A pass a day keeps the headache away! At least that's a recommendable receipe when planning to climb a 5000m pass. With Iluka gone and well taken care of in France, we managed (quite well, I have to admit) to forget our role as parents for a while and took advantage of the situation by 'coughing our lungs out' as Matthieu likes to put it. 'A nice, serious trek with just the two of us' is how I would describe it.
After studying the map for a few days, Matthieu picked for us, what he assumed to be one of the harder treks in the region - the crossing of 5,080m Vrang Pass, which connects the Roshkala Valley with the Wakhan and crosses the Shokhdara Rande. Close proximity to peaks Engels and Karl Marx (6,507m + 6,723m respectively) promised for some panoramic views.
As one might get bored just trekking along a valley, crossing over a glaciated pass and then trek down the next valley, we included some diversions along the way. Two additional passes (4,600m, then 4,800m) made the approach to the Vrang Pass varied and exciting and proved to be excellent acclimatization opportunities.
Check out our exact route here. (I know, the picture is a bit confusing...If you really want to know: our route was the furthest one one the left...oh ok, fine! Next time I draw my own map again!)
In short, the trek was amazing, just what we needed and had wished for. Some pathfinding, some snowcrossing, full moon lit nights, a few bear tracks and otherwise...just us and the mountains. The rest is best told in pictures:
3 comments:
Wow! How amazing!
Having had altitude sickness in Kunming (1,900m above sea level), Vrang is unfortunately not on my list of must-visit places.
All the best,
Ed & Denny
Good Good, I hope you bring some cheese with you. Gilemon
looks great, beautiful and you 2 very sweet .
look forward to hear some stories in person.
Simone
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