We never thought we would make it to Shishapangma Base Camp!
The idea was to tag along with a climbing expedition, who were planning to climb Shishapangma from the south. We would take the drive to South Base Camp and trek to Advance Base Camp (5400m / 17716ft). Then along came the Chinese and officially closed the mountain to all climbers for the season, citing the mountain is too dangerous to climb. Hmmm – what’s that saying? “The best laid plans of mice and men get led asunder”! Well, how about we drive to the north side. Doable, was the report we got back.
So, driving down a main highway from Tingri , after some 6 hours we reached the turn-off to base camp. Great, we thought, base camp number 6 here we come. Too easy?
Shite, this isn’t going to plan. Firstly, there seemed to be a reluctance with our Tibetan driver to drive the some 20kms along a very rocky and bumpy gravel road from where the bitumen road ended. We were then chased down by the ‘park custodian’ who cut us off in our tracks, gesturing and demanding some 1,000 Chinese yuan for our right of passage. “But it’s normally free to drive to base camp” we protested – obviously not on this day it wasn’t. And so, on we drove.
Reaching Shishapangma North Base Camp (5157m / 16919ft) after around another hour, somewhat shaken, we yelled and screamed at the jubilation of tagging another base camp. But hang on, where is the mountain? The cloud and snow had decided to descend at that very moment, cutting visibility. So no views of Shishapangma unfortunately.
So, after all that, the easy part we discovered, was the drive back to the Tibet/Nepal border. But wait, is that Shishapangma in the distance? Yes it was, finally revealing herself as if to wave us a final goodbye from Tibet.
Onwards and upwards!
Trevor
Insights
- Shishapangma is the 14th highest mountain in the world at 8027m / 26335ft
- It is the only 8,000er that is totally located in Tibet, China.
- There are two base camps, both accessible by road. Shishapangma North Base Camp is the easiest and closest to get to from the main road from Tingri.
- We travelled here as part of our trip across Tibet China which is part of our Project Base8000
- Always have a plan A, B, and C!
- Read how to get to Tibet
[Feature Photo courtesy of Expedition Base]