STEVE RAZZETTI MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND JOURNALISM

MOUNTAIN BIKING

"Two wheels good,

Four wheels bad..."

Heli-biking group about to set off on the 48km ride back to Karkara Mountain Base, having been dropped at this pectacular location by helicopter.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Mountain biking in the Tien Shan range, Central AsiaNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Approaching the Kegen River and the famous Charyn Canyon at the end of a long day's ride in the Tien ShanNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Riding up this lonely valley towards the Ashyk Dala plateau. Tien Shan range.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Clare Cook arrives at the Saary Zhaz River after the long descent from the Mingtur Pass in KazakhstanNikon FM2,24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Returning to Karkara Mountain Base from an epic morning's heli-bikingNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Under a scorching Karakoram sun, the wild jeep tracks of Hunza and Nagar are mountain-biking heaven!Conon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Though the KKH has brought many changes and much progress to the Hunza valley with its Pak-China traffic, many villages remain untouched. In places where the old track still exists, mountain bikers can find challenging rides and no trafficCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Approaching the Kamba La (4794m) on the old road from Lhasa to GyantseNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Ken and Cindy Dowling cranking it out on their tandem on the descent from the Kamba La to Yamdrok Yam Tso (lake) on the old road from Lhasa to GyantseNikon FM2, 105mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Adrenaline! Blasting back towards the Karkara Mountain base and a well deserved sauna at the end of a day's heli-bikingNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A view south over the Indus Valley from the climb to the Kardung La (5608m) - the highest motorable road in the worldCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Riding down to the Pakistan Customs at Sust from the Khunjerab Pass, Hunza, Pakistan. The Khunjerab (4730m) is where the Karakoram Highway (KKH) crosses into Xinjiang (China) on its journey from Nowshera to Kashgar. Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
One of many crossings of this stream that have to be made on the long day's ride to a high camp below the Mingtur PassNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Approaching this 5065m pass on the ride from Leh to ManaliCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Biking in rural Nepal - the Khali Horseshoe is a 50km day ride from the town of Pokhara, which lies in the shadows of the Annapurna HimalCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A celebratory picture atop this 5150m pass in Tibet, with the north face of Everest beyondNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Ken and Cindy Dowling were the first people ever to ride a tandem to Everest Base Camp! Here they flog up the rough dirt road that the Chinese have built all the way to Rongbuk monastery and the snout of the Rongbuk glacier.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Ken & Cindy Dowling taking a breather on the final approach to Rongbuk and the north-face base camp of Everest. They were the first people ever to ride a tandem to Everest.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Sasha was made a "Master of Sport" by the old Soviet government, and was a member of the USSR Olympic cycling squad. He now runs the only mountain-bike service workshop in Central Asia (in Alma Aty) and works as a biking guide throughout Kazakhstan.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
A day trip up the new jeep road to Shimshal, from Passu village on the KKH in Hunza, PakistanCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Emerging from the Shimshal Gorge back into the main Hunza Valley at the end of a challenging day-trip towards Shimshal village on the new (and rough) jeep roadCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
From the KKH at Karimabad in Hunza, this jeep-road spur climbs steeply into the neighbouring district of Nagar and the villages of Nagar and HisparCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Shyam was Mountain Bike Champion of Nepal for several consecutive years during the 1990's, and keeps fit by working as a biking guideNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Looking SE over Yamdrok Yam Tso (lake) from the old road between Lhasa and GyantseNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
At 5317m, this is the second highest motorable road in the world. This shot taken heading for the pass from the north (Hemis) side during a bike trip from Leh to ManaliCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Pausing to admire the view from a high plateau above the Karkara valleyNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Cranking it out on the long climb up to this 5317m pass on the road between Leh and ManaliCanon EOS 500, 28-80mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Ken and Cindy Dowling were the first people ever to ride a tandem all the way to Everest base-camp. This photograph taken looking towards the Nepal Himalaya from Tingri.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Heading south across the Tang La towards Nepal, Ken and Cindy Dowling ride their tandem beneath the snow-plasterd bulk of Shishapangma (8046m), the only one of the world's 14 8000m peaks that lies wholly within Tibet.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Cranking it out on the last of many punishing climbs during the 1000+km ride from Lhasa to KathmanduNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Approaching Tingri on our ride from Lhasa to Kathmandu, we were stunned to find a 3km section of perfect metalled road in the middle of hundreds of kilometers of rough-as-you-like dirt.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Heading up valley from Nagartse at the start of the long pull to this pass on the Lhasa-Kathmandu highwayNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
     
  
Crossing the 3700m Mingtur Pass from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan in Central AsiaNikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia
   
Cruising along the shore of this turquoise lake after crossing the Kamba La. Lhasa to Kathmandu highway.Nikon FM2, 24mm, Fuji Velvia