Day 3: The Great Wall of China!!!!!!!!

Breathtaking. Stunning. Utterly amazing.

I HIKED ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA,!!

Sections of this wall date back to 700 BC.  Built over the centuries by several dynasties to protect their lands from invaders, the wall snakes over the mountain crest for over 7000 kms. I hiked a mere 7 1/2 km but it feels like a monumental feat, an accomplishment.

I am glad I chose to do this hike versus the more touristy tours nearer to Beijing. Here the wall is more authentic, it's just about the history and the wall itself, not all the crowds of people and souvenir stands. And because it is past the busy tourist season there was just me and my guide, Tao. We met several other small groups along the way and passed a school group. There was a young lady from Poland who was challenging her fear of heights. And a young man, English speaking, possibly US, who couldn't overcome the dizziness and had to turn back. A young couple from UK and Australia and a sixty something woman from the US who were doing a 2 day trek where they would see the sunrise and sunset over the wall.

First we had to drive about 140 kms out of Beijing where we would enter the wall at the village of Samatai. The wall here is virtually unrestored, closed in some areas because it is too treacherous. But first you have to get onto the wall. That involved an hour long hike virtually straight up because, after all, the wall is along the top of the mountain ridge. This was probably the hardest part of the hike. Setting out from Beijing the smog hung low over the city, but by the time we got onto the wall the smog was more distant and we had a pretty good day with some blue sky and only a light smog.

I will never forget the first moment I stepped through the watchtower onto the wall and saw the wall snaking off in either direction as far as the eye could see. The trail undulates up and down along the crest of the mountain ridge. Steep, narrow trails up to a watchtower where guards would have watched for invaders, followed by very steep and narrow steps down the other side. Some sections were crumbly and you had to pick your way carefully down, others where it was less steep were like steeply sloping pathways of ancient brick.

We hiked past or through 15 watchtowers winding our way toward the village of Jinshaling where the wall is more restored and there area more developed, with a few restaurants and a hotel and few local farmers selling trinkets along the walkway.

It was an amazing, humbling day that will stay with me for a long time. It was a tick off my bucket list, but much more. A journey into ancient history, a tribute to what man without today's technology can build, and how that can endure over the centuries. A physical and mental challenge. And mostly defying turning sixty.

A great day!

Today my legs are stiff and a bit sore and I am off to Bangkok for the next part of my journey. I am very excited!    Come With Me.......