Back in a big city tonight (Xichang in southern Sichuan) first shower in several days and with internet. I have enjoyed lifetime memories of hiking through forests of 20 ft. high R. bureavii and massive mountainsides of the big-leaf – Rhododendron rex, many with incredibly deep, almost chocolate-brown indumentum. some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen was witnessed over the last couple of days on the over 4000m peak known as Luoji Shan. Massive old specimens of R. phaeochrysum, sphaeroblastum, roxieanum, bureavioides, souliei and lacteum surround high mountain lakes in this rhododendron paradise.
Tomorrow we will be exploring another 11,000 ft. peak on our way back to Chengdu.”