Trek and Climb with RAJA

Expedition Mayel Lyang 2011: we were to find trails for another 2 days after leaving Sakyong (10 March), the last lepcha habitation in upper Dzongu. Unfortunately this trail ( a very faint one and vanishing intermittently) is made by poachers! We stumbled upon one of their cave shelters on the true left of Rongyoung Chu. There we found freshly stored rice, dal, sugar, salt, tea leaves. Ration stocked for the poachers living there! And we found freshly slaughtered remains of Himalayan Tahr. Posting one such image here. May be its time the Forest Department of Sikkim wake up and send their uniformed, pot bellied guards patrolling the hills. Long Live Pawan Chamling! So much for politics and raping our planet!

The first view of Kangchenjunga South Summit (8491m) and Peak 7730m on its East Ridge. Tongshiong Glacier is seen in the centre below Kangchenjunga. The Expedition got this view on the 8th day of their march up the gorges of Rongyoung and Rukel Chu starting from the Lepcha village of 6th Mile, in Dzongu, North Sikkim. Photo: Anindya Mukherjee Expedition Mayel Lyang 2011: A brief report Inspirations In 1888, after the outbreak of the Sikkim-Tibet war, John Claude White was sent as the Assistant Political Officer to Sikkim. The following year he was offered the post of Political Officer in administrative charge of State of Sikkim. In 1890, He made one of his first expeditions crossing the Guichala. He crossed Guichala, went down to Talung glacier (which he referred to as the ‘Kangchen’ glacier- source: “Sikhim and Bhutan- Twenty-One years on the North East Frontier 1887-1908- J. Claude White, p-57) and then followed the ‘Talung’ Chu (‘Rungnu’- as per White) Eastwards to Sakyong and final