The only man permitted in Bhutan’s sacred mountains chronicles humanity’s impact

According to local tradition, Bhutan’s highest terrain is considered the sacred domain of gods and spirits. Due to this belief, mountaineering is illegal in Bhutan, making the country’s Himalayan highlands one of the most unspoiled places on Earth. However, this doesn’t mean our impact isn’t felt at all. Indeed, as a result of climate change, the glaciers on these mountaintops are melting, threatening the lives of those below.

The short documentary Mountain Man chronicles the life and work of Phuntsho Tshering, a glaciologist who, accompanied by his team, is the only person permitted to climb high into the mountains. Leaving his family for more than a month to measure changes to remote glaciers and lakes, he sends video dispatches to his daughter, who fears his presence might provoke the spirit of the mighty ‘Snow Lion’ that inhabits these lands. For his part, Tshering performs rituals both scientific and spiritual to assess threats and assure safe passage. With his rare access to these sublime scenes, the Bhutanese director Arun Bhattarai creates a film that, like the mountains it captures, possesses a hushed power and beauty.