Myself and a large group of China locals headed out to the wild Tibetan borderlands last summer 2014 for a great expedition bouldering trip. It was a great success and the area is becoming a great option for those that want an off the beaten path bouldering experience or stay fit and acclimatize for alpine objectives in the mountains of western Sichuan and Tibet! Christopher Miller made a short movie about the trip. Click the link to view the video.
I first discovered Dao Cheng for its Bouldering on a road trip back in 2010. Since then we have been making numerous trips to the area to continue development and to produce a guidebook to document the progress and be a resource for future climbers.
Getting there is a great mission depending on how much money you want to spend. The easiest/fastest option is to take an airplane from Chengdu, Sichuan to the Dao Cheng/Yading Airport, which only takes 45 minutes. Other options are to drive which takes nearly two days overland. But gives you a sense of awe as you travel through beautiful landscape.
Having two main areas, the climbing style is reminiscent of Bishop, except with a Tibetan backdrop. Near the town of Dao Cheng we first discovered Ruba Chaka Village. At a lower elevation and great climbing it is a great place to start.
The second area is on the Haizishan Plateau and offers an expedition style experience on great rock. The logistics of getting here is a bit tricky, but it is well worth it once you’ve made your camp.
Thanks Ana Pautler, Anjir, Raul Suaco, Chris Miller, Zhoulei, Christine McKay, Da Wei, Sanwenyu, and Mr. Cho for such a great trip! Chris Miller is responsible for most of these pictures and video. It is great to get out and never stop exploring!
More Information and Update: Since this expedition a few more trips have taken place to this bouldering paradise. The Guidebook Dao Cheng Bouldering has all the necessary information. To view and purchase click here.
© All text, pictures, and media copyright Michael Dobie Do not reproduce in any way without consulting
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