May 28th: From Dengba Village to Zuogong, approximately 74 kilometers.
As soon as I left the house today, I started climbing. There was a total of about 40 kilometers of climbing, from Dengba Village at an altitude of more than 3500 meters to Dongda Mountain Pass at an altitude of about 5100 meters, with a total climb of about 1600 meters.
Departure was at 7:55 AM today, with fried rice for breakfast. Besides resting, we’ve been getting up at 6 AM every day, and I’ve been cycling very consciously.
The temperature was 4 degrees Celsius when we set off, which is quite low, but I didn’t feel cold because the altitude here is high and it’s a sunny day. The strong sunlight is very warm on the body.
Today there’s only one goal: to conquer Dongda Mountain.
Some turns are quite sharp, so pay more attention to oncoming traffic.
Based on my recent cycling experience, the longer the mountain climbing road, the more you need to ride slowly to conserve energy. In addition, when climbing, you should also be aware of landslides or falling rocks. Safety first.
Today, on a curved uphill road, I saw a car that had gone off the road at a bend, crashed through the guardrail, and was stuck on the hillside, waiting for rescue.
Ride slowly to save energy and enjoy the scenery. In fact, I pass many people every day and meet many on the road. Sometimes I just say hello and pass by without taking photos. Next time I ride the Sichuan-Tibet line, I will definitely take more videos.
Arrived at the Dongda Mountain Tourism Service Center around 9:10 AM.
When you get to Wuzongzu, it’s downhill from there to the Rongxu Barracks.
The scenery on both sides is still good, going upstream along the stream, with a stream beside the road.
Sun protection must also be done well today, as the sun is fierce and it’s easy to get sunstroke. There is not a single place to cool off by the road, and the whole day is walking under the big sun.
At around 11 o’clock, I caught up with a few uncles who had set off earlier. They were eating watermelon by the roadside. They were two brothers who were driving by themselves and bought watermelon. They called me over to eat. Seeing them waving to me by the roadside, I obediently went over. Eating watermelon in such weather is so refreshing.
When I took this photo, it was exactly 12:05 PM. There were still 11 kilometers to Dongda Mountain Pass. I ate a little snack to replenish my energy.
I saw Tibetan compatriots on the road to pilgrimage, and I did not disturb them.
In addition to the worshippers, there are also soldiers maintaining the 318 National Highway.
There are more than 6 kilometers left to the pass, and you can vaguely see the snow-capped mountain pass in front, which is very close.
When the altitude exceeds 4000 meters, be mentally prepared for cycling against the wind, as there is basically wind at high altitudes.
There are still 4 kilometers to the pass. Stop, rest, eat, and drink water.
The last 3 kilometers are the most difficult to ride, with rain and hail, the altitude is close to 5000 meters, the more you ride, the more effort it takes, and the coughing is getting worse and worse.
There are still 1.4 kilometers left to the pass. I almost used all my strength. The oxygen is too scarce, so I decided to rest for a while. A brother who was driving by himself on the side of the road handed me a bottle of mineral water. I was too embarrassed to refuse, so I accepted it.
At 2:10 PM, I finally arrived at Dongda Mountain Pass, with an altitude of 5130 meters. The first sentence at the pass was a curse: It’s so damn hard, it’s not easy at all.
I have been riding for more than 6 hours since 8 o’clock, and I am very tired and coughing badly. However, I am still relatively fast. There are many cycling friends behind who are working hard to move forward to the pass. I cheer for them.
Like us mountain climbers, there is often no lunch, and when we are hungry, we just eat a few mouthfuls of snacks to continue climbing, trying to save time as much as possible. Therefore, I usually bring at least two days of snacks with me, just in case.
I didn’t stay at the pass for too long, about five minutes, just took a few photos, then put on my fleece jacket and went down the mountain. It was too cold.
It’s a nearly 30-kilometer downhill from the pass to Zuogong County, but the slope is steep at the beginning, and the road is a bit rough. Pay attention to control the speed and don’t fall off the bike.
The archway passed on the downhill, it’s not clear whether it’s a scenic area or something else.
At 3:10 PM, I arrived at the “Welcome to Zuogong” sign, about 8 kilometers away from the hotel. The last 8 kilometers felt a bit tiring too, probably because the dozens of kilometers downhill just now were too refreshing. Suddenly, the downhill was over, and I had to climb uphill again, which felt tiring.
Arrived at the hotel at 3:35 PM, the standard room does not include breakfast and dinner, 80 yuan per person, and an additional 50 yuan for breakfast and dinner. Compared with the previous accommodations along the way, this one is a bit expensive, so I didn’t include breakfast and dinner. I went out to find a restaurant for dinner.
Because my friend is still on his way here, I went to take a shower first and will go out to find a restaurant to eat together when he arrives.
Tomorrow: From Zuogong to Bangda, 104 kilometers, there are no big climbs, basically undulating roads, which may be relatively easier.