Reviews plus Catching Up with Greg Mortenson

This month brought two encouraging reviews of Himalayan Portfolios, Journeys of the Imagination. One was in the latest issue of Appalachia (2009, Vol LX No. 2, p153; Summer/Fall issue). The review by Malcolm Meldahl in the “Books of Note” section outlines the five portfolios. He then adds “No less a part of the book is the ambitious essay on the history of Western engagement with the Himalaya.” He comments on the composition of the photographs and notes that the strength of the large format approach is that it makes each photograph a deliberate act. The Karakoram portfolio is chosen for further comment: “The most otherworldly image among many is the distant view of K2 over a snow saddle at dawn on page 29.” The review concludes:
“Each portfolio is a marvel. This is a book to pore over and to engage intellectually. This is indeed a pilgrimage that Kenneth Hanson has put into our hands.”
(for more see the Book Reviews section of my Web Page.)

Appalachia is published by the Appalachian Mountain Club: “America’s longest running Journal of Mountaineering and Conservation”. In addition to these topics, Appalachia contains articles on AMC history, poetry, ecosystem preservation, Accidents and Books of Note. The present issue includes the regular Alpina section describing mountaineering in the Himalayas and elsewhere by Jeffery Parrette. His articles are always rewarding. I found his essay 100 Years of Life and Death in High Places, that appeared in the 2000 (LIII#1) issue, and another on 50 Years of Climbing Everest (2004, LV#1) extremely valuable when I was writing my book. The current issue also contains a fascinating interview with Rick Wilcox, Himalayan climber and mountain guide (he is based in Conway, New Hampshire). The year of his Everest climb, 1991, was a year after I had taken a course with Mark Chauvin his associate in the International Mountain Climbing School. We made a midwinter ascent of the headwall of Tuckerman's Ravine and camped beneath a full moon near Lake of the Clouds. It was remarkable cold and incredibly still. Other articles in the issue bring back memories, such as the crossing of the Punta Union Pass in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru.

The other review is in BiblioBuffet, an on-line literary journal: Writing worth reading. Reading worth writing about. The editor, Lauren Roberts, received Himalayan Portfolios as a judge for the Benjamin Franklin Awards (see June 2 blog below) and decided to write about it in her column. She refers to its glorious black –and-white photography, explains the portfolio divisions and illustrates the conjunction of people and mountains by discussing the photograph of Namche Bazaar. This Sherpa center, elevation about 11,300ft, and shown on page 103 of the book is perched in a hanging bowl on the mountain side above the Bhote Kosi.

"More than a fine art photography book, Himalayan Portfolios aims to educate the Himalayan admirer about the mountains, the culture and religion, the people, the impact of the world coming to its doors, the importance of photography in discovering the Himalayan story, and much more. …It is also a tribute to something ultimately unexplainable, something beyond the ken of human attributes."
(for more see the on line article or the Book Reviews section of my Web Page.)


Finally: Catching up with Greg:



Kenneth Hanson and Greg Mortenson at BookExpo America, New York, May 2009 (Greg wrote the Foreword to Himalayan Portfolios and is the co-author of the international best seller Three Cups of Tea.)

Ben Franklin (Act 2)

Benjamin Franklin meets “Britain’s Got Talent”

See April 24 Blog. On arriving at the Roosevelt Hotel Ballroom on Thursday last we encountered the book display for the Benjamin Franklin Awards and realized that we were in a serious horse race. The significant contender was Wildlands Philanthropy: The Great American Tradition — color photos of different parks and seashores, historical essays and linkages to various conservation groups. Delux slip cover. It was no great surprise when, cheered by a slap up buffet and fortified by wine, we heard the golden award in the ‘Coffee Table Book’ category go to Wildlands.

Instead Himalayan Portfolios achived silver status. A little sad, but then came Saturday — Susan Boyle lost out to an agile dance troupe on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Like her, we sing "I Dreamed a Dream" at full force and enjoy the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing that everywhere there is sympathy, and gee, an award is an award.

Finalists 2009 Benjamin Franklin Awards, Roosevelt Hotel, New York, May 28.