leaves us with a mission to do............

Located in Northwestern Tibet, the Chang Tang Wildlife Preserve is the second largest wildlife preserve on Earth. Some 300,000 square kilometers of Tibet's wilderness have been protected by the preserve since it was created in 1993. Chang Tang is one of the last undisturbed range lands in the world, and several endangered species inhabit the area. Among them is the chiru...

A chiru is a species of antelope native to the Tibetan Plateau. They inhabit China's Tibetan Autonomous Region (especially Chang Tang), along with neighboring Xinjiang Province and Qinghai Province.

Chang Tang Preserve itself is fascinating. Most of it rests at an altitude of between 14,500 feet and 16,500 feet, though there are a number of peaks over 20,000 feet. There are no forests because of the altitude and the land is too cold for farming.

Besides chirus, the preserve is inhabited by yaks, Tibet's wild ass, blue sheep, gazelles, the common wolf, brown bears, the lynx, snow leopards, foxes and rabbits. Only the wolf is not legally protected.

About half of the preserve is alpine steppe, but there is also bare rock and glacier land that supports almost no vegetation. And there is desert in the north of the preserve.

National Geographic Radio Expedition recent sent a team to Chang Tang in search of the birthing ground of the migratory chiru.

Chiru are endangered in part because of the fine quality of their wool; a shawl made of chiru wool can sell for as much as $15,000 U.S.

The chiru has been studied in depth. But until now one great secret remained: no one had been able to determine where female chiru go each year to give birth.??

Probably the only biker to cover the world the full way round! Definately a guru for this trip - In fact i wonder if he would be interested in joining us?

http://www.jupitalia.com

A ride through tibet on cycles....more at: http://www3.utsidan.se/corax-e/ct2003.htm

In 1997 I took my first ride on the Chang Tang. I was there in the winter time and only cycled a bit in the outskirts of it. I really got intrigued by the vastness, desolation and grandeur of nature. An obsession was born.

Year 2000 it was time for a crossing of the whole plateau from the north to the south. Due to incorrect route descriptions from a wannabe mountain guide/expedition leader, we ended up being stuck in the northern parts of the Kunlun mountain range for two weeks. No way to even get up unto the plateau.

In the year of 2002, we tried again. First we wanted to make some “warm-up” cycling. We planned to go along the standard route from Kashi/Kashgar on the Xinjiang highway onto the plateau and over the Kerriya Shankou/Pass. We did, but underestimated the difficulties and we ended up in a very dangerous situation in areas where for example great explorer Sven Hedin had had to turn around. Bowen, another explorer lost many men there and we were actually happy to get out of it alive. After that episode, we were in no condition to continue with our plan to cross the whole of the Chang Tang, but as a reward we had made the first un-supported crossing of the Kerriya-route.

2003. Still obsessed with the idea, we made another try. Started from Gansu province and continued through the high altitude deserts of Qinghai province. Had some minor trouble with “forbidden areas” due to oil prospecting and lost contact with an expedition member because of Chinese protective interests.

More from the NGC assignment...

At first glance it looked like a herd of cattle had preceded us on the Chang Tang, but those mounds are actually dwarf shrubs. When we cut one open, it had 50 rings, which means that in half a century it had grown no bigger than a cow pie.

This was our logistical challenge: to trek across 275 miles (442 kilometers) of the northern Chang Tang—a lonely, often hilly steppe—with no opportunity to resupply. Inspired by the overland sledges used by polar explorers, we designed a ricksha that could carry our tents, sleeping bags, clothes, and camera gear, plus a slingshot, bear mace, and four celebratory cans of beer. Three prototypes and almost $20,000 later, we took delivery of four aluminum rickshas. They handled pretty well, but could have used a few extra horsepower.

An NGC article on Chang Tang and the endagered antelope

Proposal of new route

After a breif consulation and discussion i feel the new route is "HELL" and so much more interesting and exploratory!

