In April and May of 2006 I trekked through four valleys in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal. This region, known as the Solokhumbu, is home to the Sherpa people. Living high in the Himalaya the Sherpa are more closely connected geographically, religiously and ancestrally to the Tibetan people than they are to people living in the lowlands of Nepal.

At over 16,500 feet in elevation Gokyo is one of the farthest outposts of habitation in the Everest Region. Located on a glacial lake directly below the massive south face of Cho Oyu, the world’s eighth highest peak, Gokyo has several lodges that serve trekkers and climbers. The lodges are owned and operated by Sherpa people. While I was there the owner of one of the lodges was killed. He was walking from a lower village in the night and fell off the narrow mountain path. Within hours a contingent of Buddhist Monks were summoned from Khumjung to perform a funeral ceremony. In this photo the monks are leading a procession carrying the body into the mountains to perform the traditional cremation.

Canon EOS 5D

Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens

1/200 sec @ F/8

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In April of 2007 I made a solo trek through four valleys in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal. While part of the country of Nepal, this region is largely populated by the Sherpa people, who practice Tibetan Buddhism and whose ancestors are Tibetan. The Chinese occupation of Tibet over the last half century has made practicing traditional Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet very difficult, restricted and often dangerous. In 1959, in the face of growing danger from the Republic of China, the Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India . As the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama has been leading his government in exile and working for peace and the freedom of Tibet ever since. Thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns have also fled Tibet to practice in peace in other parts of the world. Being close to Tibet, both geographically and culturally, the Mt. Everest region is a desirable place for refugee Buddhist monks and nuns to come to. Monasteries are found in many of the villages in the region and carry out their traditional roles as an integral part of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

While trekking through the small village of Thamo in a valley to the southwest of Mt. Everest I came across a partially constructed monastery. The lama in residence was glad to give me a tour. The monastery is being built to house a group of Buddhist nuns who have been worshipping in the village for some years and have outgrown their space. As funds are raised, construction on the new monastery goes forward. The project has been underway for several years and several more years are needed before completion. In the meantime the nuns have been conducting their daily practices in a very small hut that used to be a schoolroom. I was allowed to observe their ceremony and, for a donation to the construction effort, encouraged to take photos. The young nun in the photo is a Tibetan refugee who had first studied in the south of India and had recently moved to the Thamo monastery. During their puja, or ceremony, she never stopped chanting but was very curious about the blond foreigner with the camera. Her inquisitive gaze followed me around the room while many the older nuns continued chanting as if I wasn’t there.

1/50 sec at f/5.6

ISO 1600

Canon 5D

28-135 mm lens

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I have trouble getting inspired to take photographs in the winter even though there is often the most interesting light and fog, snow and ice can create the most mystical settings.  In early February I forced myself out of bed at 4:30 AM for a drive over the Cascade mountains to Rocky Point on Klamath Lake.  In the early dark I could tell it was overcast, but the weather is often more clear on the eastern side of the mountains, so I kept going.  By the time I reached the pass it was raining steadily and I almost turned around.  Arriving at Rocky Point in the dim early light Everything was grey and wet.  I decided that as long as I was there that I might as well do some location scouting and held out a little hope that the rain would stop.  After an hour of driving down backroads I came accross a group of aspen trees engulfed in a tangle of willows.  It was still raining, but I was able to park my vehicle on the side of the road so that I could line up my tripod with the trees from under the protection of the uplifted hatchback.  For a few minutes some faint sun was able to filter through the clouds giving the scene some needed warmth.  Even still, the rain kept spotting my lens.  I was able to keep everything reasonably dry for about ten shots, of which I like this one the best.

Canon EOS 5D

EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens

Gitzo Mountaineer Carbon Tripod

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