On the morning of March 1, 2020, I awoke in my hotel at 4 AM in Kathmandu. With my 20L Peak Design bag packed with all of my worldly belongings, my Leica M10-D and two of my favorite lenses, the Summicron-M 35mm f/2 Asph., and the APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 packed in lovingly, ready for the coming expedition. This has quickly become my favorite digital Leica M. I have used nearly every previous digital model of the Leica M, but the M10-D brings a true analog with digital benefits, making seeing one’s film roll at the end of the day exciting while building skill as a Leica M photographer.
The morning chanting had already begun in the temples nearby, the smell of incense filled the air, the sound of bells rang in my ears, and my neighbor loudly sang the sound of Om. These elements prepared my mind for the journey ahead. This day was special. I booked a sunrise flight with the Nepalese budget airline, Sita Air, from Kathmandu to Lukla, known as the most dangerous airport in the world for landing and take off. Thus began a deeply transformative trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp, a one hundred and fifty mile journey there and back again.