We decided to climb up for a while because from the map reading, the river became very narrow and the contour line was so dense. It was a smart decision.We saw this beautiful canyon from the mid-slope of the mountain. We were sure the Japanese team didn't see this canyon because they traversed way too high and nothing was mentioned in their record. We would be in big trouble if we were down there.
It's a two pitch rappel. The first rappel started 60 degree, then vertical, and then overhanging. I was cursing all the way down because my pack got stuck several times. (Its a hassle trying to bushwhack while rappleing down.) We were so lucky to find a small ledge for six of us to rest and hide from the falling rocks. The rope got stuck 5 meters above us when we tried to pull it down. Yang-Sheng went up and recovered the rope. This is the second rappel..Totally 80 meters.
What a amazing creature of Mother Nature.. standing there alone against the flow for hundred of years. It looked smaller in the distance, but when we approached closer, it was really big. Standing at the base of it, the rock merged into the icy water, almost looked like a iceberg. The surroundings was unusually unfamiliar, we all felt something was missing. Yes, the sound of water flowing down was gone. It was extremely quiet. You can hear bird twittering in the valley. The water was still, nothing was moving. You can see through it down the bottom. it's about 5 meters deep. We were all stuned by what we saw. Silence.

Min-Lin was the first guy swam across the river. He pulled five of us over at the same time. We called it " Locomotive". I was the last person and took this picture. The lovely sunshine lied ahead. After shivering all morning, we all craved the comfort of light and heat.

Five people plus five huge backpacks equal very very heavy!

He stopped pulling and leaved us freezing in the water. He was screeming " You guys were so heavy, let me take a break! "Of couse we knew he did that purposely and threw him in the water after we got there.

 

California (his new nickname) is the youngest member in the team, but also a avid climber and good swimmer. Regardless the freezing water, he jumped in, swam, climbed, and pulled us over.

 

 

It was diffucult to climb up when the water was pounding you and your body was freezing. The more diffucult thing was trying to haul the backpacks up againt the current.

 

When we arrived here, it's around 3:30. We were stuck between a 40-meter pool and this. We were lucky to find a small flat area for the night, and set up the rope before dark. The first thing in the morning was jump into the icy water, traverse this beautiful blue rock with Jumar

 

 

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