Hiking photos – High Tower hike, 2012/03/31

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It was a windy day back in March when we did the High Tower hike, a great challenging hike in the hills north-west of the city.

The first half of the hike was toughest, a long climb up winding hill trails—we started at an altitude of 500m, and walked about 6km all the way up to the 1,440m High Tower.

The weather was chilly and the wind was strong, conditions that felt very suitable for the rugged and remote area.

We stopped for a break at the top, and then headed down the other side, following a trail through a dry, waving grass and crossing the Beijing-Hebei border on the way down to the village where we finished.

To top things off, we enjoyed a delicious countryside food at the end, a perfect end to a great day.

the back mountain, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city', March31,2012

Getting started on the hike.

the snow and ice, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

Some ice from the big freeze in winter was still left over in the valley .

the Great Wall, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

Halfway up the hill, we spotted the line of Great Wall in the distance.

the curved uphill, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

The High Tower is on an exposed peak, and from the photo you can see how windy it was!

the wind, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

We followed the wall up to the highest point.

our guide, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

Super-guide Yanjing, and the hikers taking a snack break.

running down to the hill, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

After snacks, we headed downhill through the grass.

the mountains, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

Down the bottom, the reservoir above the village where we'd finish.

Reservoir, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

A thick sheet of ice covers this reservoir in winter; some ice still hadn't melted.

the foot-binding woman, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

The lady on the left told us that she's more than ninety, and we think must be one of the few remaining people with bound feet.

Local people, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

Locals point the way to the village temple, where an opera performance was scheduled.

having fun, Beijing Hikers Chang Yucheng 'Long valley city',March31,2012

There was still time for a bit more exercise before we headed back to the city.