Enlightenment

From the trail today we could see Mt. Everest, Nutpse, and Ama Dablam, our objective. The clouds would over take them and then retreat to reveal the ridges and steep faces. Ama Dablam only came out for a moment and we saw our route, steep and spectacular. Logan and I left town for a few hours for a hike in the hills to help acclimate for the mountain. Along the way we cut off the beaten path and found one of the most beautiful places that I've ever been. Small trees hung over the stone trail that lead up a hill. On both sides 6000 meter peaks, rocky and glazed with snow shot in to the clouds. I could feel the satisfaction in my soul. In this place I am happy.

I met with a photojournalist yesterday who had the inside information on all the coming s and goings of the Himalaya. Jonathon, an English guy, had been posting pictures from the mountains via a sat. link. He gave me much insight in to international adventure photography and how to sell and network your photos and multimedia work. This part of the trip is really cracking open.
I woke up this morning and took photos of the mountains at around 4:30. The clouds began to glow and the prayer flags waved in the wind above a quiet town. I feel my photos coming alive now that I am putting more emotion in to them. Making my passion my reality is coming true. I'm very happy and driven right now.

Logan and I feel great, the mountain is going to be crowded and we plan on being on of the first groups up on the ridge. Our expedition is the first to arrive and the Sherpas are breaking trail above the ridge for their expeditions. Sherpas are STRONG. They carry 200 lb. loads up hills that my friend might die on. Hard.

We went up to another town on our hike that was in between two mountains. The trail through the town was divided by stones with Buddist montras carved in to them. Thousands of them pilled on to one another. Incredible. An old man saw the prayer beads on Logans neck and started to chant the montra. We talked for a while and he wished us luck. "Thank you."

We are strangers in a foreign land. We seek to climb mountain to test ourselves and to see some of the most beautiful places on earth, from the top. Out here it is extreme and so are we.

James