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Here's a quote from a book by Jamie McGuinness
entitled "Trekking in Langtang Helambu & Gosainkund": When Tilman was
walking up to Langshisha in 1949 he noted: In the course of
the conversation these herdsmen confirmed the existence, or rather the recent
presence of, the Abomitable Snowman in the Langtang, pointing out to us a
cave which had been his favourite haunt. Six years previously these beasts
(whose existence is surely no longer a matter of conjecture) had been constant
visitors but had apparently migrated elsewhere. The small kind, the size of a
child, they called 'chumi', while the big fellow went by the name of 'yilmu'.
Since sceptics like to affirm that the tracks made by these creatures are in
reality bear tracks, it is worth mentioning that the herdsmen were able to show
some fresh bear tracks." Although it was the Langtang Valley that I visited
during my trek - nearly all the way to Langshisha - I failed to see either chumi or
yilmu. What an experience that would've been!
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This is Uday and his kitchen, one of the
more modern ones I had seen in the Himalayan villages. Made of clay, this one
piped running water through as a source of hot water. They say necessity is
the mother of invention...the Nepalese were clever this way, diverting water
from high Himalayan waterfalls to flow down past their villages.
Uday,
was 24 years old with a 10 year old son in his home village.
In
Langtang, Nepal as in every village at that time of year, people would begin
gathering in the common room of the teahouse in late afternoon, to share
the warmth of a pot-bellied stove. I arrived early my first day while Uday
started the fire, throwing Yak dung in as fuel. Little did I know that
he would also be the cook and server. Hygiene here is unknown, I think.
I hope you enjoy my photos of Langtang in the Himalayas of Nepal.
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Women Returning to Langtang with Fuel
Although we take electricity, gas,
and oil for granted, a major focus of life in the Himalayas is the collection
of fuel for
cooking and heating. Each day, the village women go out to collect wood and
yak dung. |
My Guide Chudamani
Chudamani was my guide and friend for the
duration of my hike. I relied upon him to find the best teahouses, to serve
as interpreter, and to assure that food was safely prepared. He and I still
occasionally email each other to say hello and pass on the news in our lives.
Chudamani is a guide for First Environmental Trekking in Kathmandu.
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Clouds moving in on Shindum, high in the Himalayas
Late
in the afternoon, it was
common for clouds to roll in around the mountains here. By nightfall, the
clouds were gone and a beautiful sea of stars washed across the sky. |
Yak near the village of Kyangjin Gompa
Yak
are animals native to high altitudes. Most yaks in Nepal are now cross bred
with
cows, so few pure Yaks remain. This one was grazing near Kyangjin Gompa - the
highest altitude village inhabited year round in this part of Nepal |
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A pleasant view of the Langtang Valley North of Kathmandu
Although the trail is never far from the
Langtang River, from this vantage point we could see it far below as it
snakes its way through the Langtang Valley. I wondered how long it took the
water to leave my side and reach that place many days walk away.
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Hiking toward the headwaters of the Langtang River
There is a bit of a special feeling
reaching the headwaters of a major river. I wondered how many people had reached
this place before me. Perhaps there aren't really a lot of people that
wanted to. |
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