Red Rock Trek 001 - Red Trail Revisited April 29-May 3

Day 1

The toilet tent at our campsite at the foot of Mt Yaha. This was the Red Army's first camping ground after reaching the Tibetan Plateau. Day 1 dawned cold and white after an unseasonal snowfall, which continued for most of the following two days.

Day 2

Our horse team came from the Tibetan village of Tuanjie, also at the foot of Mt Yaha.

Day 3

At last the weather cleared and we awoke to a glorious sunrise over camp near the pass over Mt Yaha. This point is 3,900 meters above sea level.

The final stretch before crossing the pass.

Ditto, with the Haba Snow Mountain range peeking through the clouds in the background.

Lucy, Susanne and Liu Fang celebrate reaching the highest point of the trek, 3,924 meters above sea level.

Just over the top and beginning the long descent into the Jinsha River valley.

By lunchtime we were below the snowline. This is Ganaifang, where the Red Army was ambushed for the first time by Tibetan militia.

Deeper into the gully. This is a long day's trek, eight hours for approx 16 km and dropping more than 1,500 meters to camp overlooking the Jinsha.

Day 4

Amazing to think we were in deep snow 24 hours earlier. The wheat was ready for harvest in the village of Fuku, where we left the mountain trail.

Goodbye to our horse team. After lunch in the small town of Shangjiang, they started back home over the mountain while we headed for the riverside.

Day 5

Our beach camp at Ceka, one of the points at which the Red Army crossed the Jinsha on its Long March north.

Breakfast at Ceka. Nearest the camera is raft skipper Lao Diao, a Naxi gentleman from Lijiang.

Lucy takes the oars while Susanne and Lucian take 40 winks.

The Red Army memorial at Shigu, our final stop before heading to Lijiang, where the clear weather honoured us with a wonderful view of the great Jade Dragon Snow Mountain （below）.