The 43rd Issue of Southern Xinjiang Special Topic Every piece of land in Xinjiang makes me deeply attached to it. Walking on the bustling streets and looking at the vast sea of ??people, it feels like I am traveling through an uninhabited land. My body is back and my soul is back. But he stayed in the beautiful Western Region. Many times, I have an inexplicable urge to return to that holy and pure land.
In September 2015, I embarked on a hiking challenge to climb Muztagh Peak, the father of the iceberg. At the foot of the iceberg, the lonely string of footprints on the snow was deeper; the sunset was about to sink. In the glow of the sky, I used my palms as trumpets and shouted loudly, which seemed even further away - further than the sun beyond the horizon.
Muztag, the father of icebergs. You stand like a steel gate on the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world. The sky is far above you, and the land is vast below. Aren't you Optimus Prime in the world of ice and snow? Across the sky.
Muztag, the father of icebergs. Your forehead is covered with snow all year round, with a silvery brilliance, and your strict father's face shines with a cold light. The howling north wind is your endless burning flame.
Muztag, the father of icebergs. In the world of ice and snow, in the sacred mountains, you are like a shining flag, leading the direction of the snowy peaks of the sacred mountains. The solemn promise of billions of tons of silver brings the immortal weight of life.
Muztag, the father of icebergs. Standing on your shoulders is the proud fragrance of snow lotus and the pure whisper of white clouds. The rumors of humble people have long been shattered by the vast desolate cold.
Children looking for their spiritual home always stop to look up and climb tirelessly. In my heart: faith is immortal and spirit remains forever.
The Pamir Plateau is the most unique place to experience when traveling in Xinjiang. The hiking route from Karakul Lake to Muztagh Base Camp is the route with the highest average altitude in Xinjiang. The entire hiking distance is 45 kilometers. The starting point is 3,600 meters above sea level and the end point is 4,400 meters above sea level, which is also the highest altitude. The entire hike with heavy equipment takes about 18 hours and can be divided into three days.
Muztagh Peak is the third highest peak in the famous Kunlun Mountains of the Pamir Plateau, with an altitude of 7509 (7546) meters. It is located at 75.1 degrees east longitude and 38.5 degrees north latitude, between Akto County and Taxkorgan in Xinjiang. On the junction line, it belongs to the West Kunlun Mountains, facing Gonggeer, the first peak with an altitude of 7649 (7719) meters, and Gonggeer Jiubie, the second peak with an altitude of 7530 (7595) meters, across the lake.
The west side of the mountain has a gentle slope, but the north and east sides are very steep. Mufeng Mountain is round in shape, has magnificent scenery, and is covered with snow all year round. The snow line is about 5,300 meters above sea level. The iceberg landscape has more than ten glaciers, and the end of the glaciers is lower than 4,500 meters above sea level. Viewed from the edge of Karakul Lake at the foot of the mountain, Mufeng looks like a white-haired old man. The locals respectfully call him "Muztagh Ata", "Muztagh" means "iceberg", and "Ata" ” means “father”.
1. Route conditions:
1. The main dangers are severe altitude sickness and complications at high altitudes, and getting lost in the wind and snow of C3.
2. The climbing cycle is long, and the body’s adaptability to high altitudes can be greatly improved.
3. The technical climbing is not difficult, there are few ice cracks, there are no avalanches, and the safety on the route is relatively high.
4. For mountaineers who are climbing mountains above 7,000 meters above sea level for the first time, Muztag is the best choice, and it is also the best adaptability for preparing to climb mountains above 8,000 meters above sea level. mountain peak.
Although Muztagh is the easiest 7500-meter snow mountain in the world, three mountaineers also died in 2007, so it is recommended not to do it without sufficient physical and mental preparation. Act blindly.
The rocks at the foot of Mt. Mu Feng are messy and the route to the summit is very long. Floating snow, high-altitude snow wind, low air pressure, low visibility, and low temperature during the trip are all troubles for climbers, so its overall risk is Sex is high and hard to avoid!
2. Climbing route:
1. BC: 4,430 meters above sea level. The camp is flat and open, with complete living facilities and abundant food. After adaptive training, you can rest and recuperate comfortably, and recover your physical strength quickly.
2. C1: 5550 meters above sea level. The BC-C1 route is mainly gravel slopes, suitable for wearing hiking shoes, and generally travels for 5-6 hours.
3. C2: 6,200 meters above sea level. The C1-C2 route consists of ice slopes and snow slopes with gentle slopes. The terrain is relatively complex, passing through snow bridges, seracs, and smaller dark areas. It is easy to get lost in the cracks when visibility is low, and the travel time is 4-6 hours.
