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Editor's note: This excerpt first appeared in photographer and author Harold Davis' recent Focal Press book, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Photography with Harold Davis.
The closer you...
Storms of Silence by Joe Simpson (1996 Random House)
Adventure travel writers, such as Joe Simpson, excel in taking the reader on
journeys that for most people are unattainable. From the talents of fine travel
writers and within the confines and comforts of one's home, the reader can cross
the deserts, climb mountains, explore caves, and sail the oceans. In Storms
of Silence, Simpson's third book, he transports us with his conversational
writing style to the high altitudes of the Himalayas and some challenging peaks
in South America. Attempting ascents on the seldom climbed Gangchempo - North
Face, and Cho Oyo, the sixth highest mountain in the Himalayas, the author
provides vivid descriptions of the many obstacles expeditions can face. The
author comments on the general psychology of climbing and thereby generates a
greater understanding of the sport. After the Himalayas, Simpson travelled to
South America, the continent where years earlier he came dangerously close to
losing his life. On this particular trip he was hired as a guide to lead some
climbers in Peru. Haunted by fear and past associations, Simpson overcame his
personal trepidation and successfully provided a rewarding experience for his
clients. He also was afforded the opportunity to embark on several excellent
climbs with a friend, including a first ascent.
Simpson has the ability to capture the reader's imagination with stories of
stampeding yaks on the steep banks of the Dudh Kosi River, the charm and
significance of the prayer ceremonies of the Sherpas, and the plight of Tibetan
traders in the high passes.
Surprisingly, a great proportion of the book is dedicated to an examination of
the history of Tibet, and includes the Chinese takeover. Normally the Chinese
influence over the Tibetan people is something that is glossed over in most
Himalayan climbing books. Simpson, however, provides informative and extensive
coverage of this subject matter, frequently referencing David Patt's book A
Strange Liberation: Tibetan Lives in Chinese Hands and Mary Craig's
Tears of Blood: A Cry for Tibet. Similarly, while discussing his
accounts of Peru, the author examines the sociological aspects of the Shining
Path movement (a Maoist terrorist group led by Abimael Guzman Reynoso).
Storms of Silence is a successful armchair escape to both sides
of the globe. The book reflects upon the human condition in these faraway places,
and provides an entertaining and affordable enjoyment of mountaineering in some
of the world's most picturesque places. Readers will certainly look forward to
the next Joe Simpson adventure.
