Tag Archives: Marpha

Solar and wood are often used together in cold climates. Last year I came across an interesting example in the Mustang district of Nepal two days after crossing the nearly 18,000 foot high Thorung La.
A group of friends were trekking around the Annapurna range, doing the parts of the Annapurna Circuit that haven’t been spoiled by roads. Near the end of the trek we visited the beautiful old city of Marpha. After lunch, served by a local woman who was part way through a 4 year nursing program at the University of Oklahoma, we climbed the many steps of a 300-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery. From the steps I made the three-image panorama below.

There is certainly a lot of wood stored here, some no doubt from the pruning of the many apple trees just below the village. There is one region of the photo that contains 4 different “modes” of solar. It is hard to spot because it is small and at the far right. Here is a photo of that spot. Can you identify the different ways solar engery is being used?

I see  solar hot water, solar photovoltaic, passive solar, and solar drying (of blue jeans on the woodpile at the right).