young monk carrying texts

I crossed paths with these monks at at a pass. They were making a pilgrimage. The young monk's job was to carry sacred woodblock prints...

 

bigger version

 

A couple of people have emailed as to my route on this trip. This Zanskar trip and my earlier one both followed pretty much the same route... Below is my planned day by day itinerary (I made one or two changes on the way because of conditions on the ground... for example I had to make a detour to a higher pass at Hanuma La because it was snowed in). La = pass in the local language. Gompa = monastery.

 

Kulu-Manali

stay in Kulu-Manali

start walking

Baralacha La (17,384 ft)

walk

Lingti Chu

Chumik Marpo valley

Phirtse La (17,878)

Zanskar Valley

Phuctal Gompa (12,500 ft)

Ichar

Ichar Gompa

walk

Rest at Reru

Barden Gompas

Tonde Gompa

Poat Pass (17,300 ft)

trekking

Across Parfi La (12,800 ft)

Hanuma La (15,700 ft)

Murgum La (13,500 ft)

Singge La (16,700 ft)

rest

Sirsir La (15,740 ft)

cross river

Lamayuru monastery

Alchi monastery

walk

walk

Leh

 

Walking it's about 200 miles and takes about a month.

Done