[glacierworks]

We <3 the Internet

We had something amazing happen last week!

No, we're not talking about that. We're talking about THIS:

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to chat with our founder, David Breashears, in (almost) real time! We were so excited to participate in this chat with the fine folks at Internet Explorer and Microsoft.

View the transcript here, (it's also been tabled) and please feel free to add your own questions! We'll get back to them... eventually :)

[purely-digital]

GlacierWorks, founded by mountaineer David Breashears, has teamed up with Microsoft to build a interactive touch based map of Mount Everest. 

[glacierworks]

Exploration from the air.

Our friends at the Royal Geographical Society reached out to us with a cool new project: Hidden Journeys. Hidden Journeys enables you, the user, to learn about the terrain and culture beneath some of the world's most iconic flight paths. 

It should be no surprise that our favorite trip on the site is runs from Delhi to Hong Kong, as it covers much of the Himalaya, including Mount Everest! "Delhi to Hong Kong" pulls heavily from the rich store of the Society's archives, specifically from the 1953 expedition, which celebrates its 60th anniversary tomorrow! 

Using their archival images alongside our contemporary photographs, it is possible to see where the glacier has lost mass.

If that wasn't enough, the flight also takes you to the tranquil realm of Bhutan, most famously noted for measuring "Gross National Happiness" and for taking measures to become the first wholly organic nation. 

Want to learn more? Don't wait - start exploring! 

http://hiddenjourneys.co.uk/

[glacierworks]

We've gotten a lot of email since our gigapixel image of Mount Everest went viral last December. Some people have questions - which new camera to buy, or what type of lenses we use - while others wish to congratulate us on our achievement. Many simply have stories to share from their time on the mountain. We truly appreciate each and every message, but certain notes have a way of standing out in our minds. Here is one such tale.

My idea for the flag was to get other families who had lost loved ones to suicide involved by signing the flag with their loved one's name and in some small way gain a bank of comfort from my journey.  It has been the most amazing event I have ever been involved in and I have gained a tremendous amount of comfort from the experience.  The flag had an unbelievable energy to it and I was so proud to be carrying the names of all those special people. 

The flag was laid to rest on the Base Camp Rock on April 8, 2011, for all to see and enjoy.

The following month, our Executive Director, David Breashears, shot this 3.8 billion-pixel panorama from the Pumori viewpoint.

The picture appeared in a recent edition of Trail magazine. Gary purchased a copy, visited our site, and the unthinkable occurred:

I not only managed to track down the rock on this vast landscape but was blown away when you could actually make out the image of the flag that was presented there on the 8th April 2012.  This has totally blown away all those families and people who helped me do this trek and your photographer David Breashears has captured an extremely special moment.....forever. 

We are deeply grateful that this image has meant so much to so many.

Gary and his supporters also raised over $10,000 for two favorite charities, Washington Mind and the If U Care, Share Foundation. Both organizations support mental health efforts in the UK. If you have a moment, click through and learn about their programs!

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A day hike to a point near Gokyo Ri (5357m), which overlooks the Ngozumpa glacier.

[panopticongallery-blog-deactiva]

Vittorio Sella, Panorama of the Baltoro Glacier with Mitre Peak, Mustagh Tower, and K2 in the Background 1909

A VIEW FROM THE TOP | BRADFORD WASHBURN AND VITTORIO SELLA

Through February 25 at Panopticon Gallery

[glacierworks]

We so admire Vittorio Sella and the crisp, breathtaking images captured during his many expeditions. Sella's timeless photography provides a base for our work in the Karakoram - the Western Himalaya - which has the largest collection of 8,000m peaks in the world. Read more about Sella and other pioneering alpine photographers on our "Team" page at http://www.glacierworks.org/the-team/.

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Scenes from life in #Nepal: The Hillary School and local children at play.

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Climbers in the Khumbu Icefall (there are more higher up, too). More amazing detail from the Glacierworks Everest pic - I can’t stop looking at it!

[geologise]

One Of The Most Amazing Photos You Will Ever See

Many, like myself, want to explore our natural world. The famous Mount Everest is known by all, so what if you could really explore the scenery in great detail without leaving your computer? Luckily for us all, David Breashears has captured a massive and extremely detailed interactive photo of Everest and the Khumbu glacier for our viewing enjoyment.

