Autumn Passage to the Himalaya: Treks, Travels and History
Contents: Foreword. Preface. SIKKIM: 1. Memories: Training, Sherpas and Friends from 1964. 2. Chasing Circular Rainbows or the Brocken Spectre: Trekking on the Sandakphu Ridge. 3. An Autumn Trek to Tholung Monastery: Trekking in the Dzongu Valley of North Sikkim. 4. The Plateau: Mountains of the Sikkim–China Border. KASHMIR – KARAKORAM: 5. Old Trails, New Companions: Treks in Kashmir. 6. Two Walks in the Kishtwar: The Kablas Lakes and Bhut Nala. 7. Younghusband: ‘Damned Rum Name’ – The Life and Times of Sir Frances Younghusband. 8. On the ‘Death Trail’: A Journey across the Shyok and Nubra Valleys. HIMACHAL PRADESH: 9. Prisoners of the Himalaya: ‘YOL – Your Own Locations’. 10. Ramblings in Chhota Bangahal: Kullu Valley. 11. Mobile with a Mobile in the Himalaya: A Ringing Revolution. 12. A Peak, a Pass and a Monastery: Hanle – Hangrang and Gyundi. 13. A Road Much Travelled: Treks on Trails by Early Explorers. UTTARAKHAND: 14. The Valley of Flowers: A Trek to the Bhiundhar Valley, Garhwal. 15. The Valley of Friends: My Companions from the Saryu Valley, Kumaun. 16. An Autumn Walk to Kedar Kantha. 17. We Are the Pilgrims: Mountain Ranges and Temples of Garhwal. 18. In the Valleys of Eastern Kumaun: Byans, Johar and Danpur. 19. Obra Gad – the Hidden Valley: Western Garhwal. 20. The Age of Exploration: Dhauli Valley, Niti Pass and Bara Hoti. TIBET AND BHUTAN: 21. A Hundred Years after Younghusband: Travels in Tibet. 22. Across Bhutan in Eighteen Days: A Journey across the Dragon Kingdom. 23. Himalayan Disaster – Nature’s Fury or Man-made Calamity?: A Look at Himalayan Floods in Recent Memory. Select Bibliography. Index.
A committed adventure enthusiast never retires, or hangs up his shoes. His approach may vary, companions may change but the passion remains intact. This is true for all lovers of the Himalaya.
With advancements in technology and infrastructure, access to deeper and remote valleys in the Himalayan range has become possible. New opportunities have opened up for travellers, trekkers and mountaineers. What took months to explore, is now quickly experienced. While smaller valleys and peaks allow one the enjoyment of a quick visit, the higher peaks and unknown areas can still be enjoyed over longer trips. There are very few valleys and peaks that remain untrodden. Now that Everest has been climbed innumerable times, the future of mountaineering lies in lesser-known smaller peaks that are by no means easy to climb.
The author has described treks in Sikkim, Kishtwar, Chhota Bangahal, Obra gad, Hanle, Chushul, Kashmir and several others. The book narrates a well-researched history of Italian World War II Prisoners climbing in the Himalaya, visits to Bhutan and Tibet and personal recollections of trekking in Darjeeling with legendary Sherpas about five decades ago, a visit to ’The Plateau’—a rarely visited high area of Sikkim and a trek along the forbidden Shyok river in Eastern Karakoram.
These articles give an insight into many Himalayan areas, their history, the people, politics and the period of development of Himalayan climbing in India during the last few decades. For an armchair mountaineer there are personal stories, accounts of the life of Sir Frances Younghusband, trekking with mobiles, and interaction with climbers and travellers of different nationalities.
With maps, sketches and photographs, this book will be an invaluable guide to both present and future mountain enthusiasts.
