"When you stand at the high passes of the Himalayas, is it the flag that moves and flutters? Or is it the wind ? Neither, it is your mind ". Hui Neng, 6th Buddhist patriarch of China (713 AD). Looking over the third Gokyo lake, trying to catch ones breath in the thin air. The Gokyo lakes sit between 4700 and 5000m (15,400 to 16,400 ft) above sea level are the world’s highest freshwater lake system consisting of six main lakes. Shot taken on Fuji Velvia slide film. Nepal
If you get to spend a bit of time in the high altitude Himalayas you soon start to appreciate the old Nepalese pilots adage that “we don't fly when there are clouds, because the clouds have rocks in them”. Peeking though the clouds here is the incredible spire of Ama Dablam at 6,812 metres (22,349 ft). Ama Dablam translates to "Mother's necklace" as the long ridges on each side are said to resemble 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. Shot on Fuji Velvia slide film. Nepalese Himalaya, Nepal
We were told conditions could be treacherous crossing the Cho La; and treacherous they were with very limited visibility and fresh snow. At 5,420 metres (17,782 ft) above sea level a glacier covers the entire saddle of the pass and fresh snow can conceal dangerous crevasses. When trekking in Nepal you often end up with some very hardy stray dogs following you for days on end in the high altitude in the hope of obtaining some food. The sherpas happily let them find a path across the pass first! While we missed the views of the 7000 to 8000m (23,000 to 26,000 ft) peaks around the pass I did manage to get this shot just as we entered the ice field before the clouds closed in completely. We spent the best part of a month trekking at altitude in Nepal; and crossing this pass was certainly one of the highlights. The Cho La or Chhugyuma La pass is in the Solukhumbu District in northeastern Nepal and connects the Gokyo valley to the Everest valley. Shot on Fuji Velvia slide film. Nepalese Himalaya, Nepal
