27 January 2018, Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India

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We headed off for the ridge where we had searched the distant mountain sides for snow leopards on the first day. When we were almost there, the spotters told us no snow leopards were visible so we kept on going up the valley.  This became a day when I was mainly looking for macro opportunities.

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I was struck by some of the patterns of lichen on the rocks.

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… and the variety of colours as well as patterns.

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This is the large stone pen I had photographed from a greater distance on the first day.

A few people ventured further than we did up the distant valley to the left and found four snow leopard paw prints at a place with a commanding view where one had stood and searched the vista for blue sheep.

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A section of the dry stone wall at the pen.

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A bush bearing red buds.

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The buds appear to be rose hips so it must be a wild rose.

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Leaves and shadows.  The stream actually had running water here (rather than ice).

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Pebbles on the bottom distorted by the running water.

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Ice and dry vegetation.

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Back in camp for lunch.

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The dining tent is the big green one on the right.  Ours is the light coloured one second from the left.  The long drop toilet is in the background with two compartments was very modern as it had rickety seats over the holes.

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After lunch I ventured out looking for shapes in the frozen river with my macro lens.

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Ice pig.

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Perhaps a face.

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