Still A Way to Go For Our Destination at Shika Snow Mountain 石卡雪山
The valley at the midway point of Shika Snow Mountain was a very nice side trip en route to the summit of the mountain. I made it a point to remember to explore this area after I come back from the mountain, that is, if I make it back alive. Actually, there is no real danger going up the mountain itself, but rather the effects of climbing a mountain that tall migh wreak havoc on your systems, nausea, vomitting, headaches or even death if not treated appropriately. It is said that once you start experiencing the effects of altitude sickness, you need to reduce your altitude immediately, easier said than done when climbing a mountain. Fortunately, for the rest of us folks, there is always cable car.
Grassy Plain at the Midway Point of Shika Snow Mountain 石卡雪山
We head back to the cable car station wherethe second half of our trip awaits. At the back of my mind I was wondering if it was wise not to have bought oxygen here. The other Chinese tourists were all carrying their own canisters and I had none. They were busy inhaling the gas from the canisters which come with its own breathing mask. My companions didn’t seem to be slightest bit concerned, then again, they were both Tibetan locals who are already used to the altitude here. I would like to think of this as a practice run for a trip to Tibet. This place is already higher than the capital Lhasa so I should still be fine, unless I start going to Everest Base Camp which as at dizzying 5100m high.
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