Pedicabs in Kathmandu

Final Approach Then, Lukla Airport, Nepal

The year 2000. Final approach to Lukla airfield. The short airstrip goes uphill and the pilot pulls up at the last second to land. The uphill slope helps slow the airplane. I was lucky enough to have a seat on the airplane right behind the cockpit. Looking out from the cockpit like this gives the impression that we're diving into the hillside. The runway was a dirt airstrip that was paved the following year.

Final Approach Now

The year 2016. Final approach to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal. The runway was paved in 2001, but is still just as thrilling as ever.

The most dangerous airport in the world

Lukla Airport in Himalayas in Nepal. Looking down the runway, it's hard to tell that there's a 12 degree slope and that it drops off at the end.

On the Lukla Flight

Passing out cotton balls (to plug your ears) and hard candies.

Alpine Flying

Flying through the Himalayas toward Lukla.

Mt. Everest

Alpenglow on Mt. Everest, UNESCO #120 Sagarmatha N.P., Nepal

Praying Yak

Yaks are everywhere along the trekking routes in the Himalayas. They're used to transport everything from lumber to cases of beer. I was usually so preoccupied with not getting trappled or pushed off the trail that I didn't get any decent photos of any. At one point along the path, I turned to look back at the scenery and saw this young yak staring up into the sky framed by the prayer flags as if it were praying and snapped a quick shot. It has become one of my favorite memories of that adventure.

Young Monks

Procession to Tengboche Monastery somewhere in the Himalayas, Nepal.

Landing

Flight from Kathmandu lands at the airstrip in Lukla

Glacial runoff in the Himalayas

A trekker takes in the view of the Himalayan range

Teahouse along the trekking route

Young sherpa girl practices her alphabet while her mother tends the to the fire and cooking

Sherpa woman cooking while singing with her daughter

Lone trekker looks toward the summit of Cholatse

Yak grazing in the Himalayas

Posing for a photo with Cho Oyu in the background

Cairn and prayer flags with Everest, Lhotse and Makalu in the background

My sherpa, Kumar, carrying a large load

Me and my sherpa on the ridge overlooking the Ngozumpa glacier with Cho Oyu in the background

Himalayas

360° panorama of the Himalayas along the trekking route to Gokyo Ri near Namche Bazaar, Nepal. This is not a very good image when enlarged since it was taken without a tripod and stitched from film scans.

Mules returning down the mountain

The view from our porter's home in Lukla

Spinning a giant prayer wheel in Lukla

This view hasn't changed much in 16 years

Yak-cow hybrid used to carry all kind of loads up the mountain.

Himalayan Transport

Porters carrying huge loads using only their heads.

Namaste!

Uneven rock path throughout most of the Khumbu region

Circling clockwise around the mani stones

Nepalese boy

One of the few non-suspension bridges along the trekking route.

Along the sacred route

Hybrid yak-cows hauling gear

Looking down the valley from our teahouse room

Landslide from the 2015 Earthquake

Looking down through the suspension bridge

Subsistence farming include vegetables like this Choy Sum

Horses for hire