Keeper of the Mountains: The Elizabeth Hawley Story

Beginning in 1946, Elizabeth Hawley worked for Fortune magazine as a
researcher. Shortly thereafter, she left both her job and the United States
itself to travel the world, and thus began her lifelong attraction to the
exotic and remote sovereign state of Nepal. In the years that followed, she
began reporting on the political and cultural events taking place in her
adopted homeland for the likes of Reuters and Time Inc., letting the world in
on the strange community of mountaineers, pilgrims and politicians who were
descending on Kathmandu, whether in search of adventure, enlightenment or
prestige.

Despite the fact that Elizabeth Hawley has never climbed a mountain or visited
the hallowed grounds of Everest base camp, she has become the most important
record keeper and inspirational authority figure regarding the expeditions,
stories, feats, scandals and disasters in the Nepal Himalaya. Now 90 years of
age, she has commanded the respect of such legendary personalities as Edmund
Hillary, Reinhold Messner, Chris Bonington, Tomas Humar and Ed Viesturs.

With production under way on a film examining her life and legacy, it is
likely that Hawley will continue to hold a special place in the hearts and
minds of all visitors looking to experience the legend and grandeur of the
world’s most celebrated mountain landscape.