Previous Trips

A very friendly couple in Kermi, Humla, where I stayed over night on my way to Hilsa on the boarder with Tibet.

This is typical of many nomads in Humla. When the weather window opens they take around 100 goats fitted with small pouches and move salt from Tibet into Humla, Nepal and take back rice. The route between Simikot and Hilsa has been used by these people for centuries.

Heading east from Hilsa, the landscape changes significantly. Steep and jagged mountain sides make trekking hard work. This photograph was taken on the way from Hilsa to Til in Limi Valley, Humla.

As part of the Nepali Language Course all Brigade of Gurkha Officers complete the Dhoko Race, which all potential Gurkha Soldiers need to pass as part of their selection process. The route is 5km and has a height gain of 500m. Individuals have to complete it in under 48 mins carrying a load of 25kg (55lb). I came 5th out of 12 and did it in 46 mins. Respectable but not ground breaking.

This is a traditional design of houses in Humla. It allows for the steepness of the terrain and maximises space by using other peoples roofs for working or storage.

This is a traditional trap used to catch snow leopards in Limi Valley, Humla. If the villagers know there is a snow leopard in the area they will sacrifice a goat to entice the leapord into the trap.

This tremendously dramatic landscape dwarfs the large herd of yak moving carefully into the valley floor.

A tremendous view towards the small village of Jharkot and Thorang La (5416m) which is just behind the ‘V’ formed by the moutain ridge lines in the distance

This was a very cold and windy campsite prior to reaching Thorang Lar (5416m).

The team at Paldor base camp. Paldor (5928m) is the snowy peak in the background.

I am just about ready to go and recce the route across the glacier with my climbing partners. This was essential to identify where the large cravasses were, of which there were many.

Looking back towards high camp in the glacier below shortly after sunrise. Although it looks warm, the temperature was well below zero and the wind made it feel far colder.

Standing ontop of Paldor’s second summit (5850m). We did not reach the summit as the route in was deemed too dangerous. The mountains in the background lead towards Tibet.

A small village which sits in the shadow of Mt Mansalu (8,156m), the eighth heighest mountain in the world. The village is really only occupied during the winter when the villages higher up trail migrate due to the harsh weather conditions.

The great things about the Mansalu Circuit is the distinct change in people as you head north. These were the first people to start using Tibetan words rather than Nepali. They asked me for ‘shim-shim’ which is Tibetan for sweets.