From Brahma to Buddha, Spring 2010

Peter goes up for a shot

Jeremy rejects him

Eliot and Jeremy waiting for the rebound. We went on to win the game 44 to 22, although it should have been a lot closer.l

We also took a visit to SECMOL, an NGO that focuses on sustainable development and education in Ladakh. Here is their solar panel array that powers their campus. Sunlight is one of the thigns that Ladakh is blessed with, and a few solar power initiatives have been very successful in brining at least a small amount of electricity to some of the most remote places.

To start the trek we crossed over the Zanskar river to our ponies waitign on the other side. Eliot and Haley head over.

Starting out, heading to our first camp at Skiu

Taking a break by the Markha river

Every morning and night we gathered in the dining tent for food. Margie and Peter waiting for dinner.

Our ponies on the trail

Margie, looking down into Markha valley.

Eliot and Mgorup, our guide, heading up the valley

Eliot and Mgorup

A 'Mani' stone, carved with the ubiquitous mantra "Om mani padme hoon"

One of the numerous mani walls on the trek

Jeremy and Haley in the valley

Eliot and Marige near a mani wall

Taking a break in Hangkar village

Peter working in the field at Hangkar

Eliot taking a turn at the plow--it's actually quite difficult!

Eliot nearing our campsite, surrounded by stupas

Our camp in Hangkar

India in the sky

Eiot in a cave near Hangkar, during our rest day

Jeremy up in the mountains

Jeremy and Haley crossing over a frozen river

Haley taking a break on the top of the ridge, heading towards Nimaling

The rest of the group taking a break

Eliot heading down to camp at Nimaling

and then crossing the frozen river

Jeremy, Haley and Margie crossing the river

Dinner!

Camp at Nimaling the next morning, covered by about 2 inches

More snow

Starting the ascent up towards the pass

Jeremy in the snow

The attack team for the pass

Eliot and Mgorup in the distance

Mountains in the clouds

Eliot and Mgorup make snow angels near the top

Eliot starting the final ascent

The view near the top: mountains

Margie near the top, you can see the pass at the top right

At the top! And cold! We reached the top just as a snow storm hit, obscuring all our views and making things very cold

Eating lunch at the top, hiding behind rocks to avoid the wind

On top of the pass, just under 17,000 ft, with complete white out behind

Putting up prayer flags

Eliot ties them up

The view back down, after the storm

Starting the descent. What took about 2/3 hours on the way up only took about 30 mins on the way down.

The last night on the trek we had a dancing and singing party.

Complete with bonfire

GLAB floating

Dorje, a Tibetan, and one of our two pony men

Kumar, a Nepali, and the head cook

One of the numerous lizards we saw on our way out of the valley

Back on the road and on our way to leh