It’s hard to say when we’ll begin out horse trek. Beatrice is the nearby village of Choklamsar, checking out a horse to buy from a neighbor of our guide and horseman, Namgang. We looked at him yesterday. He appears healthy and well fed, at least, though for some reason would not allow Beatrice anywhere near it’s mouth. She’s down there now seeing if he’ll allow her to look in there, and to saddle him up and see if he’s rideable. She seems to think he’ll be fine. We’re supposed to meet back here in Leh for lunch, if he hasn’t thrown her and broken something. If he is rideable, we’ll leave the day after tomorrow. There is still food to buy, and a few other supplies.
We will rent the other six horses we need from Namgang. Here are some pics of a few of them.
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The red one on the right will be mine. It doesn’t look red in this picture.
This black one was Beatrice’s last year, when she went out for only a month. She was a good horse then, but something is wrong with it’s teeth now, she’s losing weight and is now only suitable as a pack horse.
I was looking for a good trekking map of Ladakh and Zanskar. Maybe you can find one. I’ll continue looking, if I have time, but here is our planned itinerary. We’ll have the horses and supplies trucked about 120 km west to Lamayuru. You can find some pictures of the monastery there if you click on my earlier blog entry from Ladakh last year. From there we’ll climb the mountains to the south and head southeast across the Zanskar River, then go through the Markha River Valley between the Stok and Zanskar mountain ranges which parallel the Himalaya Range to the southwest. I forget which pass Beatrice plans to cross as we continue, but eventually in 3-4 weeks we hope to arrive at Tso Kar. Tso means “lake”. You should be able to find that on a map. It’s just east of the road to Sarchu and Manali. That’s where I plan to leave them. I haven’t decided whether to try to catch a bus or something to Manali, or to return a hundred and something km to Leh. I think I’ll move on to Manali, from where I can get to Delhi/Kathmandu/Tibet. Actualy, I haven’t decided for sure whether to go to Tibet. I’d like to meet up with Betrice when she’s done, but that would give me only 6 weeks to get to Tibet and back. I don’t like quickie trips. I’ll decide later.
I’ve been having terrible trouble with the connection and speed at this and another internet place today, and it’s already time to head for the restaurant where Beatrice and Namgang are supposed to be in a half hour. So, I’m going to take off for there. I’ll try to post something before I leave. If I can’t, I’l talk to you in about a month. Be well, all of you.
It’s cold in them thar hills, so I’m growing my winter coat to go along with my newly purchased fur hat, gloves and booties.
