Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Photos from a long hike along a rough but pretty line of Great Wall in Beijing’s northwest—half recently repaired, the other half unrestored and wild.

Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18
Views of the mountains and the wall, midway on the Switchback hike.
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Just north of Beijing is the Badaling Great Wall, a very famous and very touristy section that is visited by millions every year. We drive right past Badaling on the way to the Switchback hike, which is just a few mountains further west and typically totally free of people.

So close, yet so different!

On this visit we had superb weather – a little hot, but we’re happy to be a little hot if the skies are as clear as this.

After a short climb uphill we were on the wall - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

After a short climb uphill we were on the wall.

We've seen this flower a lot recently, and looked up the name: Low Lily - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

We've seen this flower a lot recently, and looked up the name: Low Lily.

Just the big blocks of the wall's foundation are left here - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Just the big blocks of the wall's foundation are left here.

Looking back down the trail - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Looking back down the trail.

Super hiker Dennis - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Super hiker Dennis.

Continuing up along the wall after passing through a tower - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Continuing up along the wall after passing through a tower.

Framed in the archway - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Framed in the archway.

More views of mountains - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

More views of mountains.

Another look back along the wall - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Another look back along the wall.

We climbed on top of this tower. What goes up must also come down! - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

We climbed on top of this tower. What goes up must also come down!

The wall got steeper as we continued - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

The wall got steeper as we continued.

Looking back again - the tower at the top left is the one we climbed on top of earlier - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

Looking back again - the tower at the top left is the one we climbed on top of earlier.

On to the recently restored section, even higher than before - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

On to the recently restored section, even higher than before.

A steep descent this time, and then we were finished - Switchback Great Wall, 2016/06/18

A steep descent this time, and then we were finished.

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