Nepal Himalayas
Towering: My final image from my Nepal journey of Lhotse. This steep, rugged 8,516-m. mountain in the Everest massif is the 4th-highest peak in the world. It stands a mere 4,100m higher than where I am standing. 13,451 feet higher than me.
Morning Eye Test: My morning eye test was to see the patterns and light. Each time I would go back in and see something just a little different. A bird wing, a leaf, mirrors of the high peaks, it didn't matter what I saw, just that I was willing to see.
Awaken: The 20,299 Kongde Ri is one of the first high mountains to awaken as the light finds its way through the complex valleys and peaks of the Khumbu region of Nepal.
Absorb: I don't usually need to remind myself to breathe, but I did seem to need to remind myself to stop and absorb. Angular lines forming dramatic pinnacles, hanging onto their snow and absorbing the light of the day.
All Trails: All trails in the Himalaya seem to lead one direction. UP. We climbed for 6 days till we started going downhill for the first time. Thamserku at 21,729 stands tall.
Mothers Necklace: Ama Dablam literally means Mothers Necklace the long ridges on each side like the arms of a mother (ama) protecting her child, and the hanging glacier thought of as the dablam, the traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the gods, worn by Sherpa women. It stands as one of the most regal peaks in the Nepal Himalaya.
Cloudhugger: Kongde Ri hugs the early afternoon clouds as they come up from the lower valley's giving us a complete feel of immersion with the mountains.
BOB: Beasts of Burden (BOB) the Himalayan Yak operates mainly above 10,000 feet as they have huge lungs that are adapted to the high altitudes and can reach altititudes of over 20,000 feet.
Dreamcatcher: No other mountain in the world has captured as many dreams as Mt Everest. Standing at 29,000+ feet it actual ascends into the jetstream and often times will have the clouds trailing off the top. It is a massive peak that can't even hold snow on its South Facing slopes.
Each Day: Each day these magical peaks in the Himalaya catch the rising sun regardless of it I am there to see it or not. Taboche peak is 21,309 feet and is overshadowed by its more dramatic neighbor, Cholotse.
Final Glimpses: Final glimpses up the Chola valley towards the towering Chloatse and Arakamtse as the light lingers and holds on the peaks and gives us some depth and dimension.
High Worship: In 2023, Everest claimed the lives of 17 people. Worshipping this idol in the sky so strongly that they wrongly (or rightly) chose to gave their lives.
Into Tibet: Looking up the Nangpa La Valley towards Tibet you think of the world before borders and governments. This was a major trade route before the Countries of Nepal and China closed it off.
Is this heaven?: No, its Nepal. With a nod to Field of Dreams a vivid movie from my youth was the incredible visual arresting of the very highest part of the Everest Region as I descended into the tiny village of Goyko from Rinjo La pass.
I wanna be serrated: The serrated forms of the high mountains of the Khumbu don't show up that frequently and are really showcased in particular light.
Looming: For most of my time in Nepal I was calling as I was told this peak was Cholatse, when it fact it was Arakamtse. Simple mistake that does not loom as much as the mass, size, and scale of this massive icon.
No Place to go but UP: When the roof of your country is 29,000 feet high and 15% of your land is covered by the Himalayas and over 30% of your land is above 10,000 feet you are forced to think vertically not horizontally about your prospects for agriculture.
Overlooked: Machermo Peak is an overlooked part of the Everest region as it doesn't have the prestige, size, or history. Yet it cannot be overlooked on this sunrise morning on the shores of Dudh Pokhari at Goyko.
The Overseer: Cho Oyu is the sixth-highest mountain in the world at 8,188 metres (26,864 ft) above sea level. Cho Oyu means "Turquoise Goddess" in Tibetan. Massively towering it felt incredibly close on this morning in Goyko.
Power: Mountains have the ability to take your breath away, to reestablish your base of power, to find a new level of grounding.
Relative: Time is all relative. The small rocks were once large mountains. The large mountains will someday be small rocks. And so the cycle continues.
Rib Sticker: This was an image and a morning that will stick to my ribs and be part of who I am as a photographer. Special moments.
Room with a View: Dzhonglha might have the most ideal room with a view. Over 95% of the people in the Everest Region never make the short detour to take in the monumental scene of Ama Dablam.
Slice: A little slice of heaven. Thame, Nepal. With large mountain overseers, and small plots of land, we find so much relative peace and comfort.
Snap: Hidden among the glorious Rhododendrons you can still find little snaps of wild Nepal and the smaller nature of this grand landscape.
Splendor: In this dry lands we don't see a-lot of standing water. We are then exceptionally drawn to places where it feels so magical.
The Edge: All too often we think of a mountain summit as being one peak, one point. All too often we have multiple edges that take shape in the lower light of the mornings or evenings.
The Massif: Gokyo Ri provides one of the most impressive views of the Everest Massif. A massif is a principal mountain mass, for example, a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits. From here you can see 3 of the worlds 14 highest peaks and numerous other lofty summits.
Together: Ama Dablam and its two peaks appear as one in the main light of the day. The other neighbors feel together as each shares a little bit of the morning light.
Towering: Thamserku is connected by a ridge leading eastward to Kangtega. Thamserku is a prominent mountain to the east of Namche Bazaar and it towers over the entire valley throughout the day.
Veiled: The way the peaks hold their snow in veils is a result of the right balance of sun and cold. Too much of either and they lose their magic and turn to ice or dust.
Watcher: Namche Bazar is the heart of the Sherpa culture as a capital and cultural center and while it has numerous peaks that tower it only felt like it had one that was really watching, Kongde Ri.
Worth It: 4am wakeup. Losing the trail. Sub freezing temps. Fresh snow. High altitude, all worth it.
Wouldn't Change a Thing: I wouldn't change a thing on this fine morning with Cho Oyu overlooking Gokyo on this sunrise morning.
Yak Attack: As I heard the Yak's approaching I was so excited to see this amazing mountain animal and even more excited as they filled my frame with Cho Oyu and Yak.