Cranky German

Author: cranky

  • Djule La ~ 4500 m

    We really haven’t found any decent maps for the region. The altitude of mountains varies by 500 meters depending on which map you look at. Word is that there are some decent Russian topographical maps out there but we have yet to see them. If only the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo would donate their…

  • Tsochenchen

    As the horseman Tenzin lights a fire, Cranky gets his hope up for thawing his feet at their campsite at 3870 meters. The air temperature measures – 4°C but feels much colder due to a light breeze blowing from the glacier above.

  • Chamkhar Inferno

    The morning brings the smell of fire and sight of smoke in the valley. A smoldering gap the size of a city block opens where the stores were where we had bought trekking provisions just last night. The town’s only fire engine was overwhelmed by the flames right in the heart of town. Dreary residents…

  • As Far As The Road Will Take Us

    Chamkhar, our eastern most point from where we will hike north towards Gangkhar Puensum, at some 7570 meters the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world. We leave the mountain alone and look for some hot springs instead. A couple of passes above 4500 m will be plenty to tackle for us lowlanders.

  • School Kid In Bumthang Valley

    As we take a stroll down the #1 and only highway going west – east we chat with children who have mastered a perfect rendition of the Queen’s English with a slight touch of India. Since most school subjects are taught in English, communication with Bhutanese is a breeze for us.

  • West Of Dochu La

    The old growth forests leave us bedazzled. Everywhere we look, seemingly endless slopes of trees. We can’t stop staring at the trees as if they are an apparition soon to disappear.

  • When Weather Really Matters

    If the sun doesn’t come out in full force very soon, the rice farmers’ labors of an entire season will go unrewarded. Note the red chillies drying on the roof … the food can be very, very spicy here.

  • Paro Dzong

    We need to let our first impressions settle before we can really describe what we have seen but here is a place we have visited …

  • Bakthapur

    A breath of fresh air after Kathmandu, Bakthapur impresses with less traffic and more traditional architecture. It doesn’t take a stroll too far to break away from the tourist infrastructure and get a glimpse at day-to-day life. In the morning we stumble across a mostly disassembled cow on our doorstep and buy the Kathmandu Daily…

  • Sunset and Sunrise

    A couple days in the hills and we find new appreciation for quiet days where watching the sun rise or set is the big event.