Prologue, Part 1: Westward Summary and Analysis

The story begins in September 1973, when Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller begin their journey to Crystal Mountain in search of the snow leopard. The men walk nearly 250 miles to the Land of Dolpo, located on the Tibetan Plateau. Matthiessen explains his relationship with George Schaller and how both men are interested in locating the snow leopard, which Matthiessen refers to as "the rarest and most beautiful of the great cats." Schaller says that only two human beings have laid eyes on the snow leopard in the last 25 years, and he is one of those people. The snow leopard is so rare that it is almost considered to be mythical.

Matthiessen and Schaller meet at a hotel in Kathmandu. The men haven't seen each other in more than a year, and Matthiessen has some reservations about taking a...