Tsotup-chu Valley-Herders'Camps
[ 5 hours • 14km • 300m ascent • 400m descent ]

From the Tsotup-chu ford, the main water course flows from the south-east and a minor tributary enters from the south-west. Follow this tributary, which quickly disappears underground, steeply upwards for 30 minutes until you reach a large basin. Stay on the west (right) side of the basin and turn into the first side valley opening on the right. Follow this broad valley which soon arcs south to the Chitu-la. The pass can be seen in the distance, a rocky rampart at the head of the valley. At first, stay on the west (right) side of the valley; there is a small trail. As you approach the pass the trail switches to the east side of the valley.

The Chitu-la (5100m) is topped by several cairns. Also on the summit is a small glacial cairn. Move to the west side of the pass to find the trail down and to circum vent a sheer rock wall on its south flank. A short but steep descent will bring you into a basin with three small lakes. The trail skirts the west side of the lakes. It takes 45 minutes to reach the south end of the basin. Herders have carved out level places for their tents here.

Below the herders' highest camp the valley is squeezed in by vertical rock walls, forcing you to pick your way through the rock-strewn valley floor. There is no trail in this gorge and the descent is very steep. In about 20 minutes cross over to the west (right) side of the widening valley to recover the trail. In 10 more minutes you will come to a flat and a seasonal herders' camp on the east side of the valley. At the lower end of the flat return to the west side of the valley. The trail again disappears as it enters a scrub willow and rosebush forest but there is only one way to go to get to Samye and that is downstream.

In 15 minutes, when a tributary valley enters from the right, cross to the east side of the valley. Fifteen minutes further, you will reach another seasonal herders' camp inhabited for only a short time each year. Another 15 minutes beyond this camp hop back to the west bank to avoid a cliff hugging the opposite side of the stream. Pass through a large meadow and ford the stream back to the east bank. From this point the trail remains on the east side of the valley for several hours. Camping. B,L,D