From the field

Gallery

Eight seasons, camera in my pocket. Nothing staged, and nothing taken on a day when someone had better use for my hands.

26 photographs

01 / 06

The approach

Valleys, villages and the long walk in.

4 photographs

A rocky valley opening beneath a skyline of snowy mountains — 02From valley to valley

A village in a wooded valley below snowy peaks — 03A village on the way

A yak grazing below steep mountain peaks — 04Life along the trail

Sajjan Ghale holding trekking poles in front of a snowy wall — 05On the trail

A village in a wooded valley below snowy peaks — 03A village on the way

A yak grazing below steep mountain peaks — 04Life along the trail

Sajjan Ghale holding trekking poles in front of a snowy wall — 05On the trail

02 / 06

Camp

Where the days begin and end.

4 photographs

Expedition tents at the foot of a snowy mountain wall at nightfall — 06Time at camp

Snowy peaks framed by the opening of a tent — 07The view from camp

A camp of tents on a stony glacier below high snowy walls — 08Tents on the moraine

Two climbers getting ready on a snow slope in full sun — 09Before moving on

Snowy peaks framed by the opening of a tent — 07The view from camp

A camp of tents on a stony glacier below high snowy walls — 08Tents on the moraine

Two climbers getting ready on a snow slope in full sun — 09Before moving on

03 / 06

On the rope

Ice, crevasses and the rope between us.

6 photographs

A jumble of seracs and ice blocks under a cloudy sky — 10Among the seracs

A roped climber moving beside an ice wall — 11On the ice wall

Climbers following a fixed rope up a snow slope — 12One rope, one rhythm

A crevassed glacier valley between two high walls — 13A valley of ice

A roped climber walking up a wide snow slope — 14Step by step

Two roped climbers at the foot of an ice wall — 15Ropes on the ice

A roped climber moving beside an ice wall — 11On the ice wall

Climbers following a fixed rope up a snow slope — 12One rope, one rhythm

A crevassed glacier valley between two high walls — 13A valley of ice

A roped climber walking up a wide snow slope — 14Step by step

Two roped climbers at the foot of an ice wall — 15Ropes on the ice

04 / 06

Up high

Ridges, summits and the way back down.

3 photographs

A roped climber on top of a rocky ridge under a heavy sky — 16On the ridge

A climber in a yellow down suit descending a ridge of snow and ice — 17The way down

A climber on a summit holding a banner under a deep blue sky — 18On top

A roped climber on top of a rocky ridge under a heavy sky — 16On the ridge

A climber in a yellow down suit descending a ridge of snow and ice — 17The way down

A climber on a summit holding a banner under a deep blue sky — 18On top

05 / 06

The craft

Rock, ski and rope: the skills behind every climb.

4 photographs

Sajjan Ghale with his helmet, harness and rope in the mountains — 19The guide and his rope

A helmeted climber on a rock face, roped — 20On the rock

A roped climber on a slab of grey rock — 21On the slab

A skier coming down a snowy slope lined with fir trees — 22On skis

Sajjan Ghale with his helmet, harness and rope in the mountains — 19The guide and his rope

A helmeted climber on a rock face, roped — 20On the rock

A roped climber on a slab of grey rock — 21On the slab

A skier coming down a snowy slope lined with fir trees — 22On skis

06 / 06

Alpine style

Light and fast: a small rope team carrying everything, no fixed lines.

4 photographs

Two roped climbers on a steep snow wall, the sun behind them — 23On the snow wall

Climbers with heavy packs on a ridge of rock and snow — 24Rock and snow

Two climbers roped together on a glacier, an ice axe in the snow — 25Two on a rope

A climber on a snowy top holding a small sign — 26At the top

Two roped climbers on a steep snow wall, the sun behind them — 23On the snow wall

Climbers with heavy packs on a ridge of rock and snow — 24Rock and snow

Two climbers roped together on a glacier, an ice axe in the snow — 25Two on a rope

A climber on a snowy top holding a small sign — 26At the top

From the field

The next photographs are on Instagram.

The days in the mountains, as they happen - before they find their place here.