Day 42, 53km: (by Amy)

After a night bundled in fleeces and hats in our warm sleeping bags we set out onto the bleak moorland climbing along our winding little track. The air got thinner and the going got harder as we climbed. We passed some squat turf covered dwellings hunkered down against the cold the only life around seemed to be a big mastiff scouting his territory. Thankfully he ignored us and we him. As we struggled closer to the top, Chris's watch beeped to say we were higher than the Matterhorn. We crested the massive pass at 14800ft and after a celebratory high five and a few photos we bundled up in all our clothes for the descent. Like 2 Michelin men ( me with socks over my cycling gloves) we bumped down the steep rough gravel path the other side passing the odd 4x4 full of hikers bound for Yading who shouted encouragement and took photos of us.

The air got warmer as we descended back into forest. The houses on this side of the valley were white with painted ornate window frames. At the bottom we emerged onto a blissful tarmac road and a town of substantial size. Despite its size there was no guesthouse and we were directed 10km in the wrong direction to the city of Xiangcheng. We did not want to go there but it was 4pm, there was a police check point on the road ahead and for all we knew no guesthouse for 4 days. We decided to chance it with the police. Luckily, they were involved in a heated discussion with a mini bus load of people. We gestured to a policeman not directly involved in the discussion if we could pass who indicated that we could. We quickly sailed through and camped a few km down the road hidden in spiky bushes.