WhatistheRelevanceofthetitle?

ToAMountainInTibetwasaninterestingtitletomewhenIfirstreadit,Ididn'tknow
thatitwasanonfictionbookuntilIpickeditupandrealizedthatitwasatruestoryabouta
manthatwasonhisownselfpilgrimagetotheholiestplaceonearth,ThepeakofMount
Kailas.

AlthoughColinThubronisaChristianman,hehaddecidedtotakethejourneyon
footalongtheKarnaliriverleadinghighintotheGanges,thesolitaryandsolemnjourneyfor
himwasatributetohismotherinherdeath,andthelossofhisfamilyalongwithher.He
takesthisjourneyasawaytosignifytheirpassinginhislifeandmarkitinhislifeforeveras
thetimewherehebecamealoneandsolitary,butinaway,Ithinkitmadehimcloserto
someofthepeopleandthelandscapeintibet.

Slowlyyoucouldseethathewasdevelopingaconnectionwithhisguides,talkingto
themindeepsubjectsandfindingoutwhytheyarewithhim,whytheyhaddecidedtowork
asaguidetohelppeopleuptomountKalis.Findingoutthatthosepeoplewerethereand
wereallaloneandfarfromtheirfamiliesashewas.IthinkthatgoingtomountKailaswasa
goodwaytomarkasignificanttimeinhislife,whenhisfamilyhadpassedandwhenhe
figuredoutthatheisnotaloneinthisworld.Evenwithhisfamilygone.Ifeellikethejourney
helpedhealhimmorethanhethoughtitwould,sometimestryingtoisolateyourselfbrings
youintoanewworldofunderstandingandenlightenment.

Top10thingsIlearned
1.) Nomatterhowbadyouhaveit,someoneelsehasitworse,thingsarentasbadas
theyappear.
2.) Nomatterhowfarawayfriendsandfamilyare,theyarestillfriendsandfamily.
Nothinghaschangedbutthedistance.
3.) Dontletanyoneorthingshakeyourfaith,ifitmakesyouhappypouryoursoulintoit,
itsmuchbettertobehappyandpoor,thanrichandmiserable.
4.) Dowhatyouneedtorememberyourlovedonesaftertheyhavepassed,especially
ifitgivesyouclosure.
5.) Makethebestoutofwhatyouhave,eveninpoorconditions,noteverythinginlifeis
goingtobeeasy.
6.) Begenerousinyourlifetime,whoknows,maybealongthewayeventuallyyoull
needhelp.
7.) Experiencingandexposingyourselftodifferentenvironmentsandculturescanbe
eyeopeningandhelpyouachieveawideroutlookinlife.
8.) Isolationindifficultsituationscanhelphealwounds,butitisbesttonotbeleftalone
toolong,thosesoresandcutsmaystarttofesterwithoutoutsidehelpeveryonce
andawhile.
9.) Distractingyourselfwithsomethingmoreengagingorphysicallychallengingcan
helpyourmentaloutlookonthingsaswellasgivingyouaclearheadtothinkin.
10.) Overallgettingyourmindoffatoughsituationlifethedeathofafamilymemberis
thebestthingforyou.Gettingoutinnatureandtakingalongjourneytowhoknows
wherecangetyoualotfartherinlifethansittingaroundandsulking.

Timelineofdifferentevents
TownOfSimikotpg1TheopeningofthebookstartswiththeintroductionofColin,itis
thestartofhistrek,leavingthesmalltownofSimikotandbeginninghislongjourneytothepeak
ofmountKalis.

OldMountainManpg3Thisisthefirstlookthatyougettoseeofthepovertystricken
peopleinthisregion.TheoldmanthatstumblesalongthepathdrillstheSherpawithquestions,
pleadingforanswersandsolutions.Hecannotsupporthisfamilyanylonger,hecannotafforda
newhorseforhisSonandDaughterinlaw.Theresnothingleftforhimthere.

