TREKKER'S GUIDE HABA SNOW MOUNTAIN
  • Home
  • Trek
    • Trekking Overview
    • Multi-Day Treks
    • Day Hikes >
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Haba Village
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Black Lake
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Base Camp
      • East Peak Group
      • Tiger Leaping Gorge
    • Trekking Routes >
      • Lanhua Meadow Route
      • Yi Village Route
      • Jianshan Route
      • Alt. Base Camp Route
      • Base Camp Route
      • Jizhi Pass Route
      • Luke-Haba Route
      • Haba-Benxi Route
      • Bamboo Forest Path
      • Miner's Pass Route
      • Haba-Bendiwan Route
      • Classic Gorge Trek
    • Maps
  • Climb
  • Features
    • Alpine Lakes
    • Black Lake
    • Distant Views
    • Haba Muru Sanctuary
    • Passes
    • Snow Mt Window
    • Waterfalls
  • Info
    • Book and Map Info
    • Camping Practices
    • Flora and Fauna
    • Guides
    • Haba Village
    • Independent Backcountry Travel in China
    • Lodging in the Valley
    • Lodging on the Mountain
    • Nature Reserve
    • Transport In and Out
    • Weather
  • Nearby Peaks
    • Crouching Tiger Mt
    • Elephant Hill
    • Jade Dragon Snow Mt
    • No Name Range
    • Saddle Mountain
    • Tianbao Snow Mt
    • Wenbi Mountain
    • Wenhai Mountain
Haba Snow Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve
 
With all the natural beauty Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山) has to offer, how about establishing an eco-park to protect the region? It is already a reality, for several decades in fact. In the fall of 2019, posters went up in Tiger Leaping Gorge and surrounding locales, proclaiming “Haba Snow Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve” (哈巴雪山省级自然保护区). Qiaotou Town (桥头镇) serves as park headquarters. The park was initially established way back in 1984.

Picture
Nature reserve poster
Environmental issues
 
Recent action by park management saw all mining operations in the area shut down—permanently according to reports. This includes a mine in the Jizhi Valley  (鸡枝垭口) west of the mountain and the vast tungsten mine (钨矿) above Bendiwan Village (本地湾村) that had been operating for 50 years.

Picture
Mining district high above Tiger Leaping Gorge. Jade Dragon Snow Mt in background
On my first walk through Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡) in 2014, I crossed a stream valley on the trekking path near Bendiwan Village. A white film stained everything near the bank—trees, grass, ground. The stream waters themselves resembled thick white cream. When I heard that the mine was the source of the pollution a question arose in my mind. Were there health risks associated with walking the gorge? In Bendiwan I could hear explosions up on the mountain and saw clouds of dust lifting up into the air. I planned to hike the slopes above and worried about wandering near explosive charges, or coming into contact with toxic substances. Overexposure to tungsten, is that possible? Guides in Haba Village who were familiar with the Haba-Bendiwan Route (哈巴-本地湾路线) calmed my concerns. I went ahead with the trek, which passed through the mining district.
Picture
Abandoned mining buildings
Picture
Original purpose unknown
As of 2019, the white coating has vanished from that valley. But the waters there and in nearby streams, retain a milky coloration. One local resident told me the mine had done significant damage to the environment. Closing the mines was beneficial but too late, as the damage was long-lasting. Illegal mines, it was feared, might continue to operate under the radar.
Picture
Milky waters
 Management
 
Park management have an established mandate to oversee tourism activities and development within the park. This includes trekking the gorge and guiding of foreign tourists. I spoke with a team from park headquarters during one of their inspection visits to the gorge. They mentioned protecting the environment and ensuring proper regulation of development. All well and good. How will the park balance the concerns of impacted constituencies? For instance, the scenic values revered by trekkers, the legitimate needs of local villagers, and the effects of mass tourism promoted by Chinese entrepreneurs. We shall see.
 
My hope and prayer: that Haba Snow Mountain remain a place of wonderous natural beauty for all generations to come. May we protect and cherish this special place that means so much to so many.

Picture
Poster detail
Picture
Long Lake
Picture
© 2021 TrekHaba.com All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Trek
    • Trekking Overview
    • Multi-Day Treks
    • Day Hikes >
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Haba Village
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Black Lake
      • Alpine Lakes Region-Base Camp
      • East Peak Group
      • Tiger Leaping Gorge
    • Trekking Routes >
      • Lanhua Meadow Route
      • Yi Village Route
      • Jianshan Route
      • Alt. Base Camp Route
      • Base Camp Route
      • Jizhi Pass Route
      • Luke-Haba Route
      • Haba-Benxi Route
      • Bamboo Forest Path
      • Miner's Pass Route
      • Haba-Bendiwan Route
      • Classic Gorge Trek
    • Maps
  • Climb
  • Features
    • Alpine Lakes
    • Black Lake
    • Distant Views
    • Haba Muru Sanctuary
    • Passes
    • Snow Mt Window
    • Waterfalls
  • Info
    • Book and Map Info
    • Camping Practices
    • Flora and Fauna
    • Guides
    • Haba Village
    • Independent Backcountry Travel in China
    • Lodging in the Valley
    • Lodging on the Mountain
    • Nature Reserve
    • Transport In and Out
    • Weather
  • Nearby Peaks
    • Crouching Tiger Mt
    • Elephant Hill
    • Jade Dragon Snow Mt
    • No Name Range
    • Saddle Mountain
    • Tianbao Snow Mt
    • Wenbi Mountain
    • Wenhai Mountain