Essentially a reflective travelogue by Stephen Alter, a writer raised in Mussoorie by missionary parents, ‘Becoming a Mountain: Himalayan Journeys in Search of the Sacred and the Sublime’ is a different type of mountain climbing travelogue.
Most trekking or climbing experiences are full of action and excitement, an account written by adrenaline pumped adventurers providing thrill to readers. But this is a book of slow contemplation and getting close to nature, written by a true lover of the mountains, and a story of personal healing.
Alter and his wife suffered a miserable stabbing incident one early morning at their home in Mussoorie. The perpetrators, probably young men wanting to steal money for drugs, were never caught. Alter went through a slow journey of redemption and his treks to the mountains were part of that process.
The book is written in the form of multiple essays and memories, but the largest portions consist of his treks around Nanda Devi, Kailash Mansarovar, and finally, his (curtailed) attempt to summit Bandar Poonch. The writing is measured and contemplative, and also consists of vivid descriptions of nature and people that he encounters along the way.
An interesting component of the memoir is the detailed observations and reflections on the religious and ritualistic aspects of the mountains by the locals and the (interesting) stories behind them. These have been chronicled especially well on his hike around Nanda Devi with local guides and his long sojourn in Tibet for Kailash Mansarovar accompanied by a group of mostly middle-aged devotee Indians. It makes interesting reading especially coming from a self-confessed atheist American, and his openminded appreciation of the rituals, beliefs and associated spiritual musings are nice.
Overall, it is a deeply reflective book, unlike many other action packed mountain memoirs. It is a combination of a man’s healing journey, his love for nature and a thoughtful penning of his journey among the Himalayan mountains.
It’s a book that needs to be read slowly and in the right mood to be enjoyed.
***