Remote from the world . . .people . . .the virus . . .

[David Paterson]

 . . . but we can't all shift to Kicho Tal (Ice Lake) the Tibetan Border country in the  Manang Highlands of north-central Nepal; photograph taken in 1996. The Manang Highlands were empty, silent and atmospheric / as wilderness usually is. Today - 25 years ago - a  throng of trekking companies has meant that the emptiness and silence have gone. but perhaps there is still safety from Covid 19.

[Bent Hjarbo]

Very nice picture, and good to hear from you, hope you are well

[Hugh_3170]

Yes David, the same from me also.

The ochre colour is very strong - how representative is it of the area?  I  am guessing mid to late summer.

Very nice picture, and good to hear from you, hope you are well

[David Paterson]

Thanks Hugh, and you are pretty close about the season - early October - still very warm in Nepal and could be called late summer.

This region is very dry. A lot of Nepal's climate/weather is heavily influenced by the Bay of Bengal - warm, moist winds flow north from there, and are lifted by the Himalayas into cold high-altitude air. Virtually all their moisture is dropped as snow, so that north of the main Himalayan range there is very little left to fall. The much lower hill country along the Tibetan border is extremely arid, as a result.

[Akira]

It's always nice to hear from you, Dave.  The image reminds me of the fascinating adventurous story of Ekai Kawaguchi, the first Japanese Buddhist monk who entered then isolated Tibet about 120 years ago.

Hope you stay safe and feel comfortable at home.

[Birna Rørslett]

So nice to have you back Dave -- who wouldn't wish to be in such a serene spot far far away from today's menaces and challenges !!

[Anthony]

Lovely photo, sadly Nepal is not having a great time currently.

[David Paterson]

Thank you, Akira-san, Antony and Birna - it feels good to be among you again. I won't e able post any new work, or at most a small handful. But I will try to find the best unseen images from my large archive.

[Hugh_3170]

Hi David, thanks for the explanation - sadly I have never been there, so it gives me some context.  Am looking forward to other treasures that may be lurking in your archives. 

Thanks Hugh, and you are pretty close about the season - early October - still very warm in Nepal and could be called late summer.

This region is very dry. A lot of Nepal's climate/weather is heavily influenced by the Bay of Bengal - warm, moist winds flow north from there, and are lifted by the Himalayas into cold high-altitude air. Virtually all their moisture is dropped as snow, so that north of the main Himalayan range there is very little left to fall. The much lower hill country along the Tibetan border is extremely arid, as a result.

[David Paterson]

Even the hills of home can provide the solitude so many of us seek - for UK members, this is Glencoe in  sping 2009. I have walked and climbed there many times and have rarely seen another human being (in spite of its popularity).

[rosko]

Thanks, Dave, for these pictures.

Glencoe valley is one of my best memories when we met in Scotland, 5 years ago...
 

[Luc]

Hi Dave, it's great to see your images again. I hope you're doing ok.

[David Paterson]

Thank you, Luc and Francis - is it 5 years already? Time flies, especially when life is good.

Next - a third and last mountain image, for now. More later, probably. This is the Serrania de Ronda, just a few miles inland from the crowded beaches of southern Spain.

[Hugh_3170]

Love the lighting on the Serrania de Ronda.  Beautifully captured.

[golunvolo]

Thank you for sharing all this Dave, inspiring work always