High-Altitude Herders of Pakistan
A 6 days walk to the Chinese mountain, the tiny town of Shimshal is located high up in Pakistan's Karakorum mountain range. A land of mountaineers and rugged herders, Shimshal is home to the Ismali people. Twice a year of the herders of Pakistan mountains around Shimshal celebrate the Kuch Festival in honor of the change of season. High-altitude herders, grazing their yak between 10,000 - 14,000 feet, this special celebration honors the herders returning from the high pastures. I spent a week with the families of Shimshal watching them prepare for the celebrations and the herders returning to their mountain town with thousands of yak and sheep.