Folio Society Published Works Number 3426
Matthiessen, Peter - The Snow Leopard
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Matthiessen, Peter - The Snow Leopard (Published in by The Folio Society in 2018. Among the best-loved travel books ever written, The Snow Leopard has gained a reverential following among trekkers and natural history enthusiasts. In 1973, naturalist and novelist Peter Matthiessen accompanied field biologist George B. Schaller on a research expedition to study the rare Himalayan blue sheep. Here Schaller looks back on the original journey and describes how he recently retraced his steps, more than forty years later. Tom Walker, Publishing Director In late 1973, Peter Matthiessen and I trekked to the Dolpo uplands in northwest Nepal. His quest was to meet the elusive snow leopard and become familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Mine was to study the behaviour of the wild blue sheep. The Snow Leopard was Peter's lyrical book about our journey across the Himalayas, in which he evocatively describes the emotional and logistical problems of our venture. Four decades later, in 2016, Peter Werth asked me if I would like to return to Dolpo. He and his family foundations in Connecticut have for several years helped Dolpo communities by providing electricity through wind and water power, by building schools, and in other ways. Also, in 1984, the Nepalese government established the 3,555 km2 Shey-Phoksundo National Park there, and I was interested in its impact. Curious to learn about all these cultural and environmental changes, I readily agreed to join Peter Werth. Included in our team was Alex Matthiessen, Peter's son. So, too, was photographer Beth Wald to document our journey. And in Kathmandu we were joined by Tshiring Lhamu Lama and her sister Sonam Choekyi Lama who are from Dolpo, having been born and raised in Ringmo village. They were a wonderful addition to the team for they spoke the local Tibetan dialect and knew many of the people: their presence consolidated trust within our team. We start our journey from the Juphal airport on September 13, 2016. With us is a camp staff of seven, and eleven horses and mules carrying food and other baggage for our six weeks in the field. Four days later we reach Ringmo on the shore of turquoise Phoksundo Lake. The ancient village of crowded, flat-roofed stone houses has not changed over the decades. Tshiring's family receives us joyfully, happy to have their daughters home. I cannot erase the memory of the troublesome 1973 Ringmo porters who abandoned us in deep snow on the upper slopes of a 5,300 m pass, the Kang La. )
