Melting Mountain snow creates meandering glacial streams in the Chosa valley basin, ideal for grazing animals. A summer settlement of stone herding huts dots the foot of the mountain. Women spin, salt animal skins, milk cows, make yogurt and dry cheese into hardened chips called churpi. An ideal trail food, churpi, is also added to winter stews. Caravan of sheep wander through the balley, heading north on trading trips. No laws govern these grazing grounds, yet villagers respect the rights of those who come first.

Melting Mountain snow creates meandering glacial streams in the Chosa valley basin, ideal for grazing animals. A summer settlement of stone herding huts dots the foot of the mountain. Women spin, salt animal skins, milk cows, make yogurt and dry cheese into hardened chips called churpi. An ideal trail food, churpi, is also added to winter stews. Caravan of sheep wander through the balley, heading north on trading trips. No laws govern these grazing grounds, yet villagers respect the rights of those who come first.