Not only can you study beautiful geological formations like strata and ductile deformation, but you can also even see climbers as they travel one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

The click through link and source will send you right to the interactive photo, where you can zoom in, look for climbers, study the landscape, and just admire the beauty of this photograph. Hundreds of photos were stitched together to create the image. Here is their description on the website:

“This gigapixel image of the Khumbu glacier was captured by David Breashears during the spring of 2012, from the Pumori viewpoint near Mount Everest. The Khumbu Icefall is clearly visible here, and one can easily see the hustle and bustle of Everest Base Camp below.”

www.glacierworks.org is a stunning website with much more to offer. There are other interactive photos from different locations, and their mission statement is to study the growing changes in the Himalayas.

As I explore their website, I found they even have a Tumblr! You can follow updates right from your dashboard, but I suggest to really explore the website, as it is full of amazing imagery (even 360°!) that takes a lot of skill to capture.

You can follow them on: Facebook, Tumblr, Google+, Twitter, Website

[glacierworks]

We're blushing...

[glacierworks]

UFO Over Everest??!

Well, not really. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this image, many individuals have spent hours scrutinizing the gigapixel in great detail. Much to their surprise (but not to ours!) they found a small, dark object in the sky above Khumbutse.

This is very good work, and shows a tremendous level of interest in the image. Of course, our Digital Asset Manager discovered this object while compiling the gigapixel.

David’s best guess, which comes from 33 years of climbing in the region, is that it’s not a UFO but a bird - either a Large-Billed Crow or a Yellow-Billed Chough, which are known to soar above Base Camp in search of scraps leftover from climbers. They have been seen as high as the South Col at 26,000 feet. David has often witnessed dozens of these birds flying above villages or camps on the mountain.

But, to be fair, we at GlacierWorks cannot ascertain with great certainty what the object is. Please have a look yourself, and give us your opinion!

[lookatthisstory]

Photographer David Breashears of GlacierWorks was on All Things Considered Monday to talk about a new way of photographing the Himalayan region: By stitching together 400-plus images into one giant, zoomable, interactive image — or a “gigapan” containing more than a billion pixels.

He and his team just sent us something even cooler that they’re currently working on: a Mount Everest you can explore, containing an estimated 3.8 billion pixels!

Click through to explore Everest

Photo Credit: David Breashears of GlacierWorks 

[glacierworks]

We love NPR - this is so amazing!!!

[glacierworks]

You want it? You've got it!

Want more interactive images? Click through the picture below to explore Everest base Camp like never before - including the photo exhibition we set up last spring! It was the highest photographic exhibition ever erected, and we are very proud to display it here, for you, in pixel-perfect detail.

Please note: this is a beta version of functionality that will appear on our new website, launching in June 2013, as part of a joint venture between GlacierWorks and Microsoft Research.

[glacierworks]

International Mountain Day!

Yes, it's International Mountain Day, and we couldn't be more excited. This represents a chance to think about mountains, mountain development, and mountain ecosystems, which are at the heart of our mission here at GlacierWorks.

The Himalayan range and the glaciers it shelters are a vital source of water for much of Asia, providing for the livelihoods of over a billion people downstream. It is the youngest and highest mountain range on Earth, and its inhabitants represent some of the world's poorest individuals.

Much of the population relies on the land for sustenance, and any disruption to the Himalaya's vital ecosystem is sure to have an effect. For this reason, one of the aims of International Mountain Day is to encourage sustainable development and cross-border cooperation.

Here is a thoughtful article from My Republica about mountain development in the Greater Himalaya. It was co-written by Eklabya Sharma, ICIMOD's Director of Programming. Meanwhile, in the western part of the region, Pakistan looks to adventure tourism to raise awareness.

So, no matter where in the world you might be, take some time today to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the mountains. Read an article, take a photo, share a story, or just reflect on what the mountains mean to you!

[glacierworks]

This gigapixel photograph was taken by our founder, David Breashears, from the Pumori viewpoint above Everest Base Camp during the spring of 2012. If you look closely, you can even see our tent! Isn't it amazing how many people there are?

[glacierworks]

The GlacierWorks team stops for a picture en route to their next photopoint.

(by Jessamyn Martin)

[glacierworks]

Our expedition may be winding down, but we still have plenty of stories to share! Today on the blog, James vividly (and beautifully!) describes life on Nepal's Ngozumpa glacier.

[glacierworks]

Just a few more shots before heading home...