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Talung beckons~


A view from a village called Tingvung in the lower Talung Chu Valley, looking West. On a clear day snows of the Talung and Kangchenjunga can be seen above and beyond these mountains. They seemed to be protecting some sort of mystery from our eyes.I was fascinated by this view in September 2001, when I first visited Tholung Gompa. What the view revealed was important; but what was hidden is vital till this day! I came back to Tholung region and to Kishong la in 2006 and 2007 in 3 almost back to back trips. In those short exploration trips we managed to climb Kishong La, explore Dikithang and found a mountain pass called "Mige La". Yes a pass named after the "Migou" or Yeti. We also did 2 reccee trips into Zumthul Phuk Chu catchment and caught the first glimpse of Rock Needles (6303m)- a peak located on a South Easterly ridge coming from Siniolchu. So much to do and yet so little time!In May 2009, I was planning to repeat the Claude White route. But that trip never materialzed due to other climbing commitments. Our "Expedition to The Sanctuary of Snow 2011" will begin from this view point. This photo was taken by my friend Anirban Bandyopadhyay while we were shooting a documentary in the area in December 2009.

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