Nick Yates Photos

Chopicalqui in the Cordillera Blanca catches the last of the days sunlight. The temperature had already plummeted at the camp from where this shot was taken. An early start after a cosy night leads up to a high camp the next day.

Interesting clouds swirl over a fantastic landscape in Antarctica. Sailing in this part of the world offers up amazing views whichever way you care to look.

Interesting rock strata as storm clouds gather in the Huayhuash. This scenery welcomed us on day one of an eight day trip. A cracking sunset ensued.

Pre dawn light catches the Huascaran. Taken from high on the neighbouring mountain of Chopicalqui. Stunning but cold. I asked Jessamy a question here and am happy to report the answer was yes.

High winds batter the back of the Grands Montets in Chamonix. Any thoughts of a potentially big powder day quite literally blown away. The top station (3300m) of the Grand Montets can be seen on the right side of this image.

Desert scene in Namibia with grasses gently swaying in the breeze. I was lucky enough to see and follow a Kalahari Gemsbock shortly after taking this picture.

Mont Blanc sits in the middle of this shot with the Frontier Ridge directly below it. The Grand Capucin sits on the right with La Tour Ronde on the left. A mecca for alpinism and steep skiing. The glacier is the top of the Vallee Blanche which many thousands of skiers decent every winter.

Great weather to finish a day's sail up to Port Lockroy in Antarctica. Having been delayed for a few days we were very lucky to see the aptly named Kodak Alley on a day like this.

Clouds hang and swirl around the peak of Yerapaja (6634m) in the Huayhuash Peru at the end of another great day. The flutings and unstable almost hollow snowpack make climbing these peaks a real challange.

Taken just before boarding a bus in a small town down valley from the mountains in Peru. Amazing peak to live under.

This shot was taken during a ski decent of Mt Blanc in Chamonix France. Impressive thunderstorms rolled around below us as the Midi peaked above them. The contrast between the dark storm clouds and the brilliant light shining on the ceracs of the Grand Plateau was magical.

Route finding on a windless day on the Peninsula. Very serene and not to mention photogenic. Strange to imagine the severe weather more indicative of this frozen part of the planet.

Last rays of sun catch the upper slopes of Siula Grande (6344m) in Peru. This is the mountain where Joe Simpson and Simon Yates had their epic adventure retold in Touching the Void.

Ariel shot taken of Mont Blanc massif while the Chamonix valley sits under an inversion. Mont Blanc itself sits in the middle right of the shot.

Stunning scenery just north of the Lemaire Channel otherwise known as Kodak Alley. Fresh snow adds to the spectacle as these mountains rise dramatically out of the Southern Ocean.

Cracking little lake for a rest while trekking in the Huayhuash Peru. Sorry I didn't venture in but with a high pass still to come time was an issue. Eventually stayed up high in the hills for sunset that day before decending alone after dark.

Bad weather approaches Jirishanca (6094m) in the Huayhuash Peru. Incredible flutings dominate the upper part of the mountain. This afternoon build up was not uncommon as the heat of the day encouraged these storm clouds to grow. 

Great clouds and light on the Cuillin Ridge in November. Unseasonably warm weather leads to a couple of great days in the hills with great friends.

Tocilaraju taken from a high camp before an alpine start the following morning. After a long cold night climbing we arrived at the base of the summit pitches just as the sun rose. After a break and some warmth from the sun we summited not long after. Great effort from Jessamy. A special moment.

Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles rise above an inversion. Although not initially obvious Mt Blanc stands a 1000m taller than the Aiguille de Midi.

An unusually calm start to a day in the Straits of Magellan on the southern tip of South America. Nice to see in a region renowned for its unpredictable weather.  

Bad weather approaches as is common here being so close to Cape Horn. Fantastic day taking full advantage of a weather window to climb high on the peninsula. Not many people visit this part of the world and fewer still venture into the hills. Another day to remember.

Great light as the sun sets on this portion of Namibian desert. We were treated to a great sunset and felt even more spoilt as we sipped on our gin and tonics. One of the many perks on this particular job.

Another classic vista as we sail by. This landscape really took my breath away. 

A hole in the clouds highlights these magical snow formations in the Huayhuash Peru. Jessamy and I stayed up high as the sun set amidst the swirling cloud. It was dark when we eventually got to the valley floor. Thankfully we had our headtorches to help with the final hour to camp.

Classic weather conditions add to what is already a classic view in Chamonix France. Staying high and appreciating the view was the sensible thing to do before skiing down into the mist.

Amazing flutings high in the Peruvian Andes. Formed by avalanching snow they are an amazing feature of the mountains in Peru.

Weather changes fast at the end of the day providing stunning vistas in Huayhuash Peru. The view changed constantly as light and cloud vied constantly for position.

The Aiguille du Dru with the Aigullie Verte behind display a dusting of snow after a winter's storm. These iconic mountains nestle in the heart of the Chamonix valley in the French Alps.

Rare day of sun on top of Mount Roraima Venezuela. Distant tepuis appear as the clouds break. The triple border between Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil is on the plateau top of Mount Roraima.

Sea ice breaking up at the start of another Antarctic season. I was quite literally lost for words at the beauty of this place. The views that opened up as we climbed higher were almost too much to take in. The perfect weather certainly played its part.  

racking sunset in the Huayhuash Peru. Amazing clouds and patches of sunlight combine to give a spectular display.

Kaieteur provides a 750ft drop for the Potaro river in central Guyana.

Fresh snow adds to the scene high above the Straits of Magellan in southern Chile. Vegetation here doesn't get to grow much higher than this due to constant high levels of wind. The speed with which the weather can change makes any time spent in the hills risky. Consequently it is extremely rewarding when you do get days like this.

Jirishanca (6094m) sits proudly in the Hauyhaush range of mountains in the Peruvian Andes. Flutings flank the sides of many mountains in the region. I thought there was a speck of dust on my camera sensor just above the peak but on closer inspection I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is a condor soaring high on the warm air. The weather changes quickly here as can be seen from another shot in this gallery taken shortly after this one.

Great expanse of space with a great cloudscape above the Namibian desert. A very photogenic part of the planet.

Wind picks up on the peaks as a front approaches. Windchill not to be underestimated down here. A retreat to the protection of our boat followed shortly thereafter.

Rains on the plain in Tanzania. A classic African scene.

Incredible landscape seems endless in this part of the world. Great knife-edge ridge on the left of this shot. So much exploring awaits. So many lines to be skied. Next time.

Alpine panorama with Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn in the far distance. The Grand Combin is in the middle ground with peaks of the Mont Blanc massif sitting in the foreground. Beautiful in this early morning light.

Chamonix France. Fantastic powder awaits any skiers lucky and early enough to enjoy it. This incredible snowscape did not last long after the lift opened. By the end of the day I had developed a small patch of frostnip on my chin due to it being continually encrusted with snow. What a day.