Training Log Archive: inuksuk

Shaxi to Mapingguan. Awesome mission. A bit of a slog west of Shaxi on the ancient tea-horse trading route. Mapingguan remains a small, isolated village in the mountains surrounded by pines and poplars. They have electricity, but no roads. They have a cell phone tower (but then again every place in China does) and an impressive network of horse tracks. There are something around 30 families, a temple and a seemingly pointless, but quaint covered bridge.

On the climb, we met an old woman who had been to the market that morning. She was returning home with a huge basket supported by a single hemp strap pressed over her forehead. She had a wonderful wisdom and wit about her. While we marveled at her load, she couldn't stop laughing at us on our bikes -- she told us we were the first vehicles with wheels to arrive in Mapingguan, a town that has no less than a 500 year history.

Up to the saddle with Viv and La -- tried to locate a section of the track that has some ancient log corduroy sections, but we can up empty. Enjoyed the views and headed back. Decided to stay with one of the families in the village.

Jianchuan > Shibaoshan > Shaxi

Movie town with Viv.

Southern spur with La and Viv.

Around Zhongdian

Bus to Zhongdian

Heihai with La and Viv.