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Feeling the warmth of sun gave me more than enough energy to continue forward! Although I hesitated to take my headphones off, I decided it was required for me to enjoy the mountain...so I took them off. On the path to West Peak, I saw several ancient trees, one more than 1,000 years old, and took a few pics. I knew their age cause I could the read the signs (even without using a flashlight, ha). I passed a closed tourist attraction called Swordsman Crevice/Cave before reaching West Peak where I took a much needed poo! Out of the unbelievable kindness of someone's heart and maybe some deity's grace, another hiker had left behind a single tissue (in a kleenex pack) on the floor that I carefully used, ha sorry for the visual. Bathroom was worse than any hole-in-the-ground toilet I've used yet!
West Peak cast a surprisingly intimidating shadow upon the smaller cliffs and valley below. Seeing such a broad shadow across the landscape was really cool. The path to South Peak, the highest peak (2,160m) took about another hour and was a bit more tiring, but it was definitely worth the view. You could see everything! On the
way down, I found the sky-walk/plank-walk attraction around 8am and excitedly rushed over. It cost me 30Y to do the path or for the harnass, but I would've paid any amount (except if it was just for the harnass then I would've just had more fun, ha).
At the start was a narrow ladder (just rods in between rocks) you head down, then you follow along the cliff edge to the planks, then reach some footholds, and finally the secluded and shaded terrace! There were 2 cable lines and 2 chain lines that ran the length of the path. You were supposed to unhook and rehook your clips onto the next cable intersection one-at-a-time, but I eventually just did two at once. The open view along the planks below South Peak was fucking awesome! I was safe on the way there, going a decent pace, passing under one returning group before I reached the terrace where I met who? but the Dutch group again!
On the return route along the planks, the same 2 girls I had passed were still taking forever on the way back...so I decided to chill for 40 more minutes along the path without
a care in the world, ha. I attached my harnass to the lower cable and hung by one-arm over the foothold (feet actually hanging beneath that part) for as long as I could. Then, on the planks I attached my harnass to the lower chain (a no-no) and laid down enjoying the view and then sat up listening to "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol, after which I finally departed.
I hit up North Peak, the most touristy and crowded peak (being right next to the cable car) on my way back the East Path. I almost contemplated taking the cable car for a second (after 28 hours of no sleep) but immediately tossed the thought from my mind - I needed to see the creek and waterfalls beside the lower path! I ran into Ethan, Parker, and the rest of the group I came with on the way down (4km marker), told them a complete lie about how long it took me to get to that point (I thought we were at the 2km marker) and then continued down....backwards. I say backwards, because I actually walked backwards for a good portion! It is much easier on your knees
when going downhill, plus I could see the view I was supposed to see on the way up, ha.
I chilled at a nice waterfall/creek area wetting my hair and hands, contemplated jumping into a huge, clear and crisp pool I saw, and then finally reached Jade Spring Hall...sweaty, exhausted, satisfied, and still somewhat happy, but ready to find my bus back to Xi'an. I was so tired I left my bus ticket/card at the drink stand where I had bought waters (it fell out with my money), but the attendant was kind enough not to have already sold it to someone else, ha. I failed at sleeping on the way back...just messed up my back more.
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FYI
non-member comment
Huashan is in Shaanxi Province, not Shanxi Province. Shaanxi and Shanxi are divided by the Huanghe(yellow) river. Though the Chinese writings and pronunciations for Shaanxi and Shanxi are different, but in Pinyin they are the same. So, in oder to differentiate them, an extra "a" is added to the English name of west province.