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The Mengke
Glacier, China
The
Touming Mengke Glacier lies in the Laohu Valley of Subei
County in China's Gansu Province and has been listed in
the National Geographical Journal of China as one of the
country's six most beautiful glaciers. It has also been
described by Gansu authorities as "easy to approach and
climb", and, although the glacier may be a spectacular
attraction, not much about experiencing it can be
described as easy.
This 10.1 kilometer long and 21.9 kilometer square
glacier lies on Daxue Mountain and is the biggest valley
glacier in the both Qilian Range and in Northern China.
It is, however, in a rather remote area and can only be
reached through a complicated combination of flights and
dirt track routes. The glacier's summit is 5,481m above
sea level, and those tourists intent on climbing it
usually make an initial stop at the base camp, which, at
4,200m above sea level, is taller than many mountains.
As the base camp is so high, tourists may find
themselves experiencing difficulties in acclimatizing to
the area even before they have begun the climb. The
local tour guides are also somewhat unpredictable and
may or may not show up.
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The 1,281m climb from base camp to the glacier's summit
is not technically difficult, and climbers can set up
any number of high camps to break the journey. The
glacier's snow covering is, however, notoriously
powdery, and the going can get very tough with climbers
easily becoming tired. Climbers can usually walk most of
the way up to the summit, although ropes would be
recommended in wetter areas. Crevasses are another
potential hazard, and climbers must be on the lookout
for them at all times. Natural glacial features also
include ice cracks, holes and falls, which can also be
somewhat hazardous if the climber is not prepared for
them.
Although the glacier, which has been described as arid,
is extremely stable and exhibits an average annual
retreat of under one meter, tourists are not encouraged
to visit or climb it during July and August as it is
then that the glacier will undergo its annual thaw. The
best time to visit the Touming Mengke Glacier is between
September and May, and guided tours are available.
Climbing Touming Mengke Glacier is a breathtaking
experience - often literally and figuratively - and,
although the journey may be difficult and dangerous at
times, it is well worth it.
Copyright
2006 Jan Snellmann |