Perspective

Peter Matthiessen is able to offer a great deal of objective perspective on the trek in "Snow Leopard" due to his illustrious background and scientific experience. As an avid hiker, Matthiessen is less likely to succumb to some of the rigors of the trip, although the bitter cold and rugged terrain take a definite toll, even on the sherpas and porters who make their living by making these journeys on a regular basis.

Matthiessen's take on the journey shows his background as a prolific novelist and non-fiction author. The descriptions of the scenery, terrain, weather, people and wildlife give a clear picture to the reader about the crux of the trek and how it affected each of the people present during the journey into, over and out of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.

Matthiessen is well known for his work on tribal cultures such as the Native Americans...