Baglung, May 19 -- Gobinda Adai is 52 years old. For 20 years, he has only gone home during festivals, taking turns with others. The rest of his time is spent with his sheep in the highlands. To escape the cold that numbs his fingers, Adai is now climbing up to Dhorpatan.

Carrying food supplies, cooking utensils, woollen blankets, and traditional woollen coats in a basket, and accompanied by his dogs, he is herding a flock of 200 sheep uphill.

Due to frequent rains since the start of the pre-monsoon season in mid-April, he ascended the hills later than usual.

During the summer, he travels to Dhorpatan and Bukipatan, occasionally descending as far as Nagbeli in Tara Khola and Rum village in Myagdi. When snowfall is heavy, he goes as far...