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Tim continues his summer kayaking tour. An update as of 13th August from the Zanskar.
Finished our descent of the Tsarap and Zanskar rivers yesterday. It took us 6 days in total and took us through some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Oh, and the whitewater wasn't that terrible either!!
Heres a selection of a few photos of the trip:
(above) The Drive from Leh to the put in took us over the Taglangla pass (5200m), the second highest in the world. Already sick with food poisoning, it was all I could do to drag myself from the Jeep and grimace for the camera. Luckily I didn't get a double whammy and the altitude didn't affect me too much. This is more than can be said for Jay who was ill a number of times in the Jeep before we got back to a sensible altitude (the put-in at about 4200m)..
(above) The second day of the paddle took us to Phuktal Monastry, an ancient settlement built precariously in and around a cave on a mountainside. We spent the night there, and were allowed to sit in the prayer room for a while as the monks read their morning prayers. A true highlight of my trip. The young monks took great delight in trying on our kit and posing for photographs by the riverbank as we prepared to leave.
(below) Various WW shots from the Tsarap river. Some nice whitewater, nothing too challenging (save two portages), but at altitude, certainly enough to get the pulse racing!
(below) Most evenings we set up a tarp on the riverbank and slept under it. Despite the altitude it wasn't too cold and before going to bed the clear skys afforded excellent views of the stars.
(above) The Zanskar gorges housed some mightly impressive views and some large volume whitewater. Nothing more than grade 4, but immensly spectacular stuff!
(below) The team: Jay, Karine, James and Tim.
