Categories

The story behind the image

Russian doctor Igor Pokhvalin was one of our Russian clients on the 2006 Everest expedition. He is helping to shave the beard of Nickolay Cherni, the oldest but also most experienced guide in our team. As we are here for nearly 2 months, you have to make yourself at home and trim your beard like this, something you would probably skip when on a shorter trip.

Russians have no problem with things like this or sitting together in the sauna (which they did set up, here at 5200 meter above sealevel). In the western world men are more afraid to touch each other (unless they’re drunk ;-) a result of a mix of religion-induced homophobia and general individualization. It’s very interesting to see that the relative mix of these two aspects is very different all over the world, though nowhere both are absent.

Both summited a few weeks later, Nickolay guiding a team to the top of the world, being 66 years young himself.

Category: Asia • Favourites • Mountains • People • Portraits • Smiles • Tibet

Image URL: http://exposedplanet.com/russians-trimming-beards-at-everest-basecamp/

2 Responses to “Russians trimming beards at Everest basecamp”

  1. 1
    Jeff Ambrose:

    I notice less of this stigma with men of my age, maybe times are changing?

    [Reply]

    March 3rd, 2007 at 04:51
  2. 2
    ferenc ecseki:

    great intimate moment!!! thanks for sharing!!! and possibly a good candidate for a Norelco ad???? :)

    [Reply]

    November 22nd, 2007 at 07:13

Leave a Reply

Subscribe without commenting

  • Canon EOS 20D
  • 0.005 s (1/200) (1/200)
  • shutter priority (semi-auto)
  • 2005:04:25 16:29:02
  • 11.0000220401
  • matrix
  • 48.00 (48/1)
  • Auto Exposure
  • 0

Russian doctor Igor Pokhvalin was one of our Russian clients on the 2006 Everest expedition. He is helping to shave the beard of Nickolay Cherni, the oldest but also most experienced guide in our team. As we are here for nearly 2 months, you have to make yourself at home and trim your beard like this, something you would probably skip when on a shorter trip.

Russians have no problem with things like this or sitting together in the sauna (which they did set up, here at 5200 meter above sealevel). In the western world men are more afraid to touch each other (unless they’re drunk ;-) a result of a mix of religion-induced homophobia and general individualization. It’s very interesting to see that the relative mix of these two aspects is very different all over the world, though nowhere both are absent.

Both summited a few weeks later, Nickolay guiding a team to the top of the world, being 66 years young himself.

Category: Asia • Favourites • Mountains • People • Portraits • Smiles • Tibet

Image URL: http://exposedplanet.com/russians-trimming-beards-at-everest-basecamp/

Russians trimming beards at Everest basecamp

Filed in: Asia • Favourites • Mountains • People • Portraits • Smiles • Tibet