Across the Frozen Himalaya

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Across the frozen Himalaya is a story of eight men who chose to climb not a single peak or traverse a particular valley but challenged the Himalaya itself. They travelled on skis, in winters, across regions rarely visited by adventurers and for the first time took a glimpse at the frozen Himalaya that remained unknown to the world. It is a gripping first-hand account of a 2,000-km ski traverse from the Karakoram Pass to the Lipu Lekh Pass undertaken in the severest of winter. The Karakoram Pass is the most capricious of all mountain passes. Its importance lies in that it is located on the ancient silk route connecting India and Central Asia. Survival here is at the mercy of the weather and travelling is still as difficult as it was in the time of the king of Kashgar, Sultan Sa'id Khan, who died while crossing the pass in 1531, or of Francis Younghusband three and half centuries later. Never since or before, anyone has spoken kindly about the Karakoram route. When Harish Kohli and his team returned from the summit of the Karakoram pass, on their first days march, after twenty-six horrifying hours, two of the members were frost-bitten, one of them losing seven of his fingers. But for the Ski Himalaya team, it was only the beginning of their adventure, which became one of the most momentous journeys in mountaineering history. They went on to cross twenty passes, of which astonishingly, in this day and age three were hitherto unknown. Crossing one of the passes an avalanche creates a phantom menace. One of the team member is buried deep and rescue is undertaken through the night but when the entrapped member realises the team in danger, as small avalanches continue, he asks them to let him be and run for safety. Moving down the valley they walk unknowingly into an ambush by a family of wolves and on another pass waits for them a snow leopard. Danger envelops them at every turn. At the heart of Across the Frozen Himalaya, is the strange meeting of two different worlds. The West, Americans, Australians and the British join up with the East, Indians to form a strong team. Where Jonny (an American) dreams of getting stuck in a war and they all decide to fight by the side of the Indians with whoever is the enemy. They undergo a journey in a man's world where courage and machismo were the centre of life, and where bravery and comradeship was the supreme virtue. Across the frozen Himalaya opens new doors to a new adventure in the Himalaya that can be as dangerous as climbing an Everest and as entertaining as skiing the Alps. Kohli provides detail knowledge of the region supported by maps and pictures. It is an interesting book with useful information for future exploration and ski travels. The breathtaking view of the Himalayas captured through the lenses, merged with the engrossing text is a complete montage of the Himalayan experience. The entire traverse is an action packed record of mental preparation, setting a target and achieving the goal. A vivid description combined with geological importance of the passes makes the book an informative and inspiring piece of reading. It is a record of triumph and near-tragedy told with understatement, charity and good humour.