Description
The valiant stories of Western mountaineers traversing the world’s highest peaks are well documented. Much less celebrated are the Sherpas and porters from Nepal who made the ascents possible. Their courage, knowledge about wayfinding, and familiarity with the icy and snowy terrain of the Himalayas supported adventurers in reaching the heights of their success. Headstrap shares the untold stories of the legendary porters of Darjeeling, such as Ang Tharkay, Ang Tsering, and Tenzing Norgay. Authors Nandini Purandare and Deepa Balsavar detail the painstaking work of collecting and making meaning of oral history among families, descendants, and friends. The authors cross-walked interviews and testimonies with written records.
Headstrap is an important contribution to mountaineering history. As a whole, the book is a fascinating trek through history and culture, as it centers on the forgotten stories of high-altitude Sherpas. The authors took great care in providing context about attitudes toward mountain climbing and labor relations from the perspective of Indigenous spiritual beliefs and traditional customs. Not all the stories ended in triumph: tragedies, broken vows, and tarnished reputations haunted many expeditions.
The narratives explained the different ways in which the expeditions changed and challenged the Sherpas and their European counterparts, pushing their physical and mental capacities. Collectively, the stories relay the power of building community and nurturing trusting relationships.