Karakoram Highway

Heading south from Kashgar is the famed Karakoram Highway (KKH), which takes to the border with Pakistan. Sam, myself and a third found a driver and hit the road for an overnight down on the KKH.

As we drove south out of Kashgar, we saw some beautiful red mountains.

Everything is BIG here.  Here's a HUGE alluvial fan.

But it was these mountains that were our goal.  They kept getting closer and closer.

The KKH winds through some narrow valleys, which are prone to rock slides, which close the road.  We got stuck in an hour long wait as a slide had reduced two lanes to one.

So, you just get out of the car...

....and take a look at the scenery.

Here is Kongur Tagh, the highest mountain wholly within Xinjiang Province.  It stands 7,719 meters tall, or 25,324 feet above sea level.  And yes, the weather was this gorgeous.  Clear, crisp and not freezing cold.

Heading south, we came upon "Sand Lake" (not sure if that's the actual name.  But you'll see it's surrounded by sand dunes.

Sam, myself and our new friend Valentina.  She is Italian and has lived in China for seven years.  She speaks better Chinese than me!

There are many police stops along the KKH.  I gather most are simply to keep track of who's coming in and out of what is a politically sensitive border region.  You'll notice that on the bottom right it points towards the China-Pakistan boundary.  Never thought I would get so close to Pakistan.

Heading south, our southernmost point (and closest to Pakistan) was Tashkurgan.  At this pass, it is the geographic and cultural break with mostly Kyrgyz north of the pass and Tajiks south of the pass.

Here's a map to give you an idea of where we were in the world.  Seriously, this part of China is only China on a technicality.

Taskurgan!!

Looking west from Tashkurgan is the eastern Pamir mountains.  Over those mountains....Tajikistan.

The Tajiks have a myth that they are "descendants of eagles" therefore this statue in the center of the town of Tashkurgan.

Sam on the ruins of the old fort.  Apparently scenes from the movie "The Kite Runner" were filmed here.

The grasslands!! Apparently in the summer, when the grass is high and the wildflowers are in bloom it's spectacular.  Still, I was pretty happy with what we saw.

Heading back towards Kashgar, we stopped and stayed the night along the shore of Karakul Lake (around 3,600 meters or 11,811 feet above sea level).

Karakul Lake with Muztagh Ata (7,546 meters or 24,757 feet above sea level) in the distance.  Muztagh Ata is second in elevation to Kongur Tagh.

Locals set up yurts to house tourists for the night.  We also got dinner.

A wonderful meal cooked here in the yurt.  Proof that good cooking doesn't need fancy machines, just a solid stove and basic utensils.

Our driver in the blue jacket.

Sam and Valentina with our bedding behind.  Sleeping in a yurt means sleeping on pads on the floor with think covers.

Dusk and the last light on Muztagh Ata

FULL MOON!!!!