Shepherd Leading Flock Past Summit Cairn Thimphu

Pale winter light reflects off a distant glacial lake, illuminating a shepherd in a heavy woolen chuba leading a small flock of sheep along a rocky ridge. The group moves parallel to a stone cairn stacked high with prayer flags, standing just below the summit line where trees cease to grow. Low, grey clouds hang heavy against the pale sky, pressing the mountain horizon closer. The shepherd's face is turned slightly downward, eyes fixed on the uneven path ahead. The sheep's thick, cream-colored fleece contrasts with the sharp, dark slate of the scattered boulders. One loose stone rests at the base of the cairn, casting a short, sharp shadow into the dry grass.