For centuries the towering peaks of the Himalaya have been one of the great landmarks of Asia. Running east and west for miles on end, this mighty mountain range has served as a massive barricade protecting India against the northern conquerors. "Pass at your own risk," the lofty pinnacles seem to warn both the traveler and the invader.

Nevertheless, skilled climbers from all over the world have organized expeditions to scale the highest and most forbidding of the Himalayan peaks. Mount Everest, Annapura, K2 and many others have brought fame or destruction to the intrepid men who have attempted to overcome almost unsurmountable obstacles.

Seen from afar, these white icy peaks appear to rise above wild and desolate valleys. Yet people do live here. In the summer months shepherds tend their sheep at altitudes of 18,000 feet. There are villages as high as 13,000 feet. And caravan trails cross the lofty ranges at the lower passes.

In Exploring the Himalaya, Justice Douglas describes some of the most celebrated and dangerous mountain-climbing expeditions and tells of his own journey through the mountain ranges with a Tibetan caravan. His personal experiences as mountain climber and traveler have enabled him to give a vivid, first-hand account of the lives of the people who dwell in the shadows of the towering pinnacles and the rigors and hardships endured by those who have conquered the treacherous Himalayan peaks.

From the dust jacket