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Tents in the Clouds
 
 
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Tents in the Clouds [Paperback]

Seal Press (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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From Publishers Weekly

This engaging firsthand account of an expedition by three British women to an unexplored area on the border between Nepal and Tibet in 1955, reissued by Seal Press, is likely to be a hit in the burgeoning adventure category. While the women's modestly stated goal was to explore the "uncompromising" Jugal Himal region, they succeeded in finding and climbing an unmapped 21,ooo-foot mountain peak, which they named Gyalgen in honor of their endearing Sherpa guide. Accompanying the two authors--a housewife and mother, and a speech therapist, respectively--was a Scottish physician, Evelyn Camrass. Experienced mountaineers all, they were the first female expedition in the Himalayas and a successful example of a leaderless team. The book's charm lies in the tangy juxtaposition of the authors' understated, matter-of-fact presentation of their accomplishments and their awe-inspiring bravery, resourcefulness and meticulous preparation. By today's standards, their equipment and clothing were primitive; they endured their share of frostbite, altitude sickness and discomfort. Yet they maintained a stiff upper lip while crossing shaky chain bridges, walking through a jungle fire, managing their native guides and otherwise facing potentially lethal danger and unforgiving weather. Rendered in fine, succinct language ("the snow was blowing blue and iron hard") and seasoned with good humor, their serene reflections on their "strenuous endeavors" are a delight. 35 b&w photos, maps. (Jan.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In her foreward to this U.S. version of a book originally published in England in 1956, Arlene Blum recalls wanting to go on a guided expedition to Denali in 1969 only to be told women were relegated to cooking chores at base camp; but that didn't discourage her from leading the first American team of women up Nepal's Annapurna in 1978--a historical feat. Now turn the clock back to 1955 and read how three women climbers forged new ground in this inherently dangerous sport as the first all-women expedition to Jugal Himal, at that time still an uncharted section of the Himalayas with peaks over 20,000 feet. This book is a testament to women worldwide that mountaineering history occurred much earlier than most may think. The authors offer a refreshing perspective filled with humor and scrupulous details of the terrain. Readers interested in this region of the world and climbing history buffs will find this fascinating and marvel at the similarities and differences from 40 years ago. Brenda Barrera
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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
OUR EXPEDITION was barely two months in the field, but it took us nine months to plan it. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3.0 out of 5 stars Well told but not wildly exciting, Oct 9 2000
By 
K. Freeman (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Tents in the Clouds (Paperback)
Told in a dry, humorous style, this will appeal to readers who enjoyed the works of Houston/Bates and Shipton. It's a little short on high climbing drama, but is still a reasonably engaging read. I found it interesting that these women in the 1950's had so little trouble with their guides and porters, by comparison with some later expeditions.
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4.0 out of 5 stars WOMEN IN THE CLOUDS...A BLAST FROM THE PAST, Aug 20 2000
By 
Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Tents in the Clouds (Paperback)
This is a chronicle of the historic journey made by the 1955 first all female expedition to the Himalayas. It is an amazing adventure for those Betty Crocker days. While it ocassionally reads like a buddy book, its flavor is somewhat anachronistic and reflective of its time. It makes for a very interesting read.

This expedition, a somewhat grandiose term for a group of three women and their Sherpas, endeavored to explore the remote and then uncharted area of Nepal called the Jugal Himal. Their journey and trek through Nepal makes for a travelogue of delightful descriptions and anecdotes.

Unlike many modern day expeditions, these three women exhibited nothing but synchronized teamwork throughout their journey. This was not an ego trip for them. They were motivated by a genuine curiosity of the world in which they lived and an appreciation of the different people and cultures with which they came in contact.

True adventurers, they climbed unexplored ranges and reached the summit of a 22,000 plus peak without supplementary oxygen. They did all this without any casualties. It was very important for this particular expedition to be successful, because there were many nay sayers at the time who would have been only too willing to jump up and shout that women were not fit for such a venture. Thankfully, they were able to prove them wrong. Wonen can climb and lead an expedition!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific reading for mountaineers and true adventure buffs., April 5 2000
This review is from: Tents in the Clouds (Paperback)
In the spring of 1955, the Jugal Himal region of the Himalayan mountain range was an unexplored mystery when three women embarked on the first all-female expedition to the Himalaya. All three participants were obscure mountaineers unknown to the general public when they made their first ascent of a 22,000-foot peak. Tents In The Clouds: The First Women's Himalayan Expedition is a thrilling account of their adventure which is as stirring today as it was when first published in 1956. This new and revised edition includes nearly thirty stunning photographs, as well as a new foreword by renowned mountaineer Arlene Blum. Tents In The Clouds is secure in the annals of women's studies as both a classic of climbing literature and a testament to gender equality issues.
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