This document summarizes a geology field trip to Nepal and Tibet led by Dr. Thomas Laudon. The trip involved traveling from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet in May and returning in June. There were some initial issues arranging accommodations and finding an English-speaking guide, but the group was ultimately able to see many geological sites along the route. A highlight was briefly seeing Mount Everest from Rongbuk Monastery before continuing on to the Nepal border.

3. We arrived in Lhasa (Tibet) the 2 nd of May and returned to Katmandu (Nepal) on June 1 st

4. Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa Note the Himalaya peaks poking through the clouds.

7. The Potala, the Winter palace of the Dalai Lama

8. Dr. Laudon and I

9. Roof of a Buddhist Monastery

10. Inside a Buddhist shrine

11. Party in Lhasa for 76 th birthday

12. Along the Way: returning to Kathmandu

13. Sheets of wind-driven sand on the mountain slopes.

14. The group studying geology.

15. About the highest altitude on the trip: 5220 m = 17,126 feet.

16. Yak and young rider.

17. A shepherd spinning thread while tending his sheep.

18. An eating place in a remote village. In such a place I saw a jar of genuine Mexican Nescafé. (instant coffee) Hardly believable! The stove is a clever way to use all the heat from rare fuel.

20. Dr. Laudon and the geologist studying.

21. A common sight.

22. Drying cakes of yak dung and straw for fueling the stove. In places wood is very scarce.

23. A BROKEN SYNCLINE

24. A GLACIER

26. Picture taken later from the courtyard of Buddhist guest house.

27. The next morning, leaving Rongbuk for Tingri. The night had been warm and there had been more snow and glacier melt. Other vehicles came later and crossed just a few yards to this side of ours. Our drivers had miscalculated. Later on a large truck came from the opposite direction. A tow line was attached and pulled us out. My duffle bag was in the blue Bronco and part of the contents was lost . Later in the day the brakes of the tan Bronco failed, and it was several hours before they were repaired. The drivers never used the motor for braking because transmissions are much more expensive to repair.

28. Tibetan women loading rock onto a truck for road construction. There was no way to pass them.

29. Tingri, where we spent the last night in Tibet

30. This scene is only a few miles west of Tingri. It is the point of dramatic transition between a cold and stark landscape and the warmer and lush. The road from Tibet to Nepal is down that canyon to the right of the center.

31. Note the road clinging to the side of the canyon. We were now in a bus going down, and so on the outside lane. Many times we had to stop to let another vehicle pass. We were so close to the edge that we could not see the road below on the right. Of course there is not any guard rail. The door was on the right, and so it was not possible to alight and take some dramatic pictures.

32. LIPING Border crossing between Nepal (left) and Tibet (right). Picture taken from a small eating place. It was late afternoon and we had not eaten since breakfast in Tingri.