Our crew includes Sherpa, Rai, Newari, Tamang, and even a Hindu Brahmin. I was amazed that they always got along well together despite differences in religion and ancestry. Many orchids and other flowers hang from the moss-clad trees along a faint jungle trail to the Sherpa village of Tashigaon, the last village we would see on the way to Makalu Base Camp. Donald heads up the trail on another glorious sunny day. We've left Tashigaon for the high mountains.
Snow arrives during the night.
Climbing the ridge from Khongma past Kalo Pokari. We camp in the snow at Dobatak, but the weather continues to get worse and we retreat the next day. Our porters don't have the gear for so much snow. Hoarfrost coats the prayer flags at Shipton La, named after a British mountaineer. I have to use flash at midday because the clouds are so thick.