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Christopher John

A man, no plan, a camera and some travel guides

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Coming back down, and able to breathe oxygen easily again, I’m far more able to appreciate the beauty and culture in these stunning mountains. This is one of my favourite photos of the whole trip. A massive thank you to everyone who helped get me to basecamp and make it the experience it was. No one more so than the porters who carried our gear, and our guides who became friends. Then of course the friends that became so much more. A shared experience that brought us together and will always be my happy place in heart and mind. Love you all. Another #sunrise above Mount Everest picture? Go on then... That moment just before sunrise when the sun is hiding behind an 8,848m high mountain… Everest Base Camp. When I walk in the Yorkshire Dales, and read how the valleys were carved by ancient glacial fields, it takes a lot for my imagination. To arrive at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier, the worlds highest and most famous (probably deadly too) glacier, it is truly humbling. Just follow this groove, carved in this most remarkable of landscapes, and I’ll find myself at the foot of Everest… Nepalese people are the most beautiful people in the world. Turns out, so are the horses. Nepalese porters are the most energy-efficient load-carriers in the world – trekking barefoot across Himalayan glaciers more than 5000 metres above sea level as they lug loads in excess of their own body-weights by a head strap called a namlo. Sunrise! And of course the first thing the glorious light falls upon are the highest peaks of the Himalayas, Pumori, Nuptse, Lhotse and of course Sagarmāthā, the head in the sky, known in Tibetan as Chomolungma, the Holy Mother, but in the Western world we call her Everest, and she is beautiful… Maybe it’s the altitude talking, but even the snow is more beautiful up here! What better place to pause, and reflect with one last look back at Ama Dablam before we move onto Everest base camp. Mountain and man-made stupas equally take my breath away at this altitude, or what little breath I have left… THE legend. THE best guide Nepal has ever known. THE @sonamghale61 … Start Monday like a legend, and talking of legends, here’s more of the gang, @melissa_arries, @sarahlgeorge and Nia in the background (who’s still a legend despite being too cool for Instagram 😂). Love these guys… More legends. Bhim and Khali, two of the best guides in the Himalayas! Time to meet more of the gang/legends/friends for life (do not delete as all applicable)… For all the amazing views, it was the time with friends that indubitably make the memories. Let me introduce you to the gang starting with two amazing women, @sightseeing_sinders and Kathrine! Going above the snow line, do not expect to see my face again! Another cracking view of Ama Dablam. I mean let’s be honest, there aren’t any bad views. This ones half blocked by a mani stone, and still demands your focus! At 6,812m Ama Dablam “the Matterhorn of the Himalayas” dominated the sky for days of our trek and provided me with my favourite photo of the whole trip. Ama Dablam means "Mother's necklace"; the long ridges on each side like the arms of a mother (ama) protecting her child, and the hanging glacier thought of as the dablam, the traditional double-pendant containing pictures of the gods, worn by Sherpa women. Look out for her in the backdrop of most of my photos for the next few days as we climb ever closer to Mount Everest. Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all. Mani stones are intentionally placed along the roadsides and rivers to form mounds or cairns, as an offering to the spirits, particularly carved or inscribed with the six syllabled mantra of Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. everywhere we went, the beautiful Nepalese people greeted us with smiles and open arms. That’s not to say that no one judged us… After a few lovely days in Namche, it’s time to climb again, many valleys to cross on ever scarier bridges… Ever heard of Sir Edmund Hillary? Nearly 5,000 miles from home and the straight stone walls of Khumjung remind me of Yorkshire... Make Friday epic. Epic doesn’t come from climbing mountains, it comes from your attitude. Whatever you do today. Conquer it. Okay insta community, impress me: what is this bird? First sight of Everest deserves a jazz hands group shot right? There is no mountain view in the world that could make me as happy as spending time with these loons again! There was an overwhelming emotion, as I caught my first sight of Mount Everest (don’t worry I will get a lot closer). There are some things you have known existed all your life, you’ve no idea when you knew, you’ve just always known, and now here it is before you. I can’t explain the emotion. It’s something akin to surprise, wonderment and achievement. If there is something you’ve always wanted, voice it out loud. Walk the Great Wall of China, ski to the South Pole, drive across a desert. Say them out loud. These things exist. Go find them. Go experience them. Two things I love about this photograph, that are blatantly obvious but still striking when seen close up.
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