a boy’s night out

There’s a park up here:

They told me there was no road down the south flank of the mountain.

Who cares if they don’t have roads like THIS over there? thought I, expecting today’s distance really just to be a walk in the park.

When I got about halfway up, things changed though:

Deep snow, and no roads.

Well, this might look worse than it actually was.

I kept wondering to who those footsteps belonged:

…and then I found out:

There’s a temple called Fayun Temple 法云寺 that’s been recently built up here.

No people around whatsoever though.

At around noon I made it to the mountain top:

Beautiful. I had a piece of chocolate and a sip of lemonade.

Then I started walking south, where there was no road:

1500m on the top, 500m above sea level down there.

Little did I know this would take me five hours:

Slippery rocks were a problem.

But these scumbags were even worse:

Despicable foes of the wanderer!

When I finally made it to the foot of the mountain, there was a stone pit, and with it came wide, comfortable roads:

Now THAT put a smile on my face, I can tell you that.

The light was changing quickly though:

…as it was getting dark:

In the middle of nowhere, there was a sudden need for a solution.

I had carried this tent on my back for more than 1000km now, so now I figured I might as well use it:

Besides, I wanted to know whether or not I could seriously rely on this for a good night’s rest:

With absolutely nothing else to do, I rolled up in my sleeping bags and tried to make myself go to sleep.

I closed my eyes very early that night.