Walking the himalayas

by Levison Wood

Paper Book, 2016

Status

Available

Call number

915.496

Genres

Collection

Gifts

Publication

New York, NY : Little, Brown and Co., 2016.

Description

Levison Wood's most challenging expedition yet begins along the Silk Road route of Afghanistan and travels 1700 miles through five countries over the course of six months. Following in the footsteps of the great explorers, Wood walks the entire length of the Himalayas in an adventure of survival and endurance. In a personal story of perseverance and discovery, Wood forges bonds with local guides, porters, mountain men, soldiers, farmers, smugglers and shepherds. By travelling on foot, and following the same footpaths that locals use, he uncovers stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Along the way he also reveals the history of the Himalayas and two millennia of exploration, and examines a continent in crisis in the 21st century. Packed with action and emotion, more than anything Walking the Himalayas is a story of one intrepid man's travels in a world poised on the edge of tremendous change.--From dust jacket.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member PDCRead

As if walking the entire length of the Nile was not mad enough, his good friend Ashwin Bhardwaj persuades him to walk along the rooftop of the world; the Himalayas. Wood had been to Nepal before way back in 2001, when the country’s Royal family was massacred. At that time a man called Binod took

him in and protected him whilst the unrest continued. This new walk along the world’s highest mountain range meant that he had the opportunity to return and see him once again.

Flying into Kabul would be adventure enough for some people, but that was where he needed to get to, to be able to reach the eastern foothills. The last time Wood had been there he was in the army. Met by his minder at the airport, he is taken to the scruffy looking car to make the first part of his journey, before a helicopter ride to the start point. Wakhan Corridor. He is accompanied along the walk by guides, even persuading Ashwin to join him for one section, before he makes it to Nepal for a reunion with his friend, Binod, before continuing his journey to Gankhar Puensum in Bhutan.

Wood is one tough guy; not only is this a mammoth walk of 1700 miles, but he does this at altitude too; no mean feat. He is an easy-going character, meaning that as he meets some of the toughest and nicest people he fits in easily, drawing their stories and lives out into the narrative. The range of cultures is quite an eye opener too, from the strict Islamic areas to the more relaxed and laid back Nepalese. It is reasonably well written, gripping in parts and has one heart-stopping moment. Haven’t seen the TV series yet, but I’m looking forward to watching it soon.

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LibraryThing member Castlelass

Levison Wood writes dramatic, vivid, and adventurous travel-related non-fiction. I had previously read and enjoyed Walking the Nile, which was one of my favorites a few years ago. This is another in the same vein. In this one, he starts in Afghanistan, and travels alongside the Himalayas (not

climbing peaks) through Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Highlights of this trek include meeting the Dalai Lama, dodging rockslides and raging rivers, trying to avoid an encounter with wild tigers in the Nepali forests, and being involved in a serious accident. He meets and interacts with the local populations in a wide variety of cultures. He builds friendships with his guides, meeting one of them again after over a decade. It is top rate travel writing. I enjoyed it immensely.

4.5

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