Trekking in Western China

The July 28 Mountaineers meeting will feature a talk by Oliva Li entitled “Trekking in Western China: Tibet’s Kama Valley and Sichuan’s Holy Mountains.”

Olivia will describe her high-elevation camping trek through the spectacular Kama Valley, located on the east side of Mount Everest in Tibet. Traveling with a supported group, she journeyed through a remote valley surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, and Chomolönzo. Renowned for its lush forests, alpine meadows, and vibrant wildflowers—especially rhododendrons in spring—the trek ranges in elevation from 14,000 to 17,300 feet.

She will also share highlights from trekking in the sacred mountain landscapes of western Sichuan, including the scenic Yading Nature Reserve and Mount Gongga.

Her presentation will include cultural highlights from her travels, including visits to the iconic Potala Palace and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Olivia lives in Los Alamos and retired after more than 25 years of service with Los Alamos County. She began hiking and backpacking alongside her children through their Boy Scout troop and has spent the past decade actively pursuing outdoor adventures both close to home and abroad. Since retiring in 2025, she has devoted even more time to exploring hiking destinations around the world. When at home in Los Alamos, she continues to hike, backpack, and snowshoe whenever possible.

We welcome all to this Mountaineers’ meeting on the regular fourth Tuesday of the month. The social hour, with cookies, begins at 6:45 PM and the program at 7:00 PM. The presentation will be in-person at Los Alamos Nature Center; the slides will be live-streamed on Zoom. Registration is required to Zoom and recommended for in-person – we would love to see your smiling face. Registration details are available at https://peecla.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/peecla/event.jsp?event=68345&.

Jampelyang, the 5,958-meter southern peak of the Three Holy Mountains, in the southwest of Sichuan Province. Representing the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, this sacred snow-capped peak is known for its striking pyramid-like shape and steep, glacier-fed slopes.