The Snow Leopard

I was following a faint trail up a remote valley in the Indian Himalayas, not far from Nanda Devi, hoping to climb the 7,000 metre peak at its head. When night fell, I camped on the trail. During the night an inch or so of light snow fell, and in the morning there were the tracks of an animal that had come up the trail, made a small detour around my tent, and continued up the valley.

When I got back to Joshimath, I told the manager of my hotel what I had seen, saying it must have been a goat. "Not a goat," he replied. "Goats don't make solo journeys up valleys".

It was only then that I realized that it had been a snow leopard that passed by in the night.

Early trips.

Some early trips to the big mountains

1. Huascaran East Face
2. Travels among the Pashtuns
3. Nepal in Winter

Trips to the big-mountain areas (peaks over 6000m)

1. Peru 1974 (Cordillera Blanca)
2. Pakistan (Hindu Kush)
3. Pakistan (Hindu Kush)
4. Ecuador and Bolivia
5. Bolivia 1984 (Cordillera Real)
6. India (Garwhal)
7. India (Garwhal)
8. India (Garwhal, Nanda Devi Sanctuary)
9. Nepal (Annapurna circuit; Pisang; Thorong)
10. Nepal (Langtang)
11. Nepal (Manasulu circuit)
12. Nepal (Annapurna sanctuary)
13. Nepal (Attempt Dhaulagiri circuit; Annapurna circuit)
14. Nepal 1994 (Khumbu)
15. Nepal 1995 (Arun; Mera Pk)
16. Nepal 1996 (Makalu to Khumbu to Rowaling)
17. Nepal 1997 (Dhaulagiri-Annapurna circuit; Chulus)
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18. Nepal 1998 (Kangchenjunga area)
    • Walk into Pangpema 5100m
    • Attempt on west ridge of Pathibhara Chulu (Pyramid Peak) 7125m/23,377ft.
    • Return from Pangpema across Mirgin La
19. Alaska 1999 (Denali)
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20. Nepal 1999 (Lower Dolpo circuit: Beni to Dhorpatan to Sahartara to Jomson (via Mu La))
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21. Pakistan 2000 (Karakorams; Gondogoro La and Peak)
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22. China 2000 (Mustagh Ata).
    • My Tale
    • The Cyclists' Tale
    • The Tourist's Tale
23. Argentina 2000/2001 (Aconcagua).
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24. Nepal 2001 (Makalu).
25. Argentina 2001/2002 (Aconcagua, Plata).
26. Tibet 2002 (Cho Oyu).
27. Nepal 2002 (Baruntse)
28. Argentina 2003 (Tupangato, Mercedario)
29. Tibet 2003 (Cho Oyu).
30. Tibet 2004 (Chomolungma 8848m, 29030ft)