Remotest China: Trekking and Climbing Expeditions in the Kun Lun Mountains
Duration: 3-4 weeks
Months offered: June-August
Costs: From $5,000
High Asia spent several months in 2001 exploring what are arguably
the most remote mountains of western China. Our expedition into the Kun
Lun range brought us over terrain not seen by westerns since British
explorers Capt. Deasy and Aurel Stein surveyed the area over a hundred
years ago. Following their sketch maps we re-discovered a range of high
unclimbed and unnamed 6,000-7,000 meters peak.
Part of the attraction of traveling to this range which roughly forms the provincial
border between Tibet and Xinjiang provinces, is the trekking route we designed
in order to access the southern aspect of the range. Our trek takes one from
the sands of the forbidding Taklamakan deserts of Xinjiang through deep desert
canyons that ascend through the Kun Lun before reaching the vast high altitude
expanses of the Tibetan plateau's northern-most rim. Throughout this walk we
are always in close proximity to the shimmering glaciated mountains of the Kun
Lun. The region is one of the most remote on the Tibetan plateau and thus entirely
free of human habitation. Part of our expedition in summer 2001 was to search
for the calving grounds of the endangered Tibetan Antelope. We succeeded in discovering
this calving ground as well as wilderness teeming with other wildlife such as
Yak, blue sheep, wolf and kiang. While walking this route participants are sure
to see all of the above mentioned species. For those interested, this expedition
can be timed to witness the birthing of Tibetan Antelope in their remote northern
calving grounds.
Our expeditions to the Kun Lun are geared towards both trekkers looking to experience
true wilderness in an area that has never seen tourism, and climbers interested
in climbing unclimbed peaks. These expeditions require a minimum of 21 days.
Climbers should plan on spending 4 weeks in the area. For more information on
High Asia's treks and climbs in the Kun Lun please contact us.
