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Across Peaks & Passes in Garhwal Himalaya
The book contains articles covering the author’s treks and climbs in the remote valleys of Garhwal during the past forty years, most pioneering explorations. There are stories of crossing passes and climbing peaks, accidents and deaths, personal injury and agony. These articles give an insight into the Himalayan areas, their history, its people and the period of development of Himalayan climbing in India during the last many decades.
For a trekker there are various suggestions in this book, for discovering different passes, many unknown valleys, and the history of travel, people, culture and nomenclature of the area. There are invaluable references to hordes of peaks, both most challenging and easy, between 6000 m and 7000 m range. And for an armchair mountaineer there are personal stories, and interaction with climbers of different nationalities.
With maps, line sketches, photographs and many references, the book will be an invaluable guide to all present and future mountaineers.
THE AUTHOR: Harish Kapadia has been climbing and trekking for the last fifty-five years and has an enviable record of Himalaya activity. His major ascents have been those of Devtoli (6788 m), Bandarpunch West (6102 m) and Lungser Kangri (6666 m) amongst many others. He has led the Indo-French expedition to Sudarshan Parbat (6507 m), and has led four Indo-British expeditions: to Rimo I (7385 m), Chong Kumdan (7071 m) (both with Dave Wilkinson), to the Panch Chuli group and to Rangrik Rang (6553 m) (both with Chris Bonington).
Harish is Honorary Member of several leading Alpine Clubs : London, Japan, American and Polish. He was awarded the IMF Gold Medal in 1993. In the year 2003, in which the 50th Anniversary of the first ascent of Everest was celebrated, Harish Kapadia was honoured with the Royal Medal, the “Patron’s Medal”, by the Royal Geographical Society ‘for contributions to geographical discovery and mountaineering in the Himalaya’. He was the first Indian to receive this award after 125 years. The President of India honoured him with the prestigious ‘Tensing Norgay National Adventure Award” (2003) for Lifetime achievements, the highest Adventure Award in India. He has also received the King Albert Gold Medal (Switzerland) and Joss Lynam Medal (Ireland). In 2017 he was awarded Piolets D’or Asia 2017, UIAAA. This is considered to be the Oscar award of mountaineering.
Harish was invited to many countries to lecture on his Himalayan exploits and is a member of several organisations. He is married, and lives in Mumbai.
See www.harishkapadia.com