Big Open: On Foot Across Tibert's Chang Tang

by Rick Ridgeway

On foot and on their own, four adventurers brave the challenges of nature on a 275-mile trek through one of the most beautiful-and most remote-regions of the world.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Adventure, Nature, China, Environment, Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2004

Reviews

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Big Open: On Foot Across Nepal's Chang Tang by Rick Ridgeway (National Geographic Society 2004) (508.51) (3445).

This is the journal of a National Geographic-endorsed expedition into an uninhabited part of Tibet in 1999 to try to find the calving grounds of the endangered Tibetan antelope known as the chiru. This beautiful antelope, which is all but unknown outside of Tibet, has been hunted almost to extinction for its finest-in-the-world wool known as “shatoosh” which can be woven into incredibly warm and light shawls that the high fashion industry sold for as much as eighteen thousand dollars.

Author Rick Ridgeway's four man traveling party featured two of the most famous high-altitude mountaineers in the world: Galen Rowell, who was considered one of the strongest high-altitude climbers in the world, and Conrad Anker, who is best known as the man who found George Mallory's body on Mount Everest after it had been encased in ice for over half a century.

It's a great adventure story. My rating: 7/10, finished 6/18/20 (3445). Best of all, I purchased a hardback copy in brand-new condition signed by author Rick Ridgeway at McKay's books on 5/1/20 for $1.50.

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[Erneilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad book, in many ways - what human beings are doing to the wildlife of this planet is appalling and we can be grateful that there are people trying to do something about it.

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2002 author Rick Ridgeway and three companions, all experienced mountaineers, explored one of the most desolate places on earth - Chang Tang, the Tibetan Plateau. The area is a rugged and immense plateau with an average altitude of 17,000 feet. For one month they trekked across this wilderness following the migration of chiru, an endangered Tibetan antelope. They followed the female of the species through nearly impassable terrain in a quest to discover their communal birthing grounds. A larger goal was to save the animal from almost certain extinction. Unfortunately, chiru possess a beautifully soft and durable wool that traditionally has been woven into scarves known as Shahtoosh; an expensive garment that confers status upon customers of means. Tragically, thousands of animals have been slaughtered in the process.

The trekkers hoped to publicize the plight of the chiru and convince the Chinese government to establish a protective reserve. Their effort, combined with the determination of other conservation groups, seems to have succeeded. The Shahtoosh is now banned in most countries and chiru herds are once again increasing.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years ago this month, four men including the author, mountaineer Conrad Anker, photographer Galen Rowell, and Jimmy Chin, pulled 250-lb. cars across the uninhabited and high altitude Chang Tang plains in order to find where the elusive chiru antelope might have their calving grounds The chiru were being poached for their hide as very expensive scarves were being made from them. The scientist, George Schaller, had studied them but was unsure where they were calving. Rick Ridgeway brings out the hard slog across this area well, but also tells of the battle to get people to quit buying these scarves so that the chiru could survive. He interweaves both stories well. The four men became very close, but only a month after the end of the expedition, Galen Rowell, was killed in a plane accident. An interesting book.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three men go on a epic journey in remote China is search of the calving grounds of the chirua, a Tibetan antelope with incredibly fine woo that allows is to thrive in the high altitude, very cold part of the Central Asian Plateau. It's an interesting adventure in a part of the world I am unfamiliar with. It was interesting to hear about the gear they took (including a custom, aluminum rickshaw) and the foreign trade in chiru wool that is pushing this animal to the brink of extinction.
It's another tale of development encroaching on wild spaces and how wild animals (and loss of habitat) are paying the price.
I don't think I'll keep this one on the shelf for a future read, but I did enjoy it.

[Vince Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a good adventure travelogue. I didn’t know anything about the plight of the chiru. I loved reading about an obscure untouched corner of the earth. Very quick read.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and focused.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventure book about a team of four people, led by the author, traveling almost 300 miles on foot across the most remote regions of Tibet. Their purpose (aside from having an adventure): to determine for certain the breeding grounds of the chiru, a species of antelope severely threatened by poaching, in order to convince the Chinese government to establish a wildlife reserve.

The book is definitely well-written, with serious description punctuated by the humor and camaraderie of the team; a good mixture. Interlaced within the narrative are sections which detail the progress of international efforts to protect the chiru, and interviews with a medley of people involved in those efforts. That braiding of two different story threads gives the book almost a novelistic flavor, which I thought worked quite well. A satisfying read.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Ridgeway offers an amazing look at the desolate and enchanting land of the Chang Tang, one of the Earth's least known regions. Ridgeway, with three other companions, including Galen Rowell, world famous photographer follow the endangered Chiru (Tibetan antelope) to their mating grounds in hopes of establishing a nature reserve for their protection. Their fur has become the most sought after designer fur in the world, fetching up to $15,000 per shawl and killing thousands of animals a year. The story offers a glimpse of the wonders and horror's of the plight of the chiru while offering us a look into the ethical choices made by human's in the name of fashion..

[Michael Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading two other Ridgeway books I purchased this and was not disappointed. This book combines adventure travel with environmental and wildlife conservation into an interesting and enjoyable read about the Chang Tang region of Tibet.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling story of his trek - with only hand-pulled carts - with three other men through the Chang Tang desert in Tibet to find the breeding grounds of the chiru. Very interesting to see the issues faced (like food shortage and broken axles) and how the men overcame them.

[Terri Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to hike across a country with this guy (and actually told him that when I met him)! The adventure: as epic as they come and for a formidable cause. Others I recommend: Below Another Sky, The Last Step, The Shadow of Kilimanjaro.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and fascinating read. Informative but not too preachy, I really enjoyed learning about the Chang Tang and the Chiru.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

intresting...