Rowell, Galen. Mountains of the Middle Kingdon: Exploring the High Peaks of China and Tibet by Galen Rowell.

Sierra Club, 1983.  Hardcover, new in original shrink wrap. More than 10 x 12 inches.  160 pages.  Writer, mountain climber, and photographer, Rowell was renowned for both the quality of his writing and his stunning color photographs of the Himalayas, as seen here, as well as mountains in other parts of the world.  Quite uncommon in this condition. Issued at $40. Summary:

Mountains of the Middle Kingdom (1983) is a seminal work of mountain literature and photojournalism by the legendary climber and "high-altitude" photographer Galen Rowell. The book chronicles Rowell's series of expeditions into the then-newly opened regions of Tibet and Western China, following the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Core Themes and Narrative

• The "Re-discovery" of High Asia: Rowell was among the first Westerners in decades to explore the vast mountain ranges of the East. He retraces the steps of early 20th-century explorers like Joseph Rock, comparing their historic accounts with the modern reality of the 1980s.

• Conservation and Culture: The book is more than a climbing diary; it is a deep meditation on the environmental degradation of the plateau and the resilience of Tibetan culture. Rowell highlights the tension between ancient spiritual traditions and the encroaching industrialization of the Chinese state.

• The Physical Challenge: Rowell describes harrowing first ascents and long-distance treks around giants like Karakoram, Mount Anye Machin, and Gongga Shan, often operating at the very limit of human endurance and camera technology.

Visual and Technical Style

• Dynamic Landscapes: Galen Rowell pioneered the "participatory" style of wilderness photography. He didn't just photograph mountains from afar; he carried his 35mm Nikon cameras onto the peaks, capturing the dawn and dusk light (what he famously called "The Magic Hour").

• Pre-Digital Perfection: Rowell was a master of using graduated neutral-density filters to balance the extreme contrast of the high-altitude sun and deep shadows, a technical necessity for the image quality seen throughout the book.