Expedition February 2012 – Ancient Trade Route to Sacred Mountain

One of the sites our eyes will take in upon the trek

Back to the comforting cold and silence of ‘Shangrila’ here in northwestern Yunnan in preparation for another Outpost Magazine exclusive. Revo Polarized sunglasses, Mountain Hardwear, and our own Jalamteas are sponsoring (and happily fuelling) a ‘western first’ along an ancient trade route here in Yunnan. Unusually intense snowfall this winter is going to make this a very winter-heavy expedition. Departure date is mid-February and the journey will include two venerable mountain guides who are local ‘mountain goats’. Updates to follow as well as an official press release…another journey to trace what are fast becoming disappearing legends – the ancient Himalayan trade routes.

Never far away in this part of the world are the crucial 'people' and their memories of the trade routes. It is the memories that give any journey its lifeblood.

About JeffFuchs

Having lived for a decade in Yunnan, Fuchs’ work has centred on indigenous mountain cultures, oral histories along with an obsessive interest in tea. Fuchs is the author of 'The Ancient Tea Horse Road' (Viking-Penguin) and he was the subject of 'The Tea Explorer' documentary based on his exploration of the Tea Horse Road. His photos and stories have appeared on three continents in publications such as Kyoto Journal, TRVL, and Outpost Magazine, as well as The Spanish Expedition Society, The Earth, Silkroad Foundation, The China Post Newspaper, The Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post, and UNESCO amongst others. Various pieces of his work are part of private collections in Europe, North America, and Asia. Fuchs served as Asian Editor at Large for five years at award-winning Outpost magazine. Jeff has worked with schools and universities, giving talks on both the importance of oral traditions, tea and mountain cultures. His recently released book ‘The Ancient Tea Horse Road’ (Penguin-Viking Publishers) details his 8-month groundbreaking journey traveling and chronicling one of the world’s great trade routes, The Tea Horse Road. Fuchs is the first westerner to have completed the entire route stretching almost six thousand kilometers through the Himalayas a dozen cultures. Fuchs partnered with Wild China to create a journey along the Tea Horse Road which National Geographic Traveler called one of the "50 Trips of a Lifetime". He is co-founder of Akahiao Nature Institute on the island of Hawai'i along with his wife, Julie Rogers.
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8 Responses to Expedition February 2012 – Ancient Trade Route to Sacred Mountain

  1. Peter says:

    Good to hear you are off on another adventure along an ancient trade route. I look forward to getting more details, as well as following your postings as you make the journey!

    Best wishes,
    Peter

  2. Mikey says:

    Looking forward to reading more about this trip!

  3. Happy New Dragon Year, Jeff …

  4. WildChina says:

    We can’t wait to document this trip– it’s going to be an exciting trip! Stay safe! From everyone at WildChina, have a blast!

    • JeffFuchs says:

      With tea, a little help from the fates and some good mule-power all should progress. Thanks to the entire gang at Wild China for the generous and courageous support.

      Jeffers