-40°C, South Ural Mountains

My first ski backpack in the real mountains, January 1980. Yes, mountains! Even though most of them are flat-topped and few rise above the timberline, I made the first above-timberline ascent in a bone-chilling gale, braved temps below -40°C, and tumbled down more times than I care to remember. Crossing the Mashak Range along the bed of an abandoned mining narrow-gauge railroad in this shot. It is so cold that shooting a picture becomes a selfless act of sacrifice. Still easier than going potty...