Thin Air Adventures

Okay, come on back, pull up a chair and settle in! After a several day-long battle our website is once again safe to visit. I’m in the process of implementing various security precautions (some already done) so that this doesn’t happen again. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be making the site pretty again. Please accept my sincere apology for any and all inconveniences! First time I’ve had a website hijacked. Hopefully with the right measures taken it will [...]

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Just got back from the Gorge. Took some clients there. WE CHEATED. I drove them right to the Halfway Guest House. If you don’t have much time its a great option. We arrived in the morning. Hiked down to Tina’s Guest House. After a good plate of noodles, french fries and Coke we hiked back to Halfway to spend the night. The key to the trails is try to avoid hiking in the afternoon l2:00-3:00 if you can. Unlike the [...]

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The bus station in Shangri-la has a notice saying that no foreigners are permitted to travel to Xiang Cheng (乡城）This is NOT true you can travel into that region and there are no checkpoints on the roads to Xiang Cheng, Litang and Kangding. If a ticket agent is not willing to issue you a ticket ask for a supervisor and you should be able to get a bus ticket. Also you can plead with them and say you will bear [...]

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Here is the deal. It more like a puddle now. During the summer the folks there drain out the lake so cattle can graze on the Napa Grasslands. Its still a beautiful place to visit. Lots of picturesque spots to ride around to but if you’re looking for a big lake come back in late October. Also be advised the folks around the lake are probably going to charge you 30-60 RMB for a “scenery fee”. After the last week [...]

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Yep it’s rainy season here.  Here some suggestions for when its just to nasty to be outside. 1. Catch a movie at the theater downtown 2. Go to the Long March Museum by the big Prayer Wheel 3. Try Chinese fast food at Dico’s, surf the web and use one cleanest public restrooms in town. 4. Go to Jin Qiao Market on Dong Wang Street (东旺路）There is a huge meat market there, import vendors, loads of locals selling stuff. 5. [...]

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Here is a picture from last weekend’s ride to the Grasslands.

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Summer time – if you’ve got a bit of time on your hands and your itching to travel then head up to Shangri-la, China NOW! It’s an adventure you’ll not forget. Check out the Old Town and buy a few touristy things – what home is complete without a yak tail duster? Enjoy the largest, most filling western breakfast in all of China at the Compass Cafe! Then head out on one of our mountain biking trips! Our personal trails [...]

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O.K. You want to know what to do in Shangri-la. Here are the top three go to spots. 1. Shika mountain cable cars is my favorite managed place around town. It is pricey at 200 per person but the view at the top on clear day is more than worth it. You can see Meili Snow Mtn. to the North and Yulong Snow Mtn. to the South.  It is usually chilly and windy up there so bring a jacket. If [...]

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Today a friend and I wanted to see how bad the road construction was on the road to Deqin. We were hoping to get to Nixi. I can honestly say that road is a nightmare. Lots of traffic, dust, potholes, loose gravel you get the picture. We me some poor cyclists who were fully loaded and they seemed a bit discouraged about the situation. They were thinking to make it to Deqin in two days. Ah..I doubt that will happen. [...]

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June is a great time to see the countryside here in Shangri-la. We are seeing many varieties of flowers come out now. Although most of the snow is melted on the high peaks the ground beneath your feet is teaming with color. Right now there are bright yellow, purple and red colors lining our bike paths.

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