First published 1987
Shortly after his wife's death, writer Peter Matthiessen joins biologist George Schaller on a grueling 400-kilometer journey across the Himalaya. They aim to reach Crystal Mountain high on the Tibetan plateau to observe bharal, the blue sheep, during their autumn rutting season. The Lama of Shey Gompa, an ancient Buddhist sanctuary on Crystal Mountain, has forbidden the killing of animals there, making the bharal plentiful. Where many sheep gather, the rarest and most beautiful creature might also appear: the invisible snow leopard. The chance to glimpse this nearly mythical beast provides reason enough for the entire expedition. Every difficult journey tests the traveler's life, but for Matthiessen, who has studied Zen Buddhism for years, this trek becomes a crucial inner turning point. In flashes, he surveys his life and marriage while confronting both the physical demands of the mountains and his own grief.
Genres: nature, travel, adventure, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: grief, inner-journey
Setting: Crystal Mountain, Himalaya, Shey Gompa, Tibet
Period: Autumn
288 pages · Paperback · Karnak, Uitgeverij