The rest of our week on the trail was one extended adventure. In addition to what under any circumstances would be some tough terrain, we were hiking at around 12,000 feet.
Dave and Jon negotiating a slightly hairy river crossing
Add to the terrain and the altitude the fact that Dad had a really "special" case of whooping cough (although we didn't know that yet) and a local GI problem....we were left with faces like these:
Joking aside, Dad did absolutely amazing given the altitude, whooping cough, and that he has nearly 40 years on us! As you'll hear about when I write about the portion of the trip with Jon (once I came down with whooping cough) I didn't do anywhere near as well as Dad did.
Dad in good form!
Unfortunately, there were also moments when we just needed to rest as Dad's coughing fits were pretty scary.
Dad laying on a log while Jon provides some bluegrass to take his mind off the cough.
Aside from those not so happy moments, there were also some really sweet guys moments
Dad, Jon, and Dave enjoying a hug up at the top of Pho La (La means pass) (12,000 feet or so)
Along the way we saw absolutely amazing natural scenery and cultural relics. An example of a cultural artifact is the mani wall. These walls dot the landscape in Ladakh and from far away look like a small stone wall, maybe 100 feet long by six feet wide.
Mani wall from above
Dad hiking by a mani wall-you must always pass with it your right!
To the best of my knowledge, these mani walls are essentially religious penances that wealthy businessman (who seem to always need to do penance) would pay to have constructed by Buddhist monks. They're called mani walls because they are covered in stones that are carved with the repeating phrase "Om mani padmi om".
Mani wall stone close up
Mani wall close up 2
Jon and Dad checking out Mani wall
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