Gimme shelter
We really thought we were in for an fairly uneventful afternoon exploring a piece of Great Wall near Moshikou. The air quality was pretty poor, but we hoped it would improve when we got into the mountains. We may not have gone at all, except it was May 1, International Labor Day, and we wanted to do something (and not just stay home) for Randy's day off.
A few times on the drive we were tempted to turn back. We found ourselves following behind what must have been a new driver, unable to drive faster than 20 miles per hour and needing to slam on the brakes every time a car approached in the opposite lane. One of the kids got carsick. Randy's "Plan A" destination turned out to be impossible to find. But we persevered and arrived someplace acceptable.
On the way up, we tried to make sense of our smog-limited view. We could just make out the silhouettes of Great Wall lining the peaks before us.
Today, then, would be a day of testing the trail difficulty and seeing where it led us. We would then determine it it were worth returning on a clearer day.
A few times, Randy and I remarked to each other that it almost felt as though it could rain. We shook that off, noting that we had no other sign, really, that the day would be anything but smoggy and close.
We continued up the crumbled wall until we reached a high tower from where we would decide to continue up or return down.
And then we hear some distant rumbling thunder.
More after the jump
We considered for a few minutes whether we wanted to remain in that high tower, or head down the mountain. There was another tower, about half-way down, that we could shelter in if it did rain.
Between these two towers, the Wall would likely become a slippery. muddy mess in a downpour. Hearing thunder a second time, we decided that we needed to head down.
The thunder continued. We could hear sporadic rain falling around us. A few large, icy drops hit the back of my neck. The temperature (and frankly, the size) surprised me. I had a fleeting thought of hail, but quickly dismissed that possibility.
We arrived at the lower tower just in time. Within moments after we ducked into the ancient structure, the real rain began. We narrowly avoided getting soaked.
The thunder increased in frequency, preceded now by lightning we could actually see. Then we heard the first tick-tick-ticks of something harder than rain falling from the sky. It had begun to hail!
After the first burst of pea-sized hail, the wind became quite strong, gusty, and cold cold cold. A second but shorter round of hail pelted our hideout with marble-sized ice.
It was still windy when the rain and hail stopped. It was our chance to get to the car. We had no more rain as we sloshed down the now-muddy trail. The view was much better, though.
It was a great May Day adventure, in that "All's Well that Ends Well" way.
A few times on the drive we were tempted to turn back. We found ourselves following behind what must have been a new driver, unable to drive faster than 20 miles per hour and needing to slam on the brakes every time a car approached in the opposite lane. One of the kids got carsick. Randy's "Plan A" destination turned out to be impossible to find. But we persevered and arrived someplace acceptable.
On the way up, we tried to make sense of our smog-limited view. We could just make out the silhouettes of Great Wall lining the peaks before us.
Today, then, would be a day of testing the trail difficulty and seeing where it led us. We would then determine it it were worth returning on a clearer day.
A few times, Randy and I remarked to each other that it almost felt as though it could rain. We shook that off, noting that we had no other sign, really, that the day would be anything but smoggy and close.
We continued up the crumbled wall until we reached a high tower from where we would decide to continue up or return down.
And then we hear some distant rumbling thunder.
More after the jump
We considered for a few minutes whether we wanted to remain in that high tower, or head down the mountain. There was another tower, about half-way down, that we could shelter in if it did rain.
Between these two towers, the Wall would likely become a slippery. muddy mess in a downpour. Hearing thunder a second time, we decided that we needed to head down.
The thunder continued. We could hear sporadic rain falling around us. A few large, icy drops hit the back of my neck. The temperature (and frankly, the size) surprised me. I had a fleeting thought of hail, but quickly dismissed that possibility.
We arrived at the lower tower just in time. Within moments after we ducked into the ancient structure, the real rain began. We narrowly avoided getting soaked.
The thunder increased in frequency, preceded now by lightning we could actually see. Then we heard the first tick-tick-ticks of something harder than rain falling from the sky. It had begun to hail!
After the first burst of pea-sized hail, the wind became quite strong, gusty, and cold cold cold. A second but shorter round of hail pelted our hideout with marble-sized ice.
It was still windy when the rain and hail stopped. It was our chance to get to the car. We had no more rain as we sloshed down the now-muddy trail. The view was much better, though.
It was a great May Day adventure, in that "All's Well that Ends Well" way.
Comments
Still so much to see!