A view from Thame monastery looking down the Thame valley with Thermserku and Kantega peaks in the distance, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Tents at Everest Base Camp set up on the glacier among the boulders and holes in the ice, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Pine trees glisten in the early morning sunlight in the remote Hingku Valley, near Mount Everest, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Khumjung village in the Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

The Khumbu Glacier under a sea of stars, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Buddhist prayer flags, Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Tengboche Monastery, Tengboche, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Namche Bazaar is the last town during the trek to Everest Base Camp, seen here with Kongde peak, Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Namche Bazaar is the last town during the trek to Everest Base Camp, seen here with Kongde peak, Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Ama Dablam Base Camp, Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

The Sherpa village of Phortse at night in the Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

The last village on the Everest Base Camp trek lying at 5100m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Namche Bazaar is the last town during the trek to Everest Base Camp, seen here with Kongde peak, Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

A view of Mount Everest, distant peak to the left behind the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge, from Kongde, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

In the spring the glacier begins to melt but some of the bigger rocks create shadow areas protecting the ice underneath, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Khumjung village in the Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

A puja adorned with prayer flags on the Khumbu glacier at Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

The little mountain village and monastery of Thame in the Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

The little mountain village and monastery of Thame in the Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at 5350m seen here as a scattering of tents in the distance at the back of the Khumbu glacier, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

A view from Kongde looking down on Namche, the biggest village in Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Ama Dablam, 6812m, in the Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

A trekker in the Everest region on the way up to Everest Base Camp seen here walking in front of Cholatse, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at the end of the Khumbu glacier lies at 5350m, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Everest Base Camp at 5350m seen here as a scattering of tents in the distance at the back of the Khumbu glacier, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Khumbu glacier with Changtse, Everest and Nuptse, Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Solukhumbu District, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Portrait of an elderly Sherpa couple in traditional clothing, sitting outdoors, look at the camera, at Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Villager carrying firewood on his back from Trashinga to Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu Himal region of Nepal, Asia

Climbers on an ice wall, Island Peak 6189m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Trekkers arriving at Everest Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Trekkers in Chukhung Valley, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Ama Dablam 6812m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Crossing ladders in the Khumbu icefall on Mount Everest, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

A Sherpa working at Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

A Sherpa near Dingboche hauling gear to Everest Base Camp for the climbing expeditions stops for a quick rest, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Yaks, the beasts of burden in the Himalaya, on their way to Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Summit of Ama Dablam, 6812m, view of Everest, Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khumbu Valley, Nepal, Himalayas, Asia

Climbers on an ice wall, Island Peak 6189m, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Portrait of two Sherpa women of the mountains in traditional clothing, Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Lukla, Solu Khumbu (Everest) Region, Nepal, Asia

A climber at Everest Base Camp the day after he has attempted climbing Everest showing signs of exposure at high altitude, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Female porter at Gokyo Lake, at 4750m, frozen in early morning, Khumbu Himal, Nepal, Asia

Yak used for transporting goods leaving the village of Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu Region of the Himalaya mountains in Nepal, Asia

Chorten, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

A group of Sherpa women indoors around a fire cooking, in the interior of a kitchen in a house in Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Mountains reflected in a lake, Thame, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Asia

Portrait of a Nepali family at the Lang Maya teahouse in the Taktor King area of Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Houses and terraced fields of Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu Region, with mountains in the background, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Yellow tents at Everest Base Camp, Solu Khumbu Everest Region, Sagarmatha National Park, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Sherpas return to Everest Base Camp after taking equipment to Camp 2, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Climbers return to celebrations at Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Region, Nepal, Asia

Mani stones printed with Tibetan prayers beside a track in Solu Khumbu, Nepal, Asia

Longpanga Lake with lateral moraine on the right in the Gokyo Valley in Khumbu Himal in Nepal, Asia

Sang sang rimpoche uses the dorje, a sacred ritual object to make the first decisive cut into the sand mandala on the last day of the mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal. solu khumbu, nepal

Thupten choeling nuns prepare butter-salt tea at nunnery-kitchen. solu khumbu, nepal

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

View up Gokyo Valley, Kyajo River, 6186m, Khumbu Himal, Himalayas, Nepal, Asia

Suspention bridge on the Everest Base Camp Trek, Himalaya mountains, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Web banner in panoramic view

Mani wall, Mani stone, Dudh Kosi valley, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Mani wall, Mani stone, Dudh Kosi valley, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Namche Bazar, Sagarmatha National Park, Mount Everest region, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Nepal

Advertisment for Lodge and Restaurant at the Everest Trail, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Nepal

Trekking group, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Mount Everest Region, Nepal

Sherpa village Thame, Thame Khola valley with Tengkang Poche (6500), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal

Historic stupa at Thame, Bhote Koshi valley, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Glacier lake on Ngozumpa glacier with Cho Oyu (8201), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Sherpa village Khumjung with Ama Dablam (6856), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Tengpoche monastery, Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Holy lake Dudh Pokhari at Gokyo, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha Nationalpark, Nepal

Buddhist monastery at Namche Bazar, Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal

Lobuche Khola valley with Arakamtse (6423), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Historic stupa at Thame, Bhote Koshi valley, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Trekking lodge at Gokyo with Cho Oyu (8201), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal

Sherpa village of Lukla, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Mount Everest region, Nepal

Holy lake Dudh Pokhari near Gokyo and Pharilapche(6017), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Painted Mani wall, Mani stone, Dudh Kosi valley, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Tengpoche monastery, Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

View from Everest Base Camp over Khumbu glacier towards Khumbu Icefall, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Swing bridge made of steel over Dudh Koshi river, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Mount Everest region, Nepal

Trekking group at Dudh Koshi valley with Thamserku (6608), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Trekking group on Khumbu glacier with Nuptse (7861), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Historic stupa near Pangboche with Kongde Ri (6187), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Trekking lodge at Dzonglha (4830), Chola Khola Tal, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Trekking lodge at Gokyo with Pharilapche (6017), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal

Lobuche Khola valley with Arakamtse (6423), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Phakding Sherpa village, Dudh Koshi valley, Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Sherpa and Mountaineer cemetery at Thokla Pass, Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

View over Khumbu glacier towards Nuptse (7861), Khumbu Himal, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Mani wall at Machhermo Sherpa village, Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu, Nepal

Trekking lodge at Gokyo with Cho Oyu (8201), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal

Monument for Sir Edmund Hillary, Khumjung, Sagarmatha National Park, Mount Everest region, Solukhumbu, Khumbu, Nepal

Yak pasture near Machhermo (4410), Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Himal, Nepal