Day 21 - 8 Sep 1999

The first day of trekking out of Lamayuru took us through another steep sided gorge, like the one we had come through on our way to Lamayuru three days earlier.

Here Afzul is carrying Kendy across this stream (the rest of us just waded across of course!)

Day 22 - 9 Sep 1999

Incredible morning views from our camp site at Chila, a small grassy clearing at the head of the gorge that we had climbed through on our first day of trekking out of Lamayuru.

Day 23 - 10 Sep 1999

After a long day of walking across Yogma La we passed through the village of Kanji and then onwards until finally, late in the day, we arrived here at this plain where we camped.

We shared this location with many goats and their shepherds. During the night the shepherds impounded our horses and demanded money for their release. Afzul and Shoga did all the negotiating but it was an uneasy night.

Day 25 - 12 Sep 1999

Climbing towards Kanji La. At 5255m, Kanji La is one of the highest passes of the entire trek.

Day 25 - 12 Sep 1999

Dramatic mountain scenery as we climb towards Kanji La (5255m).

Day 26 - 13 Sep 1999

This is Ringdom Gompa, perched on a low hill in a wide valley surrounded by collosal mountains.

Day 27 - 14 Sep 1999

Beyond Ringdom Gompa lies this broad open valley and beyond that, Pansi La.

We spent 3 nights camped in the one place here in this uninhabited valley and spent the time exploring the surrounding country.

Eventually we hitched a ride out of this valley and into Kargil, thereby completing Stage 2 of our expedition.

Day 28 - 15 Sep 1999

This is the spectacular mountain called Sickle Moon (6574m). We gained this this view of it as we climbed towards Pansi La on one of our day trips from the base camp lower down in the valley.

Day 28 - 15 Sep 1999

At the top of Pansi La lies this high alpine lake.

Day 28 - 15 Sep 1999

The alpine lake at the top of Pansi La.

Day 29 - 16 Sep 1999

Here is our camp site in the broad valley between Ringdom Gompa and Pansi La. We spent three nights here, which allowed us time to climb to the top of Pansi La and explore the surrounding country.

The other purpose of staying here was to wait for transport into Kashmir, and Afzul and Shoga spent many hours watching the road for passing vehicles.

At last, after 3 nights here, a truck came by which picked us and all our gear up and took us into Kargil. Our horses and ponymen had by now left us to return to Darcha. Now we travelled into Kargil from where we arranged transport into Kashmir and the third and final stage of our adventure.