Shanti Stupa, Leh

Today, my group of Markha Valley co-trekkers and I did a prep climb to a hilltop monastery overlooking Leh to test our readiness for tomorrow's seven day Markha Valley journey. Adjusting to the altitude is a long-winded affair given that Leh is situated around 12,000 feet above sea level (over twice as high as Denver). It's easier to let the pictures speak to the beauty of the monastery's desert and snow-capped mountain views.Read more