Mt. Nanda Devi (Alt: 7,816 m; 25,643 ft), View from Auli, Himalayas
'Directly in front of me was the sheer West Face of Nanda Devi, all 10,000 feet of it still unclimbed, sometimes described as one of the last great challenges of modern mountaineering. Looking up, with the eagles circling high above, I felt I was staring at the walls of Mordor. Someone would undoubtedly die trying to climb it." - from "Nanda Devi, a Journey to the Last Sanctuary" by Hugh Thomson.
A B&W conversion of the original coloured version, this photo was taken just a day after a massive snowfall in the area, something that was reported in the press after 8 trekkers exploring the Valley-of-Flowers/Bedni Bugyal trek to Badrinath, all very experienced, nearly got stranded after all routes got snowed in. The cold and the altitude also claimed its personal casualty for me when my 3 year old daughter fell very ill due to altitude sickness on the day this photo was taken. We had to abandon Auli and Badrinath the next day and go downhill to Rishikesh.
The Himalayas can be magnificent and cruel, all in the same breath!
Photo taken at 10,500 feet altitude. 23rd Highest mountain in the world.
Mt. Nanda Devi (Alt: 7,816 m; 25,643 ft), View from Auli, Himalayas
'Directly in front of me was the sheer West Face of Nanda Devi, all 10,000 feet of it still unclimbed, sometimes described as one of the last great challenges of modern mountaineering. Looking up, with the eagles circling high above, I felt I was staring at the walls of Mordor. Someone would undoubtedly die trying to climb it." - from "Nanda Devi, a Journey to the Last Sanctuary" by Hugh Thomson.
A B&W conversion of the original coloured version, this photo was taken just a day after a massive snowfall in the area, something that was reported in the press after 8 trekkers exploring the Valley-of-Flowers/Bedni Bugyal trek to Badrinath, all very experienced, nearly got stranded after all routes got snowed in. The cold and the altitude also claimed its personal casualty for me when my 3 year old daughter fell very ill due to altitude sickness on the day this photo was taken. We had to abandon Auli and Badrinath the next day and go downhill to Rishikesh.
The Himalayas can be magnificent and cruel, all in the same breath!
Photo taken at 10,500 feet altitude. 23rd Highest mountain in the world.