A Mount Everest rainbow

From Base Camp, the bottom of a rainbow can be seen linking the snow-covered foot of Mount Everest, on the left, and that of Mount Nuptse, on the right. The Khumbu Glacier and Icefall can also be seen between the two mountains. (Learn more)

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In his journal, Chip mentions a student’s question about rainbows:

During the assembly meeting I was asked if I saw rainbows on the very tall mountains I climbed. I still think of the beauty of that question and have been looking for a rainbow up high ever since. Well my friends, here it is, a beautiful one as seen from Base Camp, bridging Everest and Nuptse. I would like to dedicate this picture to the student who thought of that question.

The phenomenon pictured in this photograph is actually not a rainbow at all, but rather a circumzenith arc. It occurs when sunlight refracts through ice crystals high in the atmosphere, bouncing the sun rays back up. The resulting arc is bright and colorful, and looks like an upside-down rainbow.

Learn more about Himalaya Mountains, Mount Everest, Mount Nuptse, Nepal, glaciers, and rainbows.

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