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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2018 - 04:30pm PT
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Yes been round Ge'nyen a bit, agree there's heaps to get on, especially from the west.
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johnkelley
climber
Anchorage Alaska
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Nov 23, 2018 - 06:04pm PT
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What’s involved in getting permits? Mandatory LO that accompanies you to basecamp like I’ve heard? Or is there a way around that? What kind of permit prices would someone be looking at? How long does it take to get permits? Visa requirements? Time to get visas? Tell me some more? I’m looking for somewhere to go.
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Nov 24, 2018 - 02:43am PT
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Hmm...
A Chinese visa is easy to get (google it) and you can generally travel on your own in Yunnan, Qinghai and Sichuan (where these photos of the Genyen Region were taken) Tibet is another ballgame. Permits are also another issue.
The Sichuan Mountaineering Association will issue permits to foreign climbers, but the rules and prices change constantly. They sometimes charge ridiculous permit fees, and everyone is trying fill their pockets but they are basically trying to prevent ill prepared (foreign) climbers from getting hurt or killed in the mountains as the upper government has little tolerance for bad PR associated with westerners dying in Chinese mountains.
Also when Charlie and Chris (who didn't get permits) went missing the Chinese government "said" the local monks had something to do with their disappearance and used this excuse to ransack the Lengu monastery, going through all the monks personal belongings. As you can image the monks were not psyched.
Chinese climbers almost never get permits in this area, but if you don't speak Mandarin or are traveling with someone who does your options are pretty limited in terms of "dirt-bagging" up an alpine peak in China. I've done around a dozen trips to explore and climb new routes in the region and most of the time didn't get permits, but my wife is fluent in Mandarin.
If your interested PM me and I can send you some contacts for some Chinese guiding services that handle logistics for foreign climbing teams.
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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2018 - 05:25am PT
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Jk, much like COT says.
Visa you will get easily, sometimes they want proof of flights, hotels etc.
Permits; for the last 10 years I've got them as some places demand them and its worth having the SMC onside. There's been real issues over recent years for those nabbed without them. Depending what you want to climb I maybe be able to slide things thru on some existing permits. Maybe.
LO I get too as I have a good friend who is one, he also translates, does transport, trouble shoots, gets us into and out of places and has encyclopedic knowledge of the region. He goes where he needs to be and climbs a bit, but its not like Pakistan where there's any authority.
Costs depend what you want to climb, how long, altitude etc.
Something to note; its f*#king cold out there now. We've been doing walls and all the gear is reaching the limit of what 2-3 can carry and acclimate nicely. Its 6-7000m gear but no nice BC tents etc, so work with that in mind. Obviously its still dropping too.
What are your ideas?
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johnkelley
climber
Anchorage Alaska
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Nov 24, 2018 - 03:05pm PT
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Hey thanks guys. I’ll try that PM function again. If I won’t work i’ll Leave an email here. Hope you don’t mind if I pick both your brains a little? Thanks a ton
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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2018 - 05:18pm PT
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Jk, sure. Or try me at iceclimbingJapan at hotmail dot com. I'm back out there from the first week of Dec but mostly round till then. After than could do something in Jan.
Re permits, I get that they cost but its kinda the way it goes. Pirate ascents are cool but for serious winter stuff I like the backup smooth logistics. That bit of paper opens doors.
Re getting them, a few days. A friend who's ex SMA so can grease the process.
Search Nakamura's East of the Himalaya for a look at what's out there.
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COT
climber
Door Number 3
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Nov 24, 2018 - 10:00pm PT
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probably easier to contact me at kondus (at) mac (dot) com
The Sigunaing Range 6 hours (if the new road hasn't been washed out) from Chengdu and has been a popular area with local and foreign climbers for decades. Big mountains, aid lines, splitter cracks, alpine ridge and road side ice climbing in the winter. Search the AAJ website and you will find a lot of info. The climbing areas are located within the national park and daily entrance and camping fees are required.
Unfortunately access can be shut down unexpectedly. For example a few years back an ill prepared backpacker died while scrambling. The Park's answer was to close the entire region to everything except day hiking for the next 6 months.
Here are a couple vids I made about the area, the first is in English second Chinese and will give you an idea of the region
https://vimeo.com/155247461
https://vimeo.com/83087677
I agree with ecdh, getting permits is usually the best way to go. Usually they are not cost prohibitive especially on peaks below 6000m. If you do end up going I would recommend trying to support the local Tibetan economy as much as possible. Almost all the money paid to the mountaineering associations and tour operators end up the Chinese pockets leaving the local Tibetans out.
cheers
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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 25, 2018 - 05:54am PT
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COT, siguniang area currently easy access, new road makes it about 4hrs, tunnel open etc. Lodges open inside but need connections to avoid the shuangqiao bus shuffle. Changping mostly good tho siguniangs main sister might be on the list.
Only issue is a few peaks are restricted this year, inc seerdengpu which we tried for. Ice will be fine but peaks will def need permits.
Re spending locally - 100%. Always use locally run hotels and transport, eat in small places, talk direct with locals when in Tibetan areas. Go for a minimal footprint too, slide thru as self supported and low key as possible.
If you have $200 spare, Nakamura's huge book is XXX rated mountain porn.
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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 2, 2018 - 04:04pm PT
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Timely update. I've been hanging out with a guy from the sma who was contacted re a trip we start soon into the minya konka area. Thinking it involved us, there's been concern about some climbers - local and foreign - who've had an accident, without the correct permits in place. Names and details intentionally obscured, but it shows how real the rules are. Not only is the foreign element now in the sh#t, but there's a knock on to other teams. Our paper work is all in order, which is good as its being checked, along with all other teams here right now, including a foreign team who thought they'd go under the radar but now having second thoughts.
Seriously, scenarios like this play out every season. Folks forget how connected China all is, not hard to get spotted on the radar.
More relevant details if I hear any.
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jonnywoodward
climber
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"This defective gear thread has morphed nicely into the China beta thread. :)"
Back OT.
Cat piss. It really does a number on motorcycle tires, too.
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Just a thought...we have that cracking and shite happen around this part of the world not due to the cold, but the opposite-too hot for extended periods of time (even indoors).
I've had shoes delam, soles crack and fall into dust, plastic tubing stiffen up then eventually crack, anything glued fall to pieces...etc. Maybe that?
Or just a bad batch of plastic.
Back to China.
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ecdh
climber
the east
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 7, 2018 - 07:42am PT
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Thanks all. Headed back out tomorrow for another attempt, this time colder and some new cams, so will report on if it happens again.
Watch this space
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