Nepal

Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8167m) with ridge of Tukuche Peak (6920m) to right

Slope below Tukuche Peak

ANEMONE VITIFOLA

IMPATIENS SCABRIDA

ALLIUM SP.

Muktinath Nunnery

Prayer-wheels

Taxi-driver attired with traditional Nepali hat

Stewardess aboard Yeti Air See: http://www.yetiairlines.com/

Chris with lodge owner at Muktinath

DELPHINIUM STAPELIOSUM

Peeling bark of Himalayan Birch - 'Bhojpatra' (King's Paper) BETULA UTILIS

RHODODENDRON LEPIDOTUM

Bridge across Kali Gandaki, Mustang District

Early morning light on Dhaulagiri I and Tukuche Peak

Another charming Namaste

ALL visitors, whether 'old-hands' like myself or inexperienced young Westerners on their first journey to the Indian sub-continent, have a responsibility to be aware of the dangers when trekking in mountains. To assume that the cheap guide booked on the "spur of the moment" (sometimes when those doing the hiring have never even walked in much lower-level mountains in their own countries let alone the much more challenging Himalaya) through an agent in Kathmandu or the porter(s) they hire "on-the-spot" upon arrival by bus at the starting point of their trek, are experienced and properly equipped to cope with altitude or adverse weather is false! Given the terrible events in Nepal in 2014 (over-shadowed by the earthquakes in 2015), I feel duty-bound to offer my initial thoughts and advice on KEEPING SAFE IN THE HIMALAYA see: