Cave village.Ola had mentioned a cave village within a hiking distance of Getu, apparently something worthy of a BBC travel special from many years earlier. We were intrigued and more than willing to spend a day hiking, especially since day 3 was quite rainy. A multi-hour trek through the mountains and a couple of relatively unspoiled villages (wood as opposed to concrete structures) as well as a stunning natural arch brought us to the village of Zhong Dong. Pretty incredible really – a dozen or so of roofless houses and even a basketball court all contained within a huge natural limestone cave. Shot a ton of photos and enjoyed a lunch courtesy of some enterprising villagers.
.
Clean Heel.On the final day in Getu, we climbed a short (~80 meter) but 4-pitch line called Clean Heel (6b) on the Left Of Red Wall. OK if somewhat forgettable climbing. The most memorable part was finding a snake skin in a pocket on the final pitch. Did a lot of knocking and checking before putting my hands where I couldn’t see them after that. On that final evening in Getu we got a nice surprise back at the hotel when the owners decided to turn on the water for us – not only could we take a shower but it was also surprisingly warm. A going away present!
Photos
A farmer walking his bird and his cattle in Getu (Sept. 2016).A girl trying to board the ferry with her scooter (Sept. 2016).A girl and her scooter (Sept. 2016).Trying to be gentlemanly (Sept. 2016).Ola and Shirley on our hike up to the cave village above Getu (Sept. 2016).Entering the first Miao village (Sept. 2016).A Miao woman in a village we passed through (Sept. 2016).Good looking mutts in the village (Sept. 2016).A man and his bird (Sept. 2016).A woman with her piglets and dogs (Sept. 2016).A beehive in the village (Sept. 2016).Another resident of the village (Sept. 2016).A youngin’ in the same Miao village (Sept. 2016).Wildlife (Sept. 2016).Hiking through the semitropical landscape (Sept. 2016).Admiring the village (across the valley) we had just left (Sept. 2016).Continuing the hike (Sept. 2016).Corn and peppers drying (Sept. 2016).Randomness (Sept. 2016).Traditional villages and stunning natural landscapes – a great hike! Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Approaching an arch (Sept. 2016).The already scenic hike goes through this amazing arch (Sept. 2016).Two wankers posing in the same arch. Very cool photo by Ola!Local landscape. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Shirley and Ola on the final stretch of our hike to the cave village (the obvious one in the photo).The cave village. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Arriving in the cave village of Zhong Dong (Sept. 2016).Village life. Click for a video panoramic (Sept. 2016).Wankers in the village. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).More wanders (Sept. 2016).From the inside looking out. The building on the left is the village school (Sept. 2016).Ola and the artist behind those wood carvings (Sept. 2016).A Miao couple and their home inside the cave village (Sept. 2016).Shirley, Ola and some corn (Sept. 2016).Happy times! Enjoying some beers in the cave village. What a great day (Sept. 2016).…and even a light lunch was served (Sept. 2016).More lunch scenes because frankly that’s way more interesting than climbing photos. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Junior is rocking split crotch pants…all the rage among many toddlers in China apparently. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Shirley and I on the basketball court in the center of the cave village…pretty surreal. Photo credit goes to Ola (Sept. 2016).Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Village inhabitants (Sept. 2016).A curious kid in the cave village (Sept. 2016).Cave village. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).Ola and Shirley hiking out of the village (Sept. 2016).Beautiful Guizhou province (Sept. 2016).Hiking back to Getu (Sept. 2016).A farmer and his cow tilling a small field (Sept. 2016).Village kids (Sept. 2016).Ola called us a ride for the final road section of the hike back to Getu. The kid behind the wheel was like 12 years old…Hiking up to the Left Of Red Wall with CMDI Wall (left) and the beautiful Pussa Yan in the background. Who damaged the road? Shirley? Ola?Cannot have a vacation without at least some bushwhacking (Sept. 2016).Leading pitch 1 of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).Shirley on pitch 2 of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).Pitch 2 top out (Sept. 2016).Starting up the 4th and final pitch of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).A bit of a surprise in a pocket on pitch 4 of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).Nearing the top (Sept. 2016).Muggy views from high on the climb (Sept. 2016).Shirley on the fourth and final pitch of Clean Heel (Sept. 2016).An interesting boulder near the base of Left Of Red Wall (Sept. 2016).Left Of Red Wall (Sept. 2016).Hiking back (Sept. 2016).Pussa Yan (center), CMDI Wall, and Oliver’s Crag (in foreground) on the left in profile (Sept. 2016).Graffiti (?) at the base of Oliver’s Crag (Sept. 2016).
