Thylacospermum caespitosum

When camped on Pensi La decided to explore across glacier to see what plants grew across the other side.  Not that many species but a fascinating selection – mostly mat or mound-forming to cope with extreme conditions incl. high winds.

A long and tiring day.

This glacier is apparently, at some 23km, the longest in Ladakh other than Siachen (in the Karakoram) at an average height of about 4800m.

Only went as far as Rangum Gompa in the Suru Valley on my first visit to the region on the University of Southampton Ladakh Expedition in 1980, so pleasing to cross the Pensi La into Zanskar proper some years later.

1. Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar 

2. Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

3. Approaching Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

4. Crevasse in Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

5. On Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

6. On Durung Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

7. Chris’ team on Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

8. Hole deeper than our rope was long! Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

9. Boulder on ‘pedestal’ Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar (Chris Chadwell) – the sun’s rays cannot penetrate to heat and melt the ice below the boulder, resulting in the ‘pedestal’ underneath!

10. Tired team members. Durung-Drung glacier near Pensi La, Zanskar

11. Camping on Pensi La near Durung-Drung glacier, Zanskar

12.  Saxifraga jacquemontiana (again) near Durung Drung glacier, Zanskar

13.  Thylacospermum caespitosum near Durung Drung glacier, Zanskar

13.  Thylacospermum caespitosum with Sibbaldia tetrandra near Durung Drung glacier, Zanskar

14.  Sibbaldia tetrandra near Durung Drung glacier, Zanskar