Fatland, Erika: High above

A journey through the Himalayas - HØYT. En reise i Himalaya

Award-winning bestselling author Erika Fatland, after her travels through the wilds of Sovietistan and along the Russian border, now ventures into the world's highest mountains. For "High Up," she journeyed across the entire Himalayas—through Pakistan, Nepal, India, Tibet, and Bhutan. Here she encounters people who make their living at dizzying heights under the most adverse climatic conditions. How these people cope and what keeps them there is what Erika Fatland recounts in this exciting and insightful travelogue.

Erika Fatland takes us on a truly breathtaking journey to one of the world's most ethnically diverse and politically conflict-ridden regions. Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism intersect with ancient shamanic traditions. Superpowers vie for influence. Modernity clashes with tradition and a timeless, awe-inspiring landscape. For a year, Erika Fatland traveled through the Himalayas. Not in search of spiritual enlightenment like so many mostly male authors who recount their arduous mountain treks and meditation experiences, Fatland was interested in the people she encountered. She wanted to know how they survived day after day under these conditions. She gained insights into the lives of women in particular, insights that would be impossible for a man, especially in these highly traditional societies. It is no coincidence that her journey culminated in a visit to the Mosuo people, the "Kingdom of Women."