Above The Clouds

06/22/2020

Happy Father’s Day to our founder and my dad ♥️
Thank you for breaking trail and letting me follow along. Thank you for giving me the wanderlust that’s kept me dreaming and searching for the off the beaten path way to get there. Where “there” is.

📸 1981 - Steve (left) and his friend standing outside Daju Photo - my dads awesome studio. You’re still this cool dad 🤘 and I love it!

06/12/2020

Over the past week we’ve stepped away from our social media and rather than sharing, we’ve been listening. We’ve been using time to read, educate ourselves, and work toward becoming better allies. We recognize that it is a privilege to be able to learn about endemic and systemic racism experienced by some of the least seen and most marginalized populations on the planet - rather than having to experience it.

The most recent targeted race-based and caste-based murders that have happened in the USA and Nepal respectively, have intensified the tragic spotlight on the systems of racial supremacy and oppression that continue to allow these atrocities to occur in 2020. As a team, we recognize that we have much work to do to address racism and systems of oppressions within our own lives, within our own circles, and within the greater global community.

We do not know what the future holds, but we remain optimistic that the gross inequities exposed by the Coronavirus pandemic, the murders of Black Americans and Nepal’s Dalits, have set us on a trajectory for real and lasting global reforms. We have no intention of returning to normal; instead, we hope to build a new normal that allows space, services, resources, a voice, and equality for all within our global community.

We have a responsibility to acknowledge our privilege and work toward lasting change. We must do better. We will be better.

With love. In solidarity.
The Above the Clouds team

05/27/2020

A great read about an adventure cut short in the time of COVID. Beautiful and inspiring pics too - deff worth checking out!

A Himalayan trek in the time of coronavirus is a reminder of connection, faith and vulnerability

05/21/2020

I've barely left the house at all these last couple months - but it looks like a lot of us are staying home! These pics of the "sleeping" capital city make Kathmandu look like a ghost town - wow! From empty streets to amazing views of the Himalayas ... odd but beautiful at the same time.

As the nation reels under the increasing impact of COVID-19 transmission, the once crowded city has become dormant with little to no movement of livelihood, as seen on Monday.

05/20/2020

Another film fest favorite: Telluride MountainFilm, held every Memorial Day weekend, holds a special place in our hearts.

Although we’re sad to not be in physical attendance this year with so many friends, filmmakers, and fellow adventurers — we are grateful to be able to tune in from our own homes (May 15-May 25) to celebrate these incredible films and the spirit of adventure, perseverance, determination, and human compassion they inspire.

Cheers to all involved, thank you for sharing your stories, and we look forward to seeing you out in the mountains again! 🏔

The 2020 lineup remains true to Mountainfilm’s high standards and propensity for mixing stoke-inducing adventure films with mind-blowing (and world-changing) documentaries.

05/18/2020

If you're looking for something new to stream, the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) and filmmakers have made available a selection of past entries for free online viewing!

You can access this selection of some of the best Nepali non-fiction and short films through May 22. 🎥🍿

05/04/2020

Just because we can’t travel, doesn’t mean we can’t explore.

We’ve put together a collection of virtual adventures around the world — from Everest to Iowa to Tokyo — that fuel our wanderlust and keep us dreaming and discovering, even from our own homes. ✨

Despite having to put our travel plans on hold, there are still ways to feel connected to places we traveled to, places we’d like to visit one day, or even places we know nothing about. While it may not be the ideal way of traveling, many cities, organizations, hotels, and attractions have taken t...

04/06/2020

The whole world is in the midst of trying to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and while we are all doing our best to quarantine and/or respect social distancing - the blessing of this day and age is being able to learn from one another's ideas as we can still come together virtually and do our best to be together while apart.

Thought this idea, coming out of India, is a great example of thinking outside the box and working hard to put people first.

Normally, Indian Railways runs more than 20,000 passenger trains a day, on long-distance and suburban routes, from 7,349 stations across India.

03/25/2020

In the midst of dark days and uncertainty, there is a bright light found in the compassion and kindness of so many wonderful humans worldwide. I've found myself so humbled by the loving courage displayed in such challenging times.

Friar Don Giuseppe Berardelli was described as "cheerful and full of enthusiasm".