The HIMEX 2016 expedition is a full success. Everybody makes it safely back to Base Camp by Sunday. The climbers and sherpas are happy and relieved that everything worked out well. Mathias’ high altitude studio worked perfectly well and he was able to shoot portraits of all members of the Himex expedition. From exhausted climbers to the great sherpas and a relieved expedition leader Russell Brice. Our days at Base Camp are coming to an end and the long journey back home begins. Rob had to leave one day earlier to catch his flight to NYC. By covering the 42 km from Base Camp to Namche in just one day, he proved that he not only can be really fast uphill, but also downhill.
ABOUT THE IMAGES :
(Photo 1) Mt. Everest is towering above Lohla (West Shoulder) and the flank of Nuptse.
(Photo 2) Phurpa Tashi, the expedition’s Sirdar (lead sherpa), gets a hair cut before the HIMEX group shoot. With 21 Everest summits, Phurpa is not only the record holder for Everest ascents, but also one of Nepal’s most experienced sherpas.
(Photo 3) The HIMEX 2016 expedition team. The photographer is missing in the image for obvious reasons…
(Photo 4) Yaks are carrying Mathias’ photo studio the long way (60 km) back to Lukla.
(Photo 5) Everest summiteers Jaco Ottink, Tracy Metcalf and Greg Paul, try to blend into the regular trekker crowd by clipping colorful umbrellas to their backpacks, on the way back from base camp. They resisted taking the umbrellas up to the summit as well….
(Photo 6) There is a reason why Lukla is called the most dangerous airport in the word. The runway is not only short but also has a considerable tilt, so the planes are able to come to a stop before hitting the wall at the end of it.
(Photo 7) For that reason we had the privilege to fly back to Kathmandu by helicopter. Expedition doctor Tracy, Greg, and our guide Latchu, just managed to squeeze in, next to all our luggage.
(Photo 8) Tata and goodbye from Nepal!!
The finished work can be seen in various magazines in the coming months, among them in the Guardian Weekend Magazine and GQ Germany.
