Haba Lake Hike, Yunnan: Why We Burned Out

I hike regularly. Haba Lake in Yunnan still finished me. The trail is deep mud, standing water, and a small climb every time you step around a puddle. I also carried too much. There are supply points on the mountain. Go light and keep something for the way back. Haba Lake (Haba Heihai, 哈巴黑海) sits above Haba Village, near Haba Snow Mountain. A guide is mandatory. This video is the day itself, plus what I would change: fitness, the shared guide, the dog-friendly hotel, car charging, and the log bridge where the wind cuts through. Who should go Some hiking experience: a one-day round trip is realistic. Weaker fitness: arrange a horse. Do not try to walk it on pride. The required guide Book the guide before you leave. The ticket is 40 yuan. A shared guide is 100 yuan. Both are cheap. Contact a local hiking guide early and join a group. Do not bother sneaking past the ticket. Where to sleep Stay in the Yi village just above Haba Village. It is closer to the trailhead. Call the guesthouse yourself. Numbers are on Baidu Maps. Booking apps charge more for the same kind of room. Budget 100 to 200 yuan. Paying above that is not worth it. We stayed at Xuemanshan Hotel (雪漫山酒店) in Haba Village. Dogs are allowed. Dogs are not allowed on the bed. Charging a car Xuemanshan Hotel has one slow charger, and it is unreliable. The hotel next door has three or four slow chargers. What to pack A hardshell, and a fleece under it. Put the fleece on before the single-log bridge. Mid-cut or high-cut hiking boots. The mud is the whole point. Energy gels and water. Leave the extra weight. You can resupply on the mountain. Stay safe Do not walk up to the cattle or horses. If you have a dog, give them a wide berth and do not startle them. Stay off the cliff edge. Do not hike this alone. If you are prone to altitude sickness, arrange a horse or bring oxygen. Black bears and brown bears are rare here. Still, do not be out alone after dark. More hikes in China: https://hike2china.com #HabaLake #YunnanHiking #HabaHeihai #travelchina #hike2china