Raising the spirits

Robert Macfarlane conducts his own personal pilgrimage to one of the most sacred mountains in China
  
  


Climbing in China
The path to Minya Konka, one of Buddhism's most sacred peaks in the Daxue Shan mountain range of Sichuan province Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Robert Macfarlane and the rest of the party camped overnight in a remote settlement Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbiing in China
The house of Jatso, the Tibetan horseman who would accompany the group Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Saddling up for the climb to the western face of Minya Konka, which towers at 7,556m Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Pedestrian life began at 4,600m Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Four hours of hard walking lay ahead Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
And then the party reached the Yulongxi Pass Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Seen from the west, Konka resembles a child's sketch of a mountain: a triangular peak of white ice and black rock Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Macfarlane and fellow traveller Erik on the Yulongxi Pass - the land just plunges away from the summit Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Minya Konka monastery, a place of tremendous isolation Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Pilgrims on their way to the monastery Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Pushing on towards the mountain on its main western glacier Photograph: John Miceler
Climbing in China
Leading away from the monastery, muttering mantras, felt like the descent back to earth Photograph: Jon Miceler
Climbing in China
Erik sings his own praises to the mountain Photograph: John Miceler
 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

CAPTCHA

*