It took 撸奶社区author Eduard Fischer just six months to write the first draft of his book Chasing the Phantom, but the work was the culmination of almost 30 years of adventure and reflection in the Himalayas.
鈥淚t was a spiritual quest for me,鈥� Fischer said.
The book recounts his repeat visits to the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh beginning in1985 and his mission to catch a glimpse of the so-called 鈥減hantom of the Himalayas鈥� 鈥� the elusive snow leopard. Fischer said he was originally inspired to seek out the big cat after reading a book about a similar quest called The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen.
鈥淗e got a best-selling book out of it, but he never saw a snow leopard,鈥� he said.聽
After spending some 20 years raising children, working various jobs and co-founding businesses like the Edge Climbing Centre in North Vancouver, Fischer said he had a 鈥渨hat do I do now?鈥� moment when his children grew up.
So he visited the area around Ladakh between 1985 and 2013 to see if he could be lucky enough to spot a snow leopard himself.
鈥淚 decided I wanted to see a snow leopard, and had a series of adventures and misadventures,鈥� he said.
Along the way, Fischer became 鈥渆nthralled with the unique culture of this ancient mountain kingdom, one of the oldest enclaves of Buddhism,鈥� according to the book鈥檚 liner notes.
But the book isn鈥檛 exactly a memoir.
Fischer鈥檚 book falls into the category of 鈥渃reative non-fiction.鈥� The events and conversations he recounts actually happened; however, he has organized the account in a way to tell a story and explore the myths and sacred places of the high mountains.
鈥淭he closest thing to it in terms of style is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,鈥� he said.
The book has been available since June, but Fischer will be on hand at Valhalla Pure on Thursday (July 31) at 7 p.m. for a special event to launch the book, which also features a slideshow of his fascinating adventures.聽
Proceeds from the launch go to the 撸奶社区Helping Hands Society.
For more about the book and author visit the book鈥檚 website at聽 www.chasingthephantom.com.
