22 | TRAVEL HIMALAYA SPRING 2019 http://www.travelhimalayamagazine.com
A SHORT WALK IN THE ROLWALING VALLEY
The deeper you walk and ascend into the valley; the
hills start to give way to mountains. Trees give away
to sparse vistas, too steep for major vegetation or
trees to grow.ROLWALING HIMAL
INCLUDES
MELUNGTSE
7181M AND
MELUNGTSE II
7023M
INSIDE TIBET AND
GAURISHANKAR
7134M
ON THE NEPAL
BORDER WITH SOME
50 ADDITIONAL
PEAKS OVER
6000M,
QUICK FACTSIt is while walking around Simigaon; we get
one of the biggest shocks of the trip. All of a
sudden an almighty deep blast echoes around the
valley, we immediately look up on the look for the
landslide that caused the noise. Thunda laughs;
it is just the blasting they are doing in Lamo
Bagar hydropower. Ever since the earthquake
such noises take on increased importance.
Feeling equally relieved and foolish we move on.
We come across the old campsite in Simigaon,
which closed its doors after being destroyed in
the earthquake and its remains now lie scattered
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our tent outside Thundas house while the rain
comes in, quickly followed by snow on the higher
hills. After eating and having numerous cups
of tea in his house, we return to our tent for an
early night with the aim to reach Bedding, snow
dependent, the next day.
Waking at 7 am we saw the snow had all
but melted apart from right on the hilltops
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drank our tea and collapsed our tent, the early
morning clouds had cleared and we were left
with a beautifully crisp, clear morning with the
sun glistening off the snow covered hills. Before
leaving and with promises of chang upon our
return, Thunda gave us the name of a family
member in Bedding he recommended we stay
with, if necessary.
From Simigaon to Surmuche, we left the
terraces and climbed steeply along an exposed
ridgeline before following the trail into the
woods. The forest was a thick green, with dark
green moss covering the rocks, which contrasted
sharply with the deep blue river. Steep stone
steps carved into the mountainside made the
majority of the initial trail which penetrates
through the forest. Climbing the trail on the
right side of the Rolwaling valley, we see a small
village directly opposite us; or rather we hear it
before we can see it. Loud music, shouting and
singing, and other stranger, possibly alcohol
induced, sounds can be heard, and it’s not even
eight in the morning yet.
The trail walks up high on the right side of
the valley, with trees swallowing up the views
of the river at the bottom, allowing you to lookonly straight or behind. The deeper you walk and
ascend into the valley; the more the hills start
to give way to mountains. Trees give away to
sparse vistas, too steep for major vegetation or
trees to grow. As the wind picks up barrelling
off all sides of the valley and the temperature
begins to drop we know we are leaving the hills
behind. The valley, hemmed in on either side
by mountains boasts some absolutely stunning