One of the world’s most remote and extraordinary places, Nepal’s NarPhu valley has everything: stunning scenery, challenging trekking, Tibetan Buddhist culture, Cold War history. And did we mention the snow leopards? A week of wonder in Snow Leopard Fieldwork Diaries 17.
A blow-by-blow account of a week spent in the restricted NarPhu valley searching for snow leopards and their calling cards.
Day 1
Start: Koto 2600m
Finish: Mehta 3560m
Net altitude gain: 960m
Journey time: 8 hours 45 minutes
Armed to the teeth with permits, we were let into the valley by the police without any problems. Immediately a different world: no tourists, no road, hardly any litter. The river gorge we followed was incredible – 1,000m/3,300ft rock walls towering over us on both sides, the sky a sliver of light far above. Sore neck from continually gaping upwards. Below the narrow path a sharp fall to certain death in the ferocious Naar khola (river). Exhausting walk. Out like a light.
Blue sheep, common throughout the valley
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Dr Jonny Hanson 