Ok, we decided we wanted to go hiking in the beautiful Western Sichuan mountains- Yading or Shan Gongga areas. So, we were researching, and emailing anybody we could find on the internet. But who were these persons, who are these operations. Who would we go with? Did we even need a guide?

I was searching in English, my Chinese friends were searching in Mandarin. We were trying to get both quotes, possible itenaries, trip details, what is included. So many questions:

1) OK, land in big city of Chengdu, then what? You want to hire a driver independently to take you to the Mountains? Not so easy? You gonna waste days with public bus getting to Kanding... then what? Kanding still far from many good hiking regions.
   Nothing like Matt Ryan's 2 year old Beijing Jeep (Matt Ryan from Dragon Expeditions- see below) with good music playing- both mix of local Tibetian music and Western pop music. Nothing like travelling with good people with good conversation and laughter- Matt, Apple and Ling Dong
2) What are you going to eat for the week? Who's going to cook? But with what gas? Have fun trying to find small fills of propane gas for backpack stoves. You gonna hump large grill-size propane tanks- NOT without the horses. You gonna eat cold granola brs all week? What about boiling your water then, what clean water are you going to drink?
3) Are you going to hire your own guides and horses when you arrive at the end of the road? But what if they are already out trekking? Are you dealing with reputable locals? Do they have you under the gun, because you have arrived in their village, you need their horses and experience, but you have not pre-negotiated price. Unfortunately the locals don't have mobile phones for you to call in advance (and definately not websites). Note: our guides have a "long distance message service" whereby they call a friend in Kangding 1 week in advance, this person travels 6 hours to the village and personally tells the local guide that a group is coming on "such date". This is really onerours, and old fashion, but the way it is done.
4) Are you renting Iridium Satelite phone prior to arriving in China, or rely on DragonExpeditions, Apple has and always carrys. But, if something happens, who are you going to call? How are they going to get to you before 3-4 days. Matt is 7 hours away in Hotel in Kangding [virtually in the field] and can get messages to local villagers for whom he knows already to set out in emergency.
5)Are you going to end your trip where you begin, same access and departure point? Never as much fun as linear trek, with final destination. But if you do this, how are you going to get back to civilizations... the end of the trail is not always civilization. Are you going to pre arrange to have someone pick you up, then say your prayers that he did not just keep your deposit and never shows up? Or not give him deposit for pick up, and hope he shows.... but while you were trekking a better deal came his way- he got a better job for more money. At end of trail, do you have that satelite phone, or is there mobile access at this point [probably not].
6) After 8 hour hike, do you want to negotiate with monks for room rate? Are there any rooms left at monestary?
7) So many local knowledge points of interest- from the food market in Kangding, the dumpling shop in Yaap, on the trail features. You miss alot if you dont already know.

Other Web Pages:
Yulongxi Village & Yulongxi Pass
Gongga- Main Page
See Detailed Gongga Shan itinerary
Gongga-Public Images & Maps
Detail Reference of Matt Ryan and Apple [DragonExpeditions]
Minya Konka Buddhist Monastery

References, Contacts and Recommendations:

Both organizations, and all persons Matt, Apple, and Roland we trust, had great experience with, and hope to trek again in 2008 with. For a personal reference contact me [Tom Patton] gtpatton@gmail.com or business mobile number on East Coast of USA is 401-741-9548

Dragon Expeditions
A3-201 Roma Plaza
Gaoshengqiao Donglu
Chengdu, 610041 China

matt@dragonexpeditions.com
Matt Ryan- mobile number 86- 136 2803 0425
Dragon Expeditions Office Tel: 86- 028 8510 9200 [delete first zero if outside of China]
website under construction: www.dragonexpeditions.com

Western Sichuan Tours
www.wstourix.com
Roland Zeidler
86- 28 6640 6003
mobile number 86 139800 35421