28 January 2018, Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India

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It was decided that we should move camp up river to the mouth of the side valley that heads to the village of Rumbak.  This afforded different opportunities to look for snow leopards and offered better vistas.

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One gas bottle to be loaded on the right side of a pony.

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Another one coming up…

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… to be loaded on the left side.

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And off they go…

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They know the way…

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…and in any case there’s only one path.

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Crossing the river over a small bridge

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Now behind the ponies (who walk faster than us), we pass by the frozen waterfall again.

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And I pause for some images of the frozen river.

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A Buddhist flag on a trackside stupa…

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… and more of the inscribed stones.

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It’s a couple of hours walk and we’re getting close now.  A view towards the end of the main valley.

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Jools crossing the ice at the frozen stream beside our destination with the camp starting to take shape in the background.

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The tents are now up and we’re starting to get organised inside them.

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After lunch we take off again in search of snow leopards.  There are other structures than the tents around.

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Maybe all but at least some of these were dwellings because some have chimneys.

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Most appear not to have been in use for a long time.

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We are heading off towards the end of the valley.

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This is the side valley to the left.

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Some more blue sheep are visible though they are not really in focus due to the damage to my long lens.

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Snow leopard paw print!

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Heading back now, there is a row of ancient stupas above the ridge to the left.

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Another old stone shack.

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… and a last view towards the mouth of the valley.

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