Chicham Day 3 - Day of the Blue Sheep

6th February started clear and bright. Our home stay host was also our scanner. He had told us the previous evening, late, that the tracker who had gone towards Langza had spotted a Leopard just over the road. This was just before he started back at sunset.

So, direction was clear. Our guide who had headed down to Rangrk/Lidang to see his kid the previous evening called to tell us he would be in by 0830. And, we could leave as soon as we were ready.

So, depart we did. Before most other vehicles woke up.

That was the other thing. Th Gypsy was a Petrol vehicle. Most other vehicles were diesel - Campers, Innova, Larger Tempo Travellers. All with chains on tyres. But to start, they had a problem. The larger vehicles kept engines running all night - it was cheaper than having a frozen fuel system, from tank to pipes to nozzles. The smaller ones had to use fire to heat their systems.

Got to the junction of Langza Komic turn off. As our guide was checking with the tracker, our porter was scanning the mountain sides. 

As luck would have it, we had Blue Sheep not far away. Standing absolutely still, they looked like the rocks that peppered the mountain side, that could be seen jutting out of the snow.

And, there was no hurry as the trackers was out of phone range.

As we were watching these sheep, the trackers call came thru. They had lost the leopard completely over some stony areas.

By the way, Blue Sheep are NOT Blue.

We decided to head towards Hikkem and Komic. As we started off, a Bolero camper came up. It had some enthusiasts like us, and more trackers. Only difference was that these enthusiasts each owned a bazooka - a big heavy telephoto lens.

On the route we had a fantastic sighting of two pairs of raptors - the Griffin and the Bearded Vulture. A pair of the latter flew not more that 10 meters over our heads. By the time we saw them come, it was too late to get the cameras out.

What we did get a picture of was a mountain side view of Kaza, with it's Ice Hockey field. Believe the sport has become really popular. Not surprised, given the limitations in areas that get frozen for 4 to six months of the year.

The drive to Hikken takes us past a ruined monastery. The place got badly damaged in an earthquake a few hundred years back.

We stopped overlooking the place. Got down to take a walk to an outcrop that gave us a view of the opposite mountain side.

Heading towards the monastery, this is the first thing we saw.

The last two pictures would give you an idea of what tracking is all about. The terrain they move along, the terrain they scan.

The last picture shows a tracker, who had moved from where we were down the mountainside. The previous picture gives a better view of the larger canvas.

These guys are fantastic. The distances they cover is phenomenal. Agreed, they are acclimatized, it is a job. But even then, this is fantastic. Down the side of ridges, perched at edges, climbing heights.

The guide gave me the wheel on a snow covered patch. It was fun. It was different. It was a pain.

First, it was fun with the vehicle moving differently when one wheel got deeper in to snow.

Second, it was different because I have driven in heavy slush. Much the same, but, the feel is different as you are vary of ice.

Third, it was a pain because of two factors. One, the seat was all the way in my knees into the dashboard. Two, the throttle was tied up. So, my feet were actually off the accelerator most of the while. While my knees were at the dashboard. Torture for my thigh.

It was fun !!

Hikkem is the world's highest operational Post Office.  I had been here in November 2022. Letter posted reached. Did it again. Last time had spent hours here drinking Sea Buckthorn tea, accepting the fleecing happening. 

The Hikkem Post Office overlooks the small town, the valley. The sweep is absolutely breathtaking.

Stayed a bit. Listened to a local tell us about the wolves that ran thru the previous day.  And, learnt that the leopard was still missing.

So, headed back to the Kibber area where supposedly a Red Fox was sunning itself.

Got there in good time to see the fox. Took me a while to sight it even though I had a clear idea of the specific area.

Because the Red Fox is NOT Red. It is brown. That brown is the same as the rock it was on. No one told me to look for curves !!!

Took that shot. Not one soul told me the fox was there. They just laughed, waiting for me to make my mark. There were many more pictures of the surroundings. Advantage of digital, where we just delete. But, I will keep them to remind me of camouflage. 

That happened because some ass wanted to get closer to the den. We objected strongly to the locals that if tourists start disturbing wildlife in their locale, they will never ever get a sighting.

The tourist and his porter were ticked off.

Decided this was end of day.

Amazing day.

Our primary reason for braving the weather was the cat. 

But, the food, the people, the terrain, the wildlife we saw, the excitement, and the cold. 

Brilliant stuff.