4. C3: 6,900 meters above sea level. The C2-C3 route is a gentle snow slope. It is easy to judge the route and the view is very broad. Generally, the snow does not reach the knees, so you need to wear snowboards, and the traveling time is usually 5-6 hours.
5. Summit: 7546 meters above sea level, C3 - the summit - the C3 route is deep snow with a very gentle slope, the shape is round, the peak cannot be seen on the route, it is usually a windy and snowy day, the temperature It is easy to get frostbite due to low visibility, and it is easy to get lost due to low visibility. The traveling time is 7-9 hours.
TIPS
Do a comprehensive physical examination before departure
This route is a special tour route. Travelers must first have a correct assessment of their own body, Only then can you decide. Travelers who plan to take this route must master some basic knowledge of mountain climbing, conduct a comprehensive physical examination, and strengthen physical training; group members who participate are required to have no cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Bring your own personal items for mountain hiking
1. Hiking backpack (small, used to hold water, food and personal items on the day of hiking).
2. Sleeping bag. (The temperature is around minus 15°C. Please pay attention to purchasing a warm down sleeping bag with good quality and a down content of about 1 and a half kilograms)
3. Jackets, jackets, hiking shoes, fleece jackets, and fleece pants.
4. Hat (need to have spare), wind scarf, fleece gloves. (Exclusively for outdoor use)
5. Alpine anti-UV sunglasses or windproof goggles (ski goggles are enough).
6. High-waisted hiking shoes, snow boots, and thick socks.
7. Daily necessities such as flashlight or headlamp, thermal kettle, sunscreen, lip balm, body lotion, mosquito repellent, travel kettle, multi-function knife, etc.
8. Hiking poles. (Prepare a single stick or double sticks according to personal needs)
9. Camel bag. (Luggage bag, suitable for hanging on a camel's back in the wild)
10. Foods that can provide calories: such as chocolate, Delex candy, beneficial drinks, vitamin pills, etc.
11. Other small items, personal toiletries, wet wipes (prepare plenty), spare shoelaces, notebooks and pens, ziplock bags (rolled, to protect the camera), sun hat, eye drops, chewing gum, Toilet paper, toothpicks, sandals, cotton socks, cotton underwear, light sticks, compass. (It is recommended to prepare plenty of personal clothing) Band-Aids, aspirin, bezoar detoxification tablets, Ganmao Ling, stomach medicine and cough drops, etc. Personal tableware (chopsticks, water cups), disposable items are strictly prohibited, and excess domestic waste is eliminated.
12. All kinds of jewelry: It is best not to wear necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and other items.
13. It is safer and more convenient for contact lens wearers to wear glasses instead.
14. During the entire mountaineering activity, if special circumstances arise and the mountaineering needs to be abandoned, participating team members must strictly obey the advice. The trip to the summit needs to be planned separately.
The pure and elegant Muztagh Peak is a symbol of pure love in the eyes of young Tajik men and women. Its slightly notched, steamed bun-like peak will remain in the memory of travelers forever.
I started jumping all over the place before I started climbing. The altitude here is already 4,500 meters, and I couldn’t stop the pace.
Visitors on the iceberg! I climbed directly up without using trekking poles to challenge myself. You can also try climbing a section of Muztagh Peak. It is not high, and the top is only 7,745 meters.
You can also hike from Karakulli Lake to Muztagh Peak. The total distance is 45 kilometers and takes 18 hours to hike with heavy equipment. (Karakul Lake → Suba City Village → Muztagh Base Camp → Sheepbulak Glacier)
This is also an ideal mountaineering place for climbing enthusiasts. It was not until 1956 that China and the former Soviet Union started climbing. The team members climbed to the top together.
Among all the glaciers in Muztagh, the scenery of Glacier No. 4 is the most beautiful, and its beauty is much higher than that of Glacier No. 1, which is the only one open to tourism. The most beautiful scenery is often the most primitive and unknown places.
Muztagh is a must-see attraction in Kashgar, but most tourists choose to stay briefly at Kalakul Lake on National Highway 314 to look at Muztagh from a distance. The scenery of the lakes and mountains is certainly intoxicating, but since you have come all the way to the foot of this father of glaciers, it would always be a pity not to touch those huge glaciers yourself.
According to the legend of the local Tajik people, there lived an iceberg princess on Muztagh Peak. She and the snow-capped mountain prince lived on the opposite side of the world's second highest peak, Khogri Peak, 8611 meters above sea level. Passionately in love, the ferocious King of Heaven was very unhappy when he found out, so he split the two connected peaks with a magic stick, breaking up the sincere lovers of the Ice Mountain Princess and the Snow Mountain Prince. The Ice Mountain Princess missed the Snow Mountain Prince all day long, and her tears kept pouring out, and eventually they flowed into glaciers.
