Porters carry their heavy loads up and down the often steep paths of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

Porters carry their heavy loads up and down the often steep paths of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

In the tiny village of Jagat on the Annapurna Circuit trail, both young and adult locals play a Nepali betting game.

In the tiny village of Jagat on the Annapurna Circuit trail, both young and adult locals play a Nepali betting game.

Nepali porters wait until workers dynamite rock along the Annapurna Circuit trail, near Tal. One carries telephone poles by bearing the weight on a strap placed on his forehead. Many porters wear plastic flip-flops while carrying heavy and awkward l

Nepali porters wait until workers dynamite rock along the Annapurna Circuit trail, near Tal. One carries telephone poles by bearing the weight on a strap placed on his forehead. Many porters wear plastic flip-flops while carrying heavy and awkward loads into the mountains.

Donkeys carry loads up into the mountains.

Donkeys carry loads up into the mountains.

German trekker Anne Sablotny crosses a bridge near Ledar. The Thorong La Pass, the apex of the trail, is a two-day uphill climb from Ledar.

German trekker Anne Sablotny crosses a bridge near Ledar. The Thorong La Pass, the apex of the trail, is a two-day uphill climb from Ledar.

Barbed wire and Tibetan prayer flags protect the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple in a remote area on the Annapurna Circuit.

Barbed wire and Tibetan prayer flags protect the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple in a remote area on the Annapurna Circuit.

A pilgrim sprints underneath the 108 waterspouts of the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple. The number 108 is auspicious in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and receiving the water from each spout purifies the pilgrim.

A pilgrim sprints underneath the 108 waterspouts of the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple. The number 108 is auspicious in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and receiving the water from each spout purifies the pilgrim.

Just before the sun sets, and the wind howls through the barren canyon, a trekker stands above the town of Kagbeni.

Just before the sun sets, and the wind howls through the barren canyon, a trekker stands above the town of Kagbeni.

A horse yawns in the morning in front of a Buddhist offering site. Carved and painted on the stones behind him is the sacred mantra om mani padme hum , which many consider to be the most spoken mantra in Buddhism.

A horse yawns in the morning in front of a Buddhist offering site. Carved and painted on the stones behind him is the sacred mantra om mani padme hum, which many consider to be the most spoken mantra in Buddhism.

A sister and brother play outside of their family’s guesthouse on the Annapurna Circuit.

A sister and brother play outside of their family’s guesthouse on the Annapurna Circuit.

In the Himalaya, yak meat is a common offering.

In the Himalaya, yak meat is a common offering.

Clouds light up in the evening sun in Tatopani, Nepal.

Clouds light up in the evening sun in Tatopani, Nepal.

Dutch trekker Ron Tindal receives a shave near the hot springs of Tatopani on a rare rest day while traveling the Annapurna Circuit.

Dutch trekker Ron Tindal receives a shave near the hot springs of Tatopani on a rare rest day while traveling the Annapurna Circuit.

A Maoist rebel fills out a receipt for a payment made by a foreign Annapurna Circuit trekker. Such payments, or “taxes,” were required by the insurgent group in order to pass on the trail. Injuries have been reported by trekkers who refused to pay t

A Maoist rebel fills out a receipt for a payment made by a foreign Annapurna Circuit trekker. Such payments, or “taxes,” were required by the insurgent group in order to pass on the trail. Injuries have been reported by trekkers who refused to pay the fees.

After a 10-year guerilla war, which ended in November 2006, a peace agreement was reached between the Nepal government and the Maoists, giving Maoists a part in government, and the UN the authority to disarm them.

A Maoist quote, presumably written in English to make an impression on foreign trekkers, is painted on a massive stone on the trail.

A Maoist quote, presumably written in English to make an impression on foreign trekkers, is painted on a massive stone on the trail.

A young girl near Jagat wears a marijuana bandana.

A young girl near Jagat wears a marijuana bandana.

Kumar, a Nepali porter, leans up against a sign on Poon Hill in the early morning. Annapurna Circuit.

Kumar, a Nepali porter, leans up against a sign on Poon Hill in the early morning. Annapurna Circuit.

A female monkey reaches straight into the fire for bits of food at the Swayambhunath Stupa, or "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu.

A female monkey reaches straight into the fire for bits of food at the Swayambhunath Stupa, or "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu.

Shawls for sale in Kathmandu.

Shawls for sale in Kathmandu.

Two men lie in the grass near the intersection of busy streets in Kathmandu.

Two men lie in the grass near the intersection of busy streets in Kathmandu.

A man looks from his home as a motorcycle lights up a street in the exhaust-filled city of Kathmandu.

A man looks from his home as a motorcycle lights up a street in the exhaust-filled city of Kathmandu.

