On the road from Kathmandu to the trek starting point at Syabru Bensi
The river we cross to start our trek, and the first of many bridges.
The inargual morning coffee ritual at Syabru Bensi
Justin, Pete, Sujan, and Max start the hike
Syabru Bensi to Lama Hotel
Max, Sujan, and Dik in the morning sun on teh first day.
A teepe made from used plastic cool drink bottles
This bridge does not look reassuring.
A magical forst moment on our first day. We are still below the tree line.
The Village View tea house at Lama Hotel
The inargual evening water ritual at Lama Hotel
Mountains from Lama Hotel
Lama Hotel to Langtang
Looking to the last section of forest before be ascend above the tree line.
The winding dusty path.
A yak, or a dzo. Or a nak or a dzomo. Yaks are boys, naks are girls. Dzos are a cross between a yak/nak and a cow. A Dzomo is a female dzo. Complicated.
Langtang village across the landslide area. The village was wiped out in the 2015 earthquake. Many died.
The prayer scroll from inside a prayer wheel. This was lodged on a wall with other parts that looked to have been smashed in the earthquake.
The mountains above the former Langtang village
Prayer flags at Langtang
A mani wall at Langtang
Another yak/nak or dzo/dzomo.
The mountains above the former Langtang village
A small pagodo at Lamgtang
On the trail to Kainjin, our endpoint on this leg of the trek.
Colourful Kainjin village
Pete and Max in teh afternoon sun at Kyanjin
Colourful Kainjin village
Climbing Kianjin Ri in the afternoon. Man Raj and Sujan on Kyanjin Ri.
Prayer flags on Kyanjin Ri
Climbing Kianjin Ri in the afternoon. L-R: Sujan, Pete, Justin.
Sunrise from Kyanjin village, before climbing Chegori..
Another yak/nak or dzo/dzomo.
Abandoned yak herders huts on the lower slopes of Chergori
The summit of Chergori. This was a gruelling - for me - 1200m climb from Kainjin. The summit is about 40m short of 5000m. It was hard.
On the summit of Chegori. A hard morning climb.
Mountains from Chegori
Man Raj lights a candle at the Kyanjin monastery
Another yak/nak or dzo/dzomo.
A dzo or dzomo that knows how to pose.
Alpine pigeons flock in the high air.
Back below the tree line, in lichen draped forest.
A dzo or dzomo steps lightly thorugh the forest.
Enchanted mossy forest.
Another yak/nak or dzo/dzomo
Pete walking through the forest into teh afternoon sun.
Back at Lama Hotel, ending the first leg of the trek. We turn off for Gosaikunda tomorrow.
Beautiful forest
Marigolds
A cat at a tea stop drawing the last heat from the stove
Pete walking into the lunch stop.
The longest and highest suspension bridge we crossed. Very sound other than the occasional hole in the desking.
More beautiful lichen forest.
More beautiful lichen forest.
More beautiful lichen forest.
On our way to Sing Gompa
Sing Gompa from my tea house room
The temple at SingGompa is largely derelict, but still maintained by some lay people in teh village.
Prayer flags at Sing Gompa
Sunset at Sing Gompa
The tea house cat stands sits on Sujan's back in the sunset
Morning mountain view on our way to Gosaikunda
Man Raj, our guide
Prayer flags strung across a pass on the trail to Gosaikunda
The trail to Gosaikunda
Man Raj and Max sit in the vastness of the landscape above Gosaikunda
The Himalayas from the peak above Gosaikunda
Sunset from Gosaikunda
One of the Gosaikunda lakes, turned blue when Shiva washed snake venom from his throat.
Ice in the morning
Back: Max, Justin, Sujan, Geoff
Front: Dik, Pete
All trails lead to this little village on the trail to Magingoth
Ghopte to Magingoth - Mountains
Down below the tree line again to Magingoth
When the trees close in the lichen flourishes
A pine in the afternoon sun at Magingoth
Sunset at Magingoth
Frosty morning at Magingoth
Walking through the frost, eager to find the sun but lost in the white enchantment
Ferns
The last evening water purification ritual.
The last evening water purification ritual.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Dinner being made at Thotundanda.
Sunrise from Thotundanda
Our last night's stay at Chisapani (trans: cold water), heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake.
The end of the trail in Sundarijal, on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