Standing at the highest point of the snow-capped mountains within my reach, looking at the beautiful sapphire-like icy lake at my feet and the pure white and holy snow-capped mountains around me, I already feel deeply satisfied, having completed a self-challenge. .
Starting from the Baisha River in Tang Sanzang’s Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty, we circled around Karakul Lake, left Baisha Lake and headed south, speeding along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway on the Pamir Plateau. This road is the path taken by the eminent monk Xuanzang to seek Buddhist scriptures in the West. Xuanzang entered Afghanistan through the Wakhan Corridor and continued his journey to the Western Paradise. As the altitude continues to rise, the sky on the plateau is as blue as white, and the changes in white clouds are mesmerizing. The snow-capped mountains of Karakun Mountain and majestic glaciers come into view. Thousand-year-old glaciers are crystal clear under the strong sunlight. Facing the holy and pure glaciers in front of you, people forget the noise and troubles of the world, forget all favors and disgrace, and have a broad mind. , the sentiment is suddenly sublimated, and the moral character is instantly noble.
Passing by the mountain, you can see Muztag Peak, which is 7546 meters above sea level and is known as the "Father of Icebergs". The faint mist is her charming veil. It is precisely because they don't know Mu Feng's true face that people flock to her. Muztagh Peak is a sacred place in the hearts of many people. Such beauty originally belonged to the tranquility of the Holy Spirit, but the tranquility is always broken by people like me. This is an exciting place. You always want to climb up, always want to stand at the highest point and look down. Many people come here just to take a look at Mu Feng, and some people sleep here because they climbed to the top of Mu Feng.
I was so cute by this group of yaks. In order to catch and photograph them, I squatted by the lake for half an hour without disturbing them.
On the east side of the road, a faint green appears on the Gobi Desert, and wetlands appear under the hillside. There are signs of life. From a distance, you can see the "Father of Icebergs" Muztagh Snow Peak and the altitude of 7714 A dark blue plateau lake appears under the snow-capped mountains of Gonggeer Jiubie Peak. Karakul Lake has arrived. Who can lock the majestic glaciers and beautiful lake water?
Gonggeer Mountain is the highest peak in the West Kunlun Mountains. The nine peaks are undulating and steep. Gonger Jiubie Peak is the second highest peak in the West Kunlun Mountains. The peaks are pyramid-shaped. The peak is steep and there is an avalanche area with a height difference of about 300 meters. Because the mountain is covered with snow all year round, it looks like a hat worn by herdsmen, so local herdsmen call it "Gongge Jiubie", which means "white hat".
Karakul is a Kirgiz language, translated as "Black Lake", and is referred to as "Ka Lake". Ka Lake is a mountain ice-eroded moraine lake with an area of ??about 10 square kilometers. The clear blue lake is reflected by the crystal-clear snow-capped mountains behind it. Beautiful auspicious clouds fly over the snow-capped mountains. The sky and water are the same color. On the tile-blue lake, a few birds are floating briskly. They are probably gulls; blue sky, snow-capped mountains and white clouds , lake water and flying birds form a beautiful picture. It is said that people can only truly appreciate the artistic conception when they swim in the middle of the picture.
I picked up a bird feather on the road and couldn't help but indulge in the beautiful scenery. I was so excited that I had long forgotten about the Pamir Plateau, which is about 4,000 meters above sea level. Walk. It was already 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and I was not hungry because of the beautiful and delicious scenery. I took the "Old Man's Melon" shaped like a pumpkin and a bag to have dinner. This kind of melon is much sweeter than cantaloupe, and it is soft and ripe. It is a major feature of Xinjiang to take a bite and your mouth will be full of honey, and eat the melon to satisfy your hunger. It is a major feature of Xinjiang. You can reach into the clear lake water to wash your hands. Even in the hot summer, it is freezing cold. It is indeed the melted water of the snow mountain.
The white clouds in the sky are changing, and the towering Muztagh Peak on the roadside is white and crystal clear, reflected in the blue lake. The wetland under the peak is green and grassy. From time to time, a bird flies over, and the wetland is reflected in the sunshine. Shining under the light, it is the person swimming in the painting. Although the hike was very tiring, my heart was still filled with excitement and joy. I was savoring and savoring the dreamlike beauty that was vividly in my mind, and continued to chase the clouds in the sky.
After walking for 3 hours, taking pictures slowly along the way, the beauty of Karakul Lake and the majesty of Muztagh Snow Peak have been deeply implanted in my heart. The language of praise always seems dull and pale in front of nature. Although my photography skills are not good, I will share it with you using the records of my camera.
