NEPAL pictures by pdronkers

1.jpg Lots of preparation;  sorting from a batch of 700 Balance Bars. PD photo image by pdronkers

2.jpg Coming into Kathmandu from a layover in Bangkok. PD photo image by pdronkers

3.jpg The mountain of climbing gear in the Kathmandu International Airport, where we met our Agent, Tendy Sherpa, with Curtis in front.  PD photo image by pdronkers

4.jpg Not exactly REI, but it&#039;ll work.  PD photo image by pdronkers

5.jpg After an 8 hour bus ride, we arrive in Pokhara with our first views of the Himalayas.  PD photo image by pdronkers

6.jpg Pokhara. PD photo image by pdronkers

7.jpg On the first day of the approach.  BE photo image by pdronkers

8.jpg Dhaulagiri I (26,795 feet) -- the seventh highest mountain in the world.  PD photo image by pdronkers

10.jpg Village at around 5,000 feet, with Dhaulagiri II in the background.  PD photo image by pdronkers

11.jpg PD photo image by pdronkers

12.jpg Mostly rice terraces.  PD photo image by pdronkers

14.jpg I didn&#039;t stage this -- I just shoot.  PD photo image by pdronkers

15.jpg Curtis hanging out with the locals.  PD photo image by pdronkers

16.jpg Cactus carvings.  PD photo image by pdronkers

17.jpg Family on day 2 of the trek.  PD photo image by pdronkers

18.jpg Oak and rhododendron forests nearing the Jailja La -- our first pass.  PD photo image by pdronkers

19.jpg Cloud opening and sunset from the Jailja La.  PD photo image by pdronkers

20.jpg The non-alpine-style kitchen tent. Home to LG and the Lakpas, plus the kitchen and storage unit.  PD photo image by pdronkers

22.jpg Blue, with Dhaulagiri I beyond.  PD photo image by pdronkers

23.jpg Rhododendrons on the descent to Dhorpatan.  PD photo image by pdronkers

24.jpg Dhaulagiri II.  PD photo image by pdronkers

25.jpg Villagers returning to Dhorpatan while we head to the next big pass.  PD photo image by pdronkers

26.jpg The crew prepping for another day at a small backcountry outpost. The previous pass went smoothly but low visibility precluded photos. PD photo image by pdronkers

27.jpg Kids in Pelma.  PD photo image by pdronkers

28.jpg Dense conglomeration of huts on the trail heading out from Pelma.  PD photo image by pdronkers

29.jpg Looking in the direction we&#039;d come thus far.  You could say the approach involved a few ups and downs. PD photo image by pdronkers

31.jpg Looking into the Seng Khola.  Day 9 or so.  PD photo image by pdronkers

32.jpg 150 foot tall ice flows along the north side of the Seng Khola river valley.  PD photo image by pdronkers

33.jpg The German and English hunting duo -- after their helcopter had dropped them nearby and they had met up with their staff of 20 or so. image by pdronkers

34.jpg After this camp, we ascended to the final, and highest, pass of the trek to Dolpo.  PD photo image by pdronkers

35.jpg The view of what we had already crossed.  PD photo image by pdronkers

36.jpg Nice views but brutal for the donkeys.  PD photo image by pdronkers

37.jpg Self portrait before the last pass at about 15,000 feet. image by pdronkers

38.jpg At last, descending into the Barbung Khola river valley on the west side of the Dhaulagiri Range.  PD photo image by pdronkers

39.jpg Nearing Tarakot and the Barbung Khola -- now officially within Dolpo.  PD photo image by pdronkers

40.jpg Ceiling painting in a small prayer temple.  PD photo image by pdronkers

41.jpg Blue and Curtis moving east along the Barbung Khola after dropping 7,000 vertical feet to get here from the final pass. PD photo image by pdronkers

42.jpg Crossing this bridge takes one to Tibet.  It was guarded by a police post, but we were able to snap a few photos in the middle.  PD photo image by pdronkers

43.jpg Massive vertical relief on the Barbung Khola.  PD photo image by pdronkers

45.jpg Can you pick your nose with your tonuge?  PD photo image by pdronkers

46.jpg Nearing Kakkotgaon on the 14th day of the expedition.  PD photo image by pdronkers

47.jpg Kakkotgaon -- the last village before our attempts to reach base camp.  PD photo image by pdronkers

50.jpg Curious child peering out from hand-carved windows.  PD photo image by pdronkers

51.jpg Family at home in Kakkot.  PD photo image by pdronkers

52.jpg The morning after this photo was taken, Curtis declared that he&#039;d had enough and began making preparations to abandon the expedition.  PD photo image by pdronkers

53.jpg View of what we had believed to be Putha Hiunchuli, from the pass camp.  PD photo image by pdronkers

54.jpg Blue with a ridiculous load.  PD photo image by pdronkers

56.jpg Pulling into the place we&#039;d dreamed about -- the Kaya Khola highlands, with Churen Himal behind.   PD photo image by pdronkers