Porters carry their heavy loads up and down the often steep paths of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.
In the tiny village of Jagat on the Annapurna Circuit trail, both young and adult locals play a Nepali betting game.
Nepali porters wait until workers dynamite rock along the Annapurna Circuit trail, near Tal. One carries telephone poles by bearing the weight on a strap placed on his forehead. Many porters wear plastic flip-flops while carrying heavy and awkward l
Donkeys carry loads up into the mountains.
German trekker Anne Sablotny crosses a bridge near Ledar. The Thorong La Pass, the apex of the trail, is a two-day uphill climb from Ledar.
Barbed wire and Tibetan prayer flags protect the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple in a remote area on the Annapurna Circuit.
A pilgrim sprints underneath the 108 waterspouts of the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple. The number 108 is auspicious in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and receiving the water from each spout purifies the pilgrim.
Just before the sun sets, and the wind howls through the barren canyon, a trekker stands above the town of Kagbeni.
A horse yawns in the morning in front of a Buddhist offering site. Carved and painted on the stones behind him is the sacred mantra om mani padme hum , which many consider to be the most spoken mantra in Buddhism.
A sister and brother play outside of their family’s guesthouse on the Annapurna Circuit.
In the Himalaya, yak meat is a common offering.
Clouds light up in the evening sun in Tatopani, Nepal.
Dutch trekker Ron Tindal receives a shave near the hot springs of Tatopani on a rare rest day while traveling the Annapurna Circuit.
A Maoist rebel fills out a receipt for a payment made by a foreign Annapurna Circuit trekker. Such payments, or “taxes,” were required by the insurgent group in order to pass on the trail. Injuries have been reported by trekkers who refused to pay t
A Maoist quote, presumably written in English to make an impression on foreign trekkers, is painted on a massive stone on the trail.
A young girl near Jagat wears a marijuana bandana.
Kumar, a Nepali porter, leans up against a sign on Poon Hill in the early morning. Annapurna Circuit.
A female monkey reaches straight into the fire for bits of food at the Swayambhunath Stupa, or "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu.
Shawls for sale in Kathmandu.
Two men lie in the grass near the intersection of busy streets in Kathmandu.
A man looks from his home as a motorcycle lights up a street in the exhaust-filled city of Kathmandu.

Porters carry their heavy loads up and down the often steep paths of the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.

In the tiny village of Jagat on the Annapurna Circuit trail, both young and adult locals play a Nepali betting game.

Nepali porters wait until workers dynamite rock along the Annapurna Circuit trail, near Tal. One carries telephone poles by bearing the weight on a strap placed on his forehead. Many porters wear plastic flip-flops while carrying heavy and awkward loads into the mountains.

Donkeys carry loads up into the mountains.

German trekker Anne Sablotny crosses a bridge near Ledar. The Thorong La Pass, the apex of the trail, is a two-day uphill climb from Ledar.

Barbed wire and Tibetan prayer flags protect the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple in a remote area on the Annapurna Circuit.

A pilgrim sprints underneath the 108 waterspouts of the Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa temple. The number 108 is auspicious in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and receiving the water from each spout purifies the pilgrim.

Just before the sun sets, and the wind howls through the barren canyon, a trekker stands above the town of Kagbeni.

A horse yawns in the morning in front of a Buddhist offering site. Carved and painted on the stones behind him is the sacred mantra om mani padme hum, which many consider to be the most spoken mantra in Buddhism.

A sister and brother play outside of their family’s guesthouse on the Annapurna Circuit.

In the Himalaya, yak meat is a common offering.

Clouds light up in the evening sun in Tatopani, Nepal.

Dutch trekker Ron Tindal receives a shave near the hot springs of Tatopani on a rare rest day while traveling the Annapurna Circuit.

A Maoist rebel fills out a receipt for a payment made by a foreign Annapurna Circuit trekker. Such payments, or “taxes,” were required by the insurgent group in order to pass on the trail. Injuries have been reported by trekkers who refused to pay the fees.

After a 10-year guerilla war, which ended in November 2006, a peace agreement was reached between the Nepal government and the Maoists, giving Maoists a part in government, and the UN the authority to disarm them.

A Maoist quote, presumably written in English to make an impression on foreign trekkers, is painted on a massive stone on the trail.

A young girl near Jagat wears a marijuana bandana.

Kumar, a Nepali porter, leans up against a sign on Poon Hill in the early morning. Annapurna Circuit.

A female monkey reaches straight into the fire for bits of food at the Swayambhunath Stupa, or "Monkey Temple," in Kathmandu.

Shawls for sale in Kathmandu.

Two men lie in the grass near the intersection of busy streets in Kathmandu.

A man looks from his home as a motorcycle lights up a street in the exhaust-filled city of Kathmandu.

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