The Two-Year Mountain: A Nepal Journey (Bradt Travel Guides

by Phil Deutschle

March 15: Tribhuvan International Airport                                                                                    March 16: Dube Village  March 17: Thoripaani     March 18:Thoripaani 7,200 feet                                                                                                 March 19:Deuraauli 8,000 feet                                                                                                   March 20:Waapsu 6,700 feet                                                                                                    March 21:Karikhola 6,800 feet                                                                                                   March 22:Chaurikharka 8,500 feet                                                                                             March 23, 24:Namche Bazaar 11,286 feet                                                                                  March 25:Namche Bazaar 11,286 feet                                                                                       March 26:Thyangboche 12,687 feet                                                                                           March 27:Pangboche 13,074 feet                                                                                              March 28:Pheriche almost 14,000 feet                                                                                       March 29:Lobuche 16,175 feet                                                                                                  March 30:Lobuche 16,175 feet                                                                                                  March 31:Lobuche 16,175 feet to Kala Pattar 18,192 feet                                                            April 1:Lobuche Village to Lobuche East                                                                                    April 2:Lobuche             April 3:Lobuche 16,175 feet to Everest Base Camp 17,700 feet                                                    April 4, 5:Lobuche to Pheriche to Chukung                                                                                 April 6:Chukung 15,518 feet                                                                                                      April 7:Island Peak High Camp 18,400 feet                                                                                 April 8:Island Peak High Camp 18,400 feet                                                                                 April 9:Pheriche almost 14,000 feet                                                                                           April 10:Tshola Tsho 15,000 feet                                                                                               April 11:Dzongla 15,889 feet                                                                                                     April 12:Nyimaganoa Camp 17,300 feet                                                                                     April 13:Kangchung Himal Camp 17,700 feet                                                                              April 14:Kangchung Himal Camp 17,700 feet                                                                              April 15:Gokyo 15,720 feet                                                                                                       April 16:Gokyo Kang 17,600 feet                                                                                               April 17:Dole Village 13,400 feet                                                                                                April 18, 19, 20,21:Namche Bazaar 11,286 feet                                                                          April 22:Namche            April 23:Thame 12,500 feet                                                                                                       April 24:Patch of Yak Grass 15,700 feet                                                                                    April 25:Tasi Lapcha Pass around 19,000 feet                                                                            April 26:Tasi Lapcha Pass 19,000 feet                                                                                       April 27:Tasi Lapcha Pass                                                                                                        April 28:Tasi Lapcha      Epilogue                                                                                                                                 Glossary                       Nepali Facts                 Acknowledgments         Maps                           

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent enough account of time in Nepal on peace Corp duties teaching and the growth and experiences of the protagonist there.
I'm not wholly sure how I came by this book it's a charity shop purchase plus a later reprint which has a last section whereby the author revisits the place he called home for two years..had it improved?..did he make a difference?..I won't say as the joy of the read is the journey spiritual and emotional as well as actual.
It's been a while since I read a 'travel' type book but this like others introduces you to places and cultures which you can visit in your mind if not in actuality..a well crafted travelogue which (as these things usually are) is actually much more than a postcard from a tourist.

[Ricardo Ribeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book with all my heart. Bought it in Kathmandu and started reading it immediately. I was not so interested in the more technical aspects of climbing and in the detailed descriptions of the authors explorations in the mountain. But, oh boy, this man knows how to write! And everything else in the book is just wonderful. I was looking for somethinhg which could connect me with Nepal, as a traveller, and couldn't be any luckier, this was the book.

[Deevena Jemima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phil Deutschle is an excellent author who knows to combine mystery, travel, horror and almost every emotion known to man in his writing. The two year mountain transports you to the ragged hill sides of rural nepal, where Philipsir worked for two years. He potrays his feelings and experience very honestly which makes the reader sympathize or empathize with him. Its wonderful to see how he adapted and even came to love the very place he felt so apprehensive about. His efforts to improve the school, planting trees are few of the many things he managed to accomplish in his time in Nepal as a peace corps volunteer. As a whole, this book has a very interesting way of presentation.

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about a young man who joins the Peace Corps and teaches in Nepal. Thirty years later he returns to his small village and sees many of his students again. The village has electricity and clean water. He finds that many of his students are very successful with kids who became teachers, engineers, and gov. officials. This experience is overwhelming emotionally to him. he also tells of the Maoists invasion of the school and taking 200 students. Eventually 20 were taken as soldiers.

[George Kinnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a while to adjust to the changing timelines - Phil's travels and ascent on Pharchamo after his volunteering, and then flicking back to stories and anecdotes of his time in Aiselukharka in the preceding 2 years, but it's well worth pushing on.

An honest and emotional account of his travels and the loneliness he experienced as an outsider learning the culture and language, and grappling with whether his work was really making a difference.

The epilogue, returning to the village after 3 decades provides a great close to the book - although 10 years on, I almost want a further update!

[Divya U · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an inspiring story of a man who strives to make a difference in the world while living an eccentric life. The detailed description of each and every climb and every Nepal experience was very interesting.

[Robyn Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. There are a lot of aspects of the Peace Corps volunteer experience that are universal. The mountain climbing descriptions are an added attraction.