Cheese Mountain

The sharp outline of Cheese Mountain (奶酪山) is readily visible from Shangri-La City. Neighboring mountains in the Shangri-La Highlands (香格里拉高地) present rounded profiles, but this one a distinct pyramid reaching an elevation of ca. 4,400 meters. The base of the pyramid is accessible as a day hike. For those with motorcycles, it is a rough but fairly short ride on dirt roads which traverse the ridge immediately west of the valley hike described below.

Tibetan prayer flags festoon the 100-meter high summit pyramid. The ascent will be straightforward for experienced climbers. Ordinary trekkers should think twice before attempting the climb as it will require use of hands on steep rock. A fall would result in serious injury unless protected by a rope. Loose rocks pose an additional hazard. Of course, one can enjoy the hike without reaching the very top.

Cheese Mountain can be reached by a valley situated in the southern portion of the Shangri-La Highlands. To reach the mouth of the valley, drive east out of Shangri-La on route S207, the divided highway leading to Pudacuo National Park. After roughly 12 km, turn left off the highway onto a paved road leading through a small village. After the pavement ends, continue driving to a car park at an elevation of 3,500 meters, some 3 km from the main highway. High clearance vehicles can continue beyond this point for a considerable distance.

Hike the dirt road up the valley, reaching a large meadow with yaks and huts at 3,600 m. Here the road ends and a footpath threads the valley floor higher. Cross several side brooks on crude log bridges.

At 3,900 meters arrive at a second large grazing meadow with a hut. Turn right and leave the valley heading in a northeast direction. Ascend the mountain slope directly, passing through forest and open terrain without a clear trail.

At an elevation of 4,250 meters arrive at a plateau with hut ruins. Continue on a path leading north which soon arrives at a road junction, ca. 4,300 m. Here the pyramid of Cheese Mountain comes into view. Turn right on the road for several hundred meters and take the well-traveled spur to the base of the pyramid.

Look to the south for a distant view of Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山) and to its right, jagged rock peaks of the Tianbao Mountains (天宝雪山).