Such an expedition is easier to sell and hencve easier to raise funding fo. much of this terrai is going tobe off road - or on a road which is non existent. its going to be challenge on man and machinery! Leaving us with a huge task ahead - hey but thats what we are here for!

what if we changed the route a bit - and avioded Kailsh/Mansarovar -

...... and instead headed more north into TIbet - going on the road to Quinghai province - and then turning off to cut right accross the famous 'chang - tang' valley (a cold desert with lost of wildlife)...

....... and then come down to Rutok - then - Ali (Shiquanhe) head south along NH 219 to Gartok and then hopefully eneter india via the indus.

Anything is possible! After seeing the images of 'Chang tang' and reading about it in the NG MAG - its got me thinking..

A bird's eye view of the kailash area

Back on the Aksai Chin Road!

Back on the road again! At MT. Everest (EBC)

MT.Everest!

Some images of the highest point on earth we shall view along the way! Quit thrilling...

The Aksai Chin road!

Courtesy Rediff.com Date: Unknown

A condominium for Aksai Chin would not face many of the challenges that other condominiums had to confront. First and foremost, nobody lives permanently on the high plateau. Therefore, there is no question of stakeholders other than the two States: India and China. Secondly, no natural resources such oil, minerals have been discovered so far, therefore there is no need for a complicated sharing mechanism.

The trickiest issue to solve would be the right to transit across the region. China would continue to have the same facilities that she is presently enjoying. In the future, it is essential for India to reopen the trade route to Kashgar through the Karakoram Pass. Though technically this route is not cutting through the occupied area, this provision would have to be included in a general settlement.

A few weeks ago, China Daily mentioned that a similar solution was proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the seventies for the disputed Diaoyu Islands between Japan and China, 'to promote friendly relations and pursue a win-win compromise with Japan, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping proposed the two countries seek common exploitation of the islands while shelving disputes over the ownership of them.'

With the Aksai Chin issue solved, many other issues could fall into place. The others sectors of the border would be comparatively easier to sort out.

Another advantage for both India and 'Tibet's Region of China' would be that the old trade route between Leh and Gartok could be immediately reopened and subsequently the pilgrimage road to Kailash-Mansarovar. It would be a great boon for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims who would be able to travel by car in two days from Leh to the sacred mountain.

The main question remains: is the time ripe for settlement?

THE TRIBUNE - Leh, June 18

Leh, June 18
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said the state government was planning to open a land route to Kailash Mansarovar via Ladakh and he would soon take up the issue with the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence.

“The route to Mansarovar via Ladakh will be easier than the existing one through Uttaranchal and will also boost the economy of the region,’’ Mr Sayeed told reporters on the sidelines of the Sindhu Darshan festival here.

“The state government will soon raise the issue with the Centre and urge it to consider the proposal urgently which will not only provide succour to thousands of pilgrims but also develop the region,’’ the Chief Minister said.

Dismissing allegations that the ongoing Sindhu Darshan festival had failed to attract tourists as in previous years, Mr Sayeed said domestic and international tourists had arrived in large numbers. However, the rescheduling of the festival due to government formation and the Lok Sabha session might be responsible for the decline in the number of tourists. The three-day festival, which began today in a picturesque location along the banks of the Sindhu, was earlier scheduled for June 11-13.

However, unlike previous years, the festival did not begin with puja being offered to the river by a host of Central Ministers and locals were of the opinion that this would ensure more participation by the locals especially Buddhists.

Describing Ladakh as an all-season tourist destination, Mr Sayeed said apart from pilgrimage tourism the region had tremendous potential for advance tourism. “The state government will also take up the issue of starting trekking for tourists in the region with help from the Defence Ministry.’’

Zoom into the border

This entry into india is to be opened hopefully soon, as it creates another way of access to Mansarovar and Kailash much to the delight of the tour operators. There exists a road - so i hope we get permission!