- Home
- Treks
- Jan 10, 2013
-
-
Email -
Facebook -
Pinterest -
Twitter
-
Tsum Valley Trek 2012 Part 2
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=99f75b3c763701036d6230ef65775f52 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=2a1ccb486efeae24f499b38d69fde8cc 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=65af46def8c4da044a1d017a218a290a 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=63f76f798088b04cd526fdf1bdda3b0c 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=2fa24017b2301e1924ea32bbef20a7a2 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=b807a6a2f6294e861c3e86056e8e90a9 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=0e25659638b4e171f9505d66ebdaa95e 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246504268_c99c5e6379_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=991530ea16712849d4fbd1868d20e780 1024w)
Nuns of Rachen Gompa. Over 80 nuns live here in total. Deana Zabaldo photo
Tsum Valley is a beyul, a sacred Buddhist valley. Killing is prohibited and small monasteries abound. Monks and teachers from Tibet used to come regularly to the valley, and Buddhism has thrived here. In addition to traditional monasteries, every village has a lineage holder (sometimes two). A lineage holder passes Buddhist teachings and scriptures down from father to son instead of training someone else. They hold special teachings and knowledge and are revered and respected by the communities. In addition, most families send their second son to a monastery around age 10 to become a monk. Rachen Gompa is the largest nunnery in the area with over 80 nuns. Though families don’t send the girls as a requirement, many girls choose to become nuns.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=963ca5583108f1b05f9eb371a3f34315 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=bced4ff3a88a412f1c9d3a88f558f06d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=2f24f2ac711a3d13b98d5483cc7b5fb9 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=164d0a05598bb809a41b18cefcadf654 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e024b3665f5aa44151f7994c487ad868 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=d76a9be0a7005ad2626b92348e2a2610 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=ce1f3214732254edc0e24d5c53481eee 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245960499_f93acbf571_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=e2a4e213b1bb6cb985f322cff21568fc 1024w)
Deana Zabaldo photo
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=805f539c6b630ea97fa5d19e8135aea0 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=7eab08960016ecd0c3e5ea3412a14778 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=302f19f6541f3290f712dbf4c80b65e4 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=557e60447006b4d8894e7e64b0506121 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f5ffbdcd8d6b26f2ba7f38dbc8b5de64 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=7e366ae9ded69bf2c67d92866ce61aab 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=30168786a14473ccf3d7024cd1c780ef 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8245419551_dd49fd3033_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=9a24d5f57b965bab3e5008c98f2c83bc 1024w)
Celebrating at 16,700 feet — the border of Nepal and Tibet. Deana Zabaldo photo
Walking through Tsum, the trail is lined with carved prayer stones and tall square chortens as it carves up the valley beside a crystal clear river. Yaks graze in fields, and we move ever closer to Tibet. By the time we make a push to the border pass at 16,700 feet, we are beyond the highest settlements, where herds of blue sheep roam easily and breathing is hard. Reaching the pass, we are surrounded by mountains. We string prayer flags and soak in a sense of accomplishment before heading back down to a cold high camp. By the time we’re back in the villages a few days later, everyone is in high spirits – just in time for a horse festival.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=3c22572fd3d11a691cf40bb7cf88e221 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=4af6682e5cdc11ac118e4d479c158aca 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=4390609905c2de98170bb82d3f9bc154 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=219587523c62f41665123fb097be6e78 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=3c71a04642b4e8b93a67772990157e9f 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c7e32bccb4bfac3ffee12240ffd097cb 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=51e30ef6e0947d3227446f21b8ce0c6d 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2F8246526514_b8d23087a0_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=cb27c7cdfa287a9125084017da7961d1 1024w)
Sky on fire at sunset. Deana Zabaldo photo
Our days in Tsum have been marked with visits to homes and monasteries, steaming cups of salt butter tea (more like a soup broth than a tea), teachings from the Buddhist monks traveling with us, sunset meditation, stories of the mythic Yeti, and an incredibly gracious hospitality from everyone we meet.
Join us for this in-depth cultural trek in 2013!
~ MM Guide Deana Zabaldo
(excerpt from parahamsa.com)