Isworpg7HerewegettomeetIswormore,hesa27yearoldtamangwhohaslefthis
familytosupporthimself.HegrewupinaVillageinthehillsnearKathmandu,hisfatherwasa
cook,andhismotherrentedtheirfarmlandtothosewhoneededitandhadmoney.

WhyColinismakingthejourneypg9ThisiswhereyoufindoutwhatColinisdoingin
Tibet,whyhestakingthisincrediblylongjourneytomountKalis.Hesdoingitbecauseofhis
family,Colinsmotherrecentlydied,thelastofhisfamily,firsthissister,thenhisfather,nowhis
mother.Hefeelslikeheneedstoleaveasignontheirpassing.

TheFirststoppg10herewegettoseejusthowpoorlysomepeopleareliving,theyare
takeninbyafamilyof9with3narrowroomstolivein.Theyhavenothing,nofurniture,water,a
properbathroom,butyettheyshowhospitalityandgivethemawarmmealandletthemstaythe
night.

CrossingOverpg19Colinandhispartnersstartleavingtheregionwherehinduismisa
largeinfluence,insteadnowtheyaremovingtowheretherearemoreBhotiasandTibetan
Buddhists.

Colinsfatherpg24Colinsmemoriesstartfloodingbacktohimabouthisfather.Here
youlearnthathisfatherwasagreathunterwhotraveledtotheseregionswherehehuntedmany
differentanimals.Soonhetrailedoffintohismother,rememberinghowshewouldtellhimthat
secretlyshewouldwishfortheanimalstogetaway.

SalleKholaTributarypg35TheSalleKholatributaryisalandmarkthattheymustcross
overintotogettotheirnextdestinationthevillageofYalbang,IsworwarnsColinthatthepeople
therearedirtyandthathemayfallill.Theretheypitchtheirtentsandrestthereforthenight

HeadMasterpg41Colinistakentoasmallschool,herehefindsthattheschoolisso
farfromsomechildrenshomesthattheyhavedormsandbunksforchildrentostayforthefull9
months.Theheadmasterspeaksofhowhisfamilyisscatteredabout,hiswifeonlyoccasionally
withhim,hissonisamonkinindia,andhisdaughterisastudentawayinalabamaintheUS.
Unfortunatelyshecannotcomehometohim,shedoesn'thaveenoughmoneytomakeithome.

Yangarpg63AstopalongthewayisavillagenamedYangar,thisisyetagainanother
exampleofhowpoortibetreallyis.Thefarmersthatliveinthisareaarehardlyabletosupport
themselvesonthesmallwagestheymake.

Injuriespg71Colinstartstorelivesomechildhoodpainashisjourneygetslongerand
longer,hesoonrealizesthatifhisanklethathadatornligament,orthekneethathaddamaged
cartilagesinceboyhood,orperhapsevenworsehispreviouslybrokenspineweretocollapseon
himtherewouldbenoonetoevacuatethem.Despitethedangerhecarrieson.

VillageofYaripg79Theyarriveatasmallfarmingcommunitybuttheyhavenotimeto
stay.Theysoonleaveandpushon.

ProblemswithChinapg85Colinisawokenbyaherdofsheeptramplingthroughhis
camp,althoughthisusedtobenormal,sinceChinaclosedofftheborders,thisregularflowof
shepherdsstopped,haltingtradeforeveryonearound.

DeadChildrenpg93InarestplaceforNepalesemerchantsColinfindoutmoreonhow
badfamilylifeisforthesepeople.Duringhisstaythereheseesawomantryingtonurseafeeble
babythatlooksextremelysick.HerehealsofindsthatDhabuoneofhistravelingpartners
alsohaschildren4,buttwoofthemhaddied.Dhabuhasnoexplanationastowhybecauseof
hislackofeducation.

