Woke up to a freezing morning at 6.00am. Today's the day to ascend the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Having breakfast before sunrise and temperature just above freezing point, I prepared to fuel myself to keep warm for the trip. The first stop was to buy entry tickets, A maximum of 10 groups are allowed per day only. The next stop was to buy oxygen cannisters to prevent altitude sickness. Then was the scenic ride on the tour bus to the foot of the mountain. The mountain standing ever so magnificent loomed in the foreground intimidatingly, as if challenging us to take the climb. A brisk walk to the station revealed that it was indeed cold. Ice had formed overnight and the wooden fences and benches were frozen - it looked so pretty with ice crystals glistening under the clear morning sky. The moment had finally arrived as we boarded the world's longest cable car ride. There was no turning back. We had reached the point of no return. The feeling of not knowing what to expect at the top gave an adrenaline rush. The ride which took us 1,200m in 15 minutes was a quick but scenic ride. On the way up we saw the topography change from coniferous forest to grey stone, snow covered slopes and finally the jagged mountain peaks. In the distance were other peaks of the Himalayan ranges breaking the blue horizon like the ridges of a dragon's back. Once we reached the top and made our way through the droves of tourists out into the open, the immediate effect of the crisp, fresh, cold mountain air could be felt. With 6 layers of clothing, a hunter cap and a woolen scarf to protect me from the elements, I could still feel the chill while snapping away happily in the cold with my camera, admiring in awe the breath-taking views from mountain top.
The strong wind blew snow from the higher peaks onto us. It looked like white dust and it felt so soft and powdery. Looking down from the vantage point, one has got to feel a tinge of vertigo when looking down into the steep drop-offs below. After spending almost an hour up in the cold, it was time to descend before the symptoms of altitude sickness could manifest into more serious conditions. Although a little short of breath from either the thin air or sheer excitement, it was nevertheless an unforgettable memory. Pictures cannot describe the thrill of the moment, and even while penning this down on hotel paper, I still feel a bit queasy and out-of-breath. Perhaps I am just reliving the feeling of being up 4,500m armed with nothing more than warm clothing and an oxygen cannister to keep me alive...
Woke up to a freezing morning at 6.00am. Today's the day to ascend the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Having breakfast before sunrise and temperature just above freezing point, I prepared to fuel myself to keep warm for the trip. The first stop was to buy entry tickets, A maximum of 10 groups are allowed per day only. The next stop was to buy oxygen cannisters to prevent altitude sickness. Then was the scenic ride on the tour bus to the foot of the mountain. The mountain standing ever so magnificent loomed in the foreground intimidatingly, as if challenging us to take the climb. A brisk walk to the station revealed that it was indeed cold. Ice had formed overnight and the wooden fences and benches were frozen - it looked so pretty with ice crystals glistening under the clear morning sky. The moment had finally arrived as we boarded the world's longest cable car ride. There was no turning back. We had reached the point of no return. The feeling of not knowing what to expect at the top gave an adrenaline rush. The ride which took us 1,200m in 15 minutes was a quick but scenic ride. On the way up we saw the topography change from coniferous forest to grey stone, snow covered slopes and finally the jagged mountain peaks. In the distance were other peaks of the Himalayan ranges breaking the blue horizon like the ridges of a dragon's back. Once we reached the top and made our way through the droves of tourists out into the open, the immediate effect of the crisp, fresh, cold mountain air could be felt. With 6 layers of clothing, a hunter cap and a woolen scarf to protect me from the elements, I could still feel the chill while snapping away happily in the cold with my camera, admiring in awe the breath-taking views from mountain top.
The strong wind blew snow from the higher peaks onto us. It looked like white dust and it felt so soft and powdery. Looking down from the vantage point, one has got to feel a tinge of vertigo when looking down into the steep drop-offs below. After spending almost an hour up in the cold, it was time to descend before the symptoms of altitude sickness could manifest into more serious conditions. Although a little short of breath from either the thin air or sheer excitement, it was nevertheless an unforgettable memory. Pictures cannot describe the thrill of the moment, and even while penning this down on hotel paper, I still feel a bit queasy and out-of-breath. Perhaps I am just reliving the feeling of being up 4,500m armed with nothing more than warm clothing and an oxygen cannister to keep me alive...
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