Yurutse -Markha Valley Day 1 End

(4150m) Day one of the Markha Valley trek was a 11.5 kilometer half day starting in Zhingchan. The first of our nightly stops for food and lodging was in Yurutsepa, a one-building "village" homestay at 4150 meters. The first day of hiking was taxing but not yet daunting. It quickly became obvious that acclimating to the altitude in Leh for two days was a necessary practice, as even advanced climbers' progress has been affected by the thin air. Perfectly clear mountains streams from the snow-capped peaks run along the trails and carve their way through the arid, rocky valleys. Tomorrow we will trek to the base camp of the first large mountain pass and assess whether to climb and attemp to arrive at Skyu, on the other side of the pass.Read more