Hiking photos - Great Wall Spur, 2009/11/5
We'd originally planned to do the Big Plate Camp hike on the 15th, but a pre-hike scouting trip revealed snow and ice on the narrow and winding roads that lead up to Big Plate, and we decided that we'd be better off doing the Great Wall Spur instead - not quite as difficult as Big Plate Camp, but still a nice stretch of Great Wall, and much safer for everyone!
The roads were snow-free, the weather was clear but cold (about -5°C, not taking into account wind chill), and we were lucky enough to find a nice amount of snow up on the Great Wall.
Statistics for the hike: 3.75 hours in total, with 2.75 hours of walking at approx. 3.1km/h over 7.6km; start height 207m, finish height 291m, highest point 837m (on the wall in the middle of the hike). To reach the first tower, we climbed 549m over 3.8km. Estimated 1,663kCal burned.
The trail was quite steep on the way up.
Almost at the top.
The first tower of the day.
Hikers shelter from the wind in a sunny and dry spot.
The highest point of the hike.
The last stretch of wall we walked on.
More photos from hikes in the news section; more hikes on the upcoming hikes page.

A Great Wall tower near Zhenbiancheng, Hebei Prov.
Recent News and Updates
Hiking photos - Badgers’ Pass and Lotus Pond Overnight, 2010/7/31
Special Trip Photos - Tengger Desert, July 2010
Hiking photos - Walk Down the Incense Trail, 2010/8/8
Hiking photos - Yanqing Great Wall Camping, June 2010
Special Trip Photos - Bashang Grasslands, 2010/06/18
Hiking photos - The Great Flood, 2010/06/06
Special Trip Photos - Alashan Desert, May 1-4, 2010
Hiking photos - Zhenbiancheng and Big Plate Great Wall Challenge, 2010/5/15
Hiking photos - Quarrymen’s Trail to the Ming Tombs, 2010/05/12
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Also in the Resources section
| Wednesday Sep 8 | Silver Pagoda Loop Mid-week |
| Saturday Sep 11 | Round Tower Great Wall |
| Saturday Sep 11 | The Rolling Hills and Empty Lanes |
| Sunday Sep 12 | White River to Sihetang |
| Wednesday Sep 15 | ‘Camp Big Plate’ Great Wall, Route 2 |
| Saturday Sep 18 | Yanqing Great Wall and High Tower Challenge |
| Saturday Sep 18 | Ming Village day trip |
| Sunday Sep 19 | Great Wall Spur |
| Wednesday Sep 22 | Gubeikou to Jinshanling |
| Wednesday Sep 22 | Holiday Hiking and Hot Springs |
| Saturday Sep 25 | Chinese Knot Great Wall |
| Sunday Sep 26 | Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village |
| Wednesday Sep 29 | Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall mid-week |
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