Book excerpt: 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.