TheMonkpg104Colinhasaflashbacktowhenhewastalkingtoamonkhehadmetin
theearlyspringofthatyear.Themonkhadspokenofhowhimandhisparentshadhandedhim
offtonewpeopletotakehimawaytoadifferentplace,hehadneverseenhisfamilyagain,he
hasnorelativeswithhimandthemonasterybecamehisnewfamily.

Chinesepg108Atthispointthejourneytheyarestoppedatacheckpointwhere
Chineseofficialsawait,goingthroughalloftheirbelongingsandcheckingphotographsfor
anythingsuspicious.Inpastyearsthisdidnothappen,thepeoplewerefreetoworshipasthey
wanted.

CulturalWarpg114ColinpondersaboutwhytheChineseoppresstheTibetanpeople
soharshly.

SacredLakePg133Colinhasadreamnearthesacredlakeofbloodandpeople
screamingunderthemoon,ashewakeshewalksaroundhissurroundings,lookingatthecaves
thathermitsusetoshelterinwhentheycometoworshipandpray.Hewondersifpeoplehave
diedhereandthatswhathisdreamwasabout.

TownofDarchenpg145ThetownofDarchenwasoriginallytheplaceofwherethe
pilgrimagewouldstartforpeopleclimbingtoMountKalis,yettheyarestoppedshortbyamilitary
checkpoint,andthetownislitteredwiththepresenceandmilitarybasesofthechinese.

ASkyBurialpg151Colingetstolearnanewwayofofhowpeopletakecareoftheir
dead,itscalledaSkyburial.Theybelievethatitletsthesoulroamfreetoreincarnateandliveon.
ThismaybetherapeuticforColintohearabout.

ThePilgrimsPg156ThePilgrimsthatgetascloseastheymaytoMountKalisare
alwaysstoppedshort,yettheyfindawaytoprayandworship.Theygatheraroundaflagpole
mimickingwhattheywouldregularlybedoingatthepeakofKalis.

ReachingKalispg167Colinandhisclimbingpartnersfinallyreachtheholyvaly,the
moodinthebookseemstochangeaspilgrimsandhermitsherearehappyandcontent,the
moodlightensandalliswell.Peoplemaketheirofferingandprayinpeace,theendoftheirlong
journeyhasfinallycomeandColinhasbeengivingthesatisfactionofknowingthathehas
markedhismother'spassingasatributetohiswholefamily.

Problemsinthebook:
Oneofthemainproblemsinthebookwasthepovertythatwaseverpresent.People
werelivinginshacks,theycouldn'tsendtheirchildrentoschoolsotheycondemnedtheir
childrentothesameterriblelifethattheyhavelived.Manyteenagersandyoungadultshadto
leavetheirhomessothattheycouldfindwork,leavingbehindtheirfamilyandparents.Many
wereunderthethreatoftheChinese,afterthedeathoftheDalaiLamaChinaclaimedtohave
liberatedTibet,buttheyclosedtheTibetanandpeopleoftheirfaithandclosedoffthepeakof
mountKailas,toonefifthofthepeoplespopulation,thatstheholiestplaceintheearth.

Unfortunatelymanyarenotallowedback,Monksbecameoutcastswithintheir
monasteriesandmanytibetanpeoplewererestrictedtoworshipingfromafarandwerenot
allowedtomakethefulljourneyallthewaytothetoppeak.

Manychildrenthatareabletogetaneducationaretoofarfromtheschoolhousefrom
wheretheylive,andtheyhavetostayforthe9monthsattheschoolindorms,althoughduring
thewintertheymaygetsenthomebecauseofthesnow.Somechildrenwillneverhavethe
luxuryofgoingtoschoolbecausethereparentsneedthemworkinginthehomeorinthefield,or
evenperhapstokeepthemathometocareforthemwhentheyareolder,tobesurethattheir
childrendonotleavethemastheyage.

