I Climbed Hua Shan, again! (Part 1)
Comments Published March 24th, 2010 in Chinese Life, Photography
So, I decided to climb Hua Shan again. Climbed it with different people and at a different time of year, and it was totally different. This is going to be quite the update, so I will split it into multiple parts. Lot’s of pics, so, here we go…!
One of the many huge panoramas I took. This one at the base of the mountain. Click the image for a huge, huge version!
One of my friends got a padlock engraved which he’d take to the top of the mountain. It had his girlfriend’s name on it. Awwwh.
Holding the padlock and pointing to it’s destination.
Started our climb just after 1pm.
Took a photo of this map in case I wanted to refer to it later. As you can see, an 8600m walk to the south peak. And lots of that is 8600m of walking up a lot of steps!
So, they put these milestones (kilometrestones?) every kilometre. I’m not sure if it’s to depress or motivate. But it was a good way to keep track.
Already getting quite high up.
The relentless climb and the 2km mark.
Sunshine taking a photo of Alice.
Random hermit homes set into the walls of the mountain.
An old abandoned building.
A single spark may lead to it’s destroy!
Another hermit home.
The front door step is a bit steep.
One of the steeper sections. Calf…muscles….tingling.
The characteristic silhouette of Hua Shan’s West Peak.
Price list. I can recognise…Red Bull… a 250ml can is 10yuan = £1.
Stairs, stairs, stairs. Don’t worry. I didn’t have to climb the ones on the right. Feel sorry for whoever did though!
Another panorama. This one with a story. So, the first time we climbed Hua Shan, with my good friend Dan. Well… he didn’t have the steam to make it all the way. So he stayed at a hotel for the night. This is said hotel. The “Hairy woman’s cave.” Mmmm. I took lot’s of photos, and I smiled inside. Miss you, Dan!
Not exactly what you expect to find on the brochure.
and the room where Dan stayed. There’s always been debate between me and Dan about how far he made it up the mountain. Dan claimed an optimistic 50%… I claimed an unfair and cruel 10%. Ya’ll can judge for yourself at the end of this post, and leave your guess in the comments. 😛 You too, Dan! (Photo taken at 15:17hrs… 2hrs after beginning.)
You spend a lot of time looking at the backs of people’s shoes.
Another Panorama. Click for the biiiiiiiiig version.
I wasn’t aware that I was a passenger.
Looking back down at the hairy woman cave.
Walking across a small bridge and this is the view down into the valley.
Suddenly Frank, one of my friends, lets out a bellowing shout. Roughly translated into “Goooooooo!” The echo was immense.
I like this photo. Using my bag how it’s meant to be used. At least according to the logo.
I have no idea what the ecotope is! Luckily, Wikipedia does: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotope
So… as I’m climbing the mountain, I’m taking photos of all signs looking for bad English to entertain myself. Then, my awesome girlfriend sent me this message. 🙂 Snacks…Snakes…Snacks…Snakes. Awwh! Cute. (and yes, thats full cell phone signal on a mountain side. China rules.)
This map just depresses you after three hours of climbing or so.
Supposed to say “North” peak. However, Noth made me think of Hoth. Unfortunately nobody I was with had ever seen Star Wars, so I had to geek-out on my own.
Another panorama! 🙂 Still a loooong way to go. 🙁
Woo hoo! 5km! Not sure what happened to 4km. Well, the first 5.5km are pretty flat, then next 3-4 are steeeeeeeep!
Red Bull to prepare for the steepness!
Very cinematic looking roof tops.
Looking down on the path we’d travelled.
Enjoying some snacks sent out by my parents. Thanks mum! It was delicious!
More bellowing into the valley below.
Frank making his ascent. He’s not hunch-back’d… his bag is under there!
I waited a few moments to give my friends a headstart. In fact, I didn’t want them falling down on me.
Half way up – always time to take photos.
Another HUGE image. Click for bigger!
Almost at the top of this section.
This seemed like some cheesy film intro voice over.
One of the workers coming down unloaded, to load up and take some stuff back up to the top. He was very jolly, and started singing when he saw us.
Another panorama.
Quite a view.
No climbing?! I came here to climb a mountain!
Still have phone signal. Frank take cares of business.
Cat! This one followed us for about half a click.
We have a patio heater and barbecue back in England that are both powered by these small calor gas bottles, so I know how heavy just one is. However, hulking two of them up/down a mountain!? No thanks!
Smoking a cigarette while carrying gas…
…next to a ‘no smoking’ sign. Classy.
Immortals gathering platform. Starting to think I’m in a superhero movie.
My DCs were doing an okay job. Not as good as my last pair though. May have to change my brand allegiance.
Sunshine starting to get tired.
Too much brown and grey in winter. 🙁
No smoking!
Getting high now! Standing on the North peak, with the east peak to the left, and the west peak to the right.
Of course, lots of padlocks on the north peak.
Another photo-stitched panorama.
No Tossing, No Striding. Such kill joys.
Altitude sickness making Sunshine a little crazy.(thats his name, Sunshine.)
Click for bigger version. You can see all the little steps and lights. It almost looks like a model.
Climbing down from the north peak to head on over to the eastern peak.
No watching when walking, when walking no watching! This to me is basically saying “Walk with your eyes closed.” Doesn’t seem like very good advice.
Looking back towards the north peak.
One of the steeper bits. I tackled it with gladiator-like speed. “Gladiators, READDYYYY? Contendors, READDYYYYY?” and WOOSH I was up. 😛
The last few photos before the night descended and the camera was useless. With it being the off season, all of the big lights were turned off, it made for some tricky sections. My trusty torch led the way. We climbed for about 2 hours more. Going to the central peak, and then making our way to the eastern peak.
My bed for the night. A hostel on the eastern peak. Arrived at about 10 or 11pm. I don’t really remember. The four of us had the room to ourselves. This meant we could steal extra bedsheets, which were needed as it was COLD!! If you remember my summer climb, that was the middle of June, and the mountain top was freezing at night…so, in winter; you can imagine!
Hope you’ve enjoyed part 1. Part 2 coming soon! 🙂 It’ll include the beautiful sunrise, the South and West peaks and the descent. Stay tuned.
Part two is up: http://supertidy.net/wordpress/2010/03/i-climbed-hua-shan-again-part-2/
🙂
Well that was worth the wait!! Mom X
hey bro you did awesome man, keep it up i love your photography skill, that was great hope you will show more photos take care pass my regards to b
see you soon……
Congratulations. My husband and I climbed Huashan in 2006 and stayed overnight there in order to see the sunrise. it was a fantastic experience. Your pictures bring the memory to life again and I also think they are very artistic. Huashan is a worthy subject for your talent. I hope you will do the same thing for Huangshan. We had very bad weather in Tunxi and could not climb Huangshan as we wanted to do. Good luck with your career, I assume, will be in photo-journalism if not already.
Fantastic pictures. I climbed HuaShan back in 2007 – it was a fantastic experience. Wish I could go and do it again. Maybe try the soldiers path route. Thanks for publishing these