Morning mist through pine trees

One of the many cool things about forests of the lower Himalayas is that the nature of the forest changes as you climb. You move through dense oak forests, where sometimes you are enveloped in jungle so thick that your only bearing is the little trail in front of you.

Automatically, your senses are heightened, a primal reaction to the environment. This is a place where you hear and feel much more than you can see. You are reminded that this is leopard country, and you must pay heed to your every move.

As you climb higher, the terrain changes. You find yourself in gracious meadows, surrounded by towering pine trees. The dense underbrush of the jungle, and the slightly unnerving sense that you are being watched begins to dissipate. You can now see far ahead into the distance. If it is early enough, the sunlight and the mist are still working things out between themselves, and it is probably my favourite time to make pictures.