AnotherLargeproblemintheregiongoesalongwellwithpoverty,andthatunsanitary
conditions.Manychildrenfellillandtheirparentsdidn'tknowwhy,therewasneveraclinic
enoughnearbyandsometimespeoplewouldhavetobegtocrossChineseborderssothey
couldcontinuetomaketheirtrektoanearbyclinic.Manypeopledidnothavecleanrunning
waterintheirvillages,andtheirhomeswereramshacklesthrowntogetherwitholdrustedmetal
andnearrottingwood.Horse,cow,chicken,andgoatdroppingslitteredtheplace.

Ihonestlywouldneverwishanyonetoliveintheseterribleconditions,ifIcouldIwould
useallthemoneyintheworldtofixtheseunfairsituationsthatthesepoorpeoplearepushed
into.

ToaMountainInTibetTest

WasIsworamanorawoman?
(Man)*

WasColintravelingonabusinesstrip?
y/n*

DidIsworhaveafamilyhelivedwith?
y/n*

WhowasitthatfollowedtheSherpaandbeggedforhelp?
(Ram) (MountainMan)
(PoorBegger) (PoorVillageman)*

WhyWasColinmakingtheJourneytoKalis?
(Tomarkthepassingofhismotherandtherestofhisfamily)*

WasthetownofSimikotinthebeginningorendofthebook?
(Beginning)*

WhatwastheNameifthemountainthattheyweretravelingto?
(MountKalis)*

WhowasRam?
(Collinstravellingpartner)* (Afriendalongtheway)
(someonewhohousedthem)(notacharacter)

WhyisthemajorityofthepopulationinTibetpoor?
(Lackofeducation)*

WhoclaimedtoliberateTibet?
(China)

DearColin,
IhavereadyourbookToaMountaininTibetandIhavetosay,thischangedthewayI
thinkaboutpeoplewholiveindifferentregionsthenIdo.Ihaveneverexperiencedpeopleina
poorsituationoutsidefromwhenIusedtoliveinatrailerparkasachild,andeventhatwasn'tas
badashowyoudescribeinyourbook.
ManytimesIfoundmyselfhavingtoreadandrereadchaptersinyourbookbecausethey
aresodensewithemotionandinformationthatIhaveneverthoughttothinkabout.ManytimesI
havewondered,arethosepeoplethatyouencounteredstillthere?Havetheypassedon?dothey
haveafamilylivinginabetterplace?Oraretheystillriddledwithpoverty?
AllofthesequestionsthatIhadmademeextremelyemotionaltothinkofpeoplelivingin
mudshackswiththeirfamiliescrammedintogether.Itmademewonderhowyoustayedstrong
throughoutthewholeofthisbook.Hadyouseenthesethingsbeforeandtheimagesdonot
botheryouanymore?BecauseonafewoccasionsIwouldfallasleepreadingabouthowaman
losthisfamily,orhowaMonkhadlosthisfamilyandhadtolivewithhismonasteriesandmake
themhisfamily.
Althoughyoutoohadlostallofyourfamily,yoursister,Father,andMotherIwounderwhy
youchosetosurroundyourselfwiththeseopenpeople,ormaybeitwasonlybecauseyou
wantedtotakethejourneytomarkthefinalpassingofyourmotherAllinallIfinditverybrave
andstrongofyoutobeabletokeepapromiseandnevergiveupwhenitcametostormydays,
lessthandesirableconditions,andprobablysomeheartbreakingrealizationsalongtheway.
ThelastthingthatIwouldliketosaywasthatyougavemeamuchbroaderlookonlife.
ThatthereismoretotheworldthenjusttheUnitedStates,thatthereareotherpeopleoutthere
goingthroughmuchworsethanIamandIneedtothinkaboutmydailysituationscomparedto
anotherandaskmyself,isitreallythatbad?BecausetobehonestafterthisbookIwillnever
complainaboutschoolagain.Afterseeingallthosechildrenandyoungadultscravingit,Ihaveto
remembertobethankfulforit.

SothankyouColinforteachingmethat,IthinkmanymorestudentsintheUSneedto
learnthislessonandhavealargerlookatlifebeyondourshelteredwalls.
Taylor