec 18, 2014 14:01:05 GMT
chefying : when I went there, it had rained a few hours before. So you can imagine how was it, climbing those slippery steep steps and holding the chains! But it was a good experience I was fortunate it did not rain AND snowed at the same time. I only had snow, but I had to be careful because some places had ice. ice and snow is worse than rain Dang, can't imagine how cold it was when you climbed.
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Post by chefying on Dec 22, 2014 14:21:11 GMT
ice and snow is worse than rain Dang, can't imagine how cold it was when you climbed. On the topic of cold, I take this opportunity to post a couple of "cold pictures"... Snow on the trees...... and on the roof of the temple/lodging I slept in.This may have been accurate when the sun was shining, but not in the evening and definitely not at night. Alone (alas) in my bunk bed at night in the dormitory up in HuaShan, I could feel the temperature dropped. There was no heating, no toilets, no wash basin... it might even put ancient Sparta to shame. The mattress was thin and my back was cold. The "quilt" was thin - and even the knowledge that the last user was a woman (her perfume lingered on the blanket) would not warm my heart. I slept with my jeans on, four layers of shirt and jumper, two pairs of socks, scarf around my neck and an acrylic hat on, and I still felt cold. I tired to be clever and folded the "quilt" over, doubling the thickness. However, the width which now became the length was not quite long enough. Either my feet were cold or my neck froze. I though I might get away with sleeping on my side, a bit curled up but my posterior protruded, bringing the phrase "freezing my ass off" to a literal reality. I tried to sleep on my back with my legs sort of spread out and bent, but the folded over "quilt" was not wide enough, resulting in cold knees. Also, I am not used to lying in that position, exposing my "boys" to such a degree. It was a very long night indeed.
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Post by chefying on Dec 28, 2014 11:30:46 GMT
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Post by chefying on Jan 1, 2015 8:34:09 GMT
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Post by chefying on Jan 4, 2015 17:16:16 GMT
Over at the East Peak (I think) was this Chess Pavilion I think you have to pay to get there. View of East Peak, with the Chess Pavilion on the right hand side set on a big rock. Another view of the Chess Pavilion, and some of the steps to the East Peak, and thence the Chess Pavilion. Sometimes, scenes are much better seen from afar, and so I decided not to go all the way there. And I was rather tired from all the walking.
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Post by chefying on Jan 5, 2015 14:47:19 GMT
Near the South Peak is the famed Plank Route. It does not lead anywhere. You climb down some iron bars masquerading as a ladder, walk along some planks along the cliff face and then back up those iron bars again. I tried attaching some photos, but to no avail. I was not able to link it to photobucket. I will try again tomorrow. (Edit - now it works) Intro to the Plank RouteWalk down this path and deposit your bags etc., and pay RMB30 for safety harnessAt the end of this path, climb down some metal rungs to the Plank RouteLook! No hands!
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Post by chefying on Jan 5, 2015 19:15:40 GMT
As impressive as the Plank Route may be, I was more impressed by these porters who bring water and other things up Huashan, step by step.
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Post by chefying on Jan 5, 2015 19:19:33 GMT
Found two pix of Huashan I had meant to post... View of the West Peak, overlooking Xi'an in the far distance, covered by a thick layer of pollution West Peak, dawn.
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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2015 3:40:13 GMT
WOW! nice pictures indeed! i didn't walk through that plank. I am a simple person. why I have to suffer and walk through that dangerous plank if in the end I have to get back? LOL!! Really appreciate someone like you who climbed and took these pictures
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Post by chefying on Jan 6, 2015 6:44:35 GMT
WOW! nice pictures indeed! i didn't walk through that plank. I am a simple person. why I have to suffer and walk through that dangerous plank if in the end I have to get back? LOL!! Really appreciate someone like you who climbed and took these pictures I did not feel like climbing down to walk that plank route. So I just took pictures
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