Gallery: Braving Stings and Insane Heights With the Honey Hunters of Nepal
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Most of the nests are located on steep, inaccessible southwest-facing cliffs to avoid predators and for increased exposure to direct sunlight.
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One of the Gurung men watches from the base of the cliff as the cutter repositions himself on the rope ladder 200 feet above.
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As the thick, acrid smoke rises upwards the hunter waits patiently for the bees to disperse so that he can cut the exposed hives.
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Once the bees have been smoked out of their nest the honey hunter is able to cut the exposed honeycomb away from the cliff face.
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As the honey hunter descends the rope ladder, the blood, blisters and bee stings that are synonymous with this treacherous tradition become visible.
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Using one of the bamboo poles known as a tango to push the basket hanging beside him up against the cliff face, the cutter catches the honeycomb as it falls, before the basket is then lowered to the ground.
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The honey hunting cutter, or "kuiche," watches intently as the rope ladder is re-positioned by the men perched in a tree overhanging the top of the cliff.
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A young boy from the nearby village feasts on a piece of freshly cut honeycomb that has fallen to the ground.
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The majority of Gurung people live in remote mountain villages high in the Himalayan foothills of Kaski district in central Nepal.
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A Gurung elder stokes up the fire to boil water for some honey tea, one of the first uses of this prized commodity once it has been divided up among the villagers.
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After a 3-hour trek back up to the village carrying approximately 20 kg of honey, a hunter enjoys a hard-earned piece of honeycomb by the fire.
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Tradition dictates that women have no part in honey hunting. This Gurung elder's husband used to be one of the main honey hunters in the village but retired many years ago.
