For some, the Himalaya is a frontier against which people test themselves. Others find refuge and tranquility in the mountains, a place where they can seek their true selves, perhaps even God. With over 30 essays, this anthology collects a dazzling range of experiences in the region, with contributions by Everest's conqueror, Edmund Hillary, as well as Peter Matthiessen, Mark Twain, Amitav Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore, Sven Hedin, and Jawaharlal Nehru.