From Karakul Lake to Muztagh Snow Peak is a classic hiking route, walking on the glacier, crossing the mainland, and enjoying beautiful scenery along the way. People walking on the road can reach places that others cannot reach and see more novel and beautiful things. Standing on the glacier and looking down from a high place, Lake Karakul will be like a huge emerald embedded in the mountains of the Pamir Plateau.
The route I took to hike around the lake changed from lake scenery to grassland. It was also like walking in a painting. It was so cool. The villages under the iceberg are absolutely beautiful, and there are also kind-hearted Xinjiang ethnic minority people here.
With the pass in hand, visit the world’s highest port in the storm. Khunjerab Port is the terminus of the China-Pakistan Highway (China-Pakistan) and is located on the Pamir Plateau at an altitude of 5,000m. On the way from Kashgar to Khunjerab, you will enjoy various landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, ancient city ruins, etc. It is known as the most beautiful road in southern Xinjiang.
Khunjerab is still worth visiting. First, the scenery along the way includes oases with rich water and grass, as well as the vast Gobi Desert; there are silver-white and holy snow-capped mountains, as well as majestic and dangerous mountains. Second, you can realize your dreams. Not many people can go to Xinjiang, and even fewer people choose to go to Khunjerab. When you travel thousands of miles to get here, you have not only fulfilled your wish, but also an unforgettable feat in your life.
The China-Pakistan Highway from Kashgar to the Khunjerab Port on the China-Pakistan border is 415km long and is the most beautiful road in southern Xinjiang. Walking on this road, you will be in high spirits, forget all your worries, and fully enjoy the freshness, beauty, and majesty of nature.
Khunjerab Port is the most expensive port in Shanghai. Due to the severe weather conditions, it is only open and closed from April 15th to October 15th. It is closed at other times, regardless of tourists. Neither relatives visiting relatives nor businessmen can pass.
It is precisely because of the harsh natural environment of Khunjerab’s port that its fame does not lie in its scale of border trade, but in the unique beauty created by its unique natural environment.
The border officers and soldiers stationed here experienced violent winds, snow, flying sand and rocks, and cold that penetrated their muscles and bones... it was even more touching.
Pakistani border guards are very friendly with China. The two countries get along with each other and there is almost no "military" atmosphere.
On the way from the Karakoram Mountains to the Pamir Plateau, I was deeply stunned by the scenes on both sides. When the sun breaks through the clouds and shines on the shoulders, a vibrant pasture suddenly appears in front of you, where cattle are playing leisurely; on the left is a wide and deep grand canyon carved by Kunlun snow water, overlooking the land under your feet. The crack, under its majestic and majestic momentum, I feel my own insignificance. When your vision is infinitely opened, your mind becomes wider. At that moment, I feel that my soul is flying like the Pamir eagle. I just want to open my arms, jump into the embrace of the earth, this thought is So clear and strong. Looking around, the waves of the peaks are immersed in the warm sunshine. In the long sky, the long hunting wind blows my body and gently rolls the corners of my jacket.
I saw a little boy from the Kirgiz ethnic group eating cakes and picking leaves in his hands. We spoke with gestures and communicated with our hearts. It was relaxed and joyful, far better than any false spoken language or language. It was once the best communication tool, but it has been repeatedly abused, making it the most unfaithful slave. In this case, it is better to return to the silent world, which may be more pure.
More than 5,000 meters of port, the border between China and Pakistan, the red flag Lapp boundary marker, here I am again. Looking around, when the beauty reached a shocking power and came suddenly, I was caught off guard, surprised and speechless. For a long time, I just stared at everything around me in a daze. Standing on the high Daban of Hongqi Lapu, I watched the thousand-year-old road coming along the snowy ridge. After approaching the very close snow line here, I bent down and stretched tenaciously towards the snowy ridge standing on the wall. go. People should still go to the Pamir Plateau to experience and appreciate it in their lifetime. This makes people return to their original nature and understand human beings and nature better than reading the Tao of Confucius and Mencius, or even Zhuangzi. Pamir is a quiet book that is always open, waiting for you to read. It’s okay not to read it, but it’s not it that suffers.
Apart from recording it in writing, I really can’t think of any better way to remember this unforgettable journey.
On this day, I closed my eyes and was surrounded by mountains, and suddenly I heard the pious mantra in my heart
This month, I traveled thousands of miles across the Western Regions, tirelessly, just to touch. Your fingertips
This year, I have been kneeling on the bank of the mother river, not to meet you, but just to be close to your warmth
In this life, I have walked the earth away from the hustle and bustle, without fear Hard work, just to accompany you silently
As I write these words, I hear the call of the Pamir Plateau to those who come to see me in a trance. It travels thousands of kilometers to reach Shenzhen and my hometown. In my ears...