The sighting of snow leopard tracks in the depths of a Ladkhi winter set off a ten-year journey through a land of mountains, Buddhism, wild creatures and adventurers…

"You should come with me to Dolpo next year," said Ade. No further encouragement was required. Dolpo was the land of the snow leopard immortalised by the American author Peter Matthiessen. Without hesitation I said I was going. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of Matthiessen and I dared to hope that I might see a snow leopard.

Australian-based, British-born doctor Bill Crozier sets out to seek the snow leopard in the Himalayas: Ladakh, Nepal and Tibet, and finds adventure, friendship, wonder and enlightenment. His guides are the twentieth-century writers of the Himalayas, Peter Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard), George B. Schaller (Stones of Silence), David Snellgrove (Himalayan Pilgrimage) Eric Shipton (That Untravelled World) and the profound writings of Buddhist monks over the centuries.

Beyond the Snow Leopard delves in particular into the ancient land of Dolpo, and journeys to the birthplace of the Buddha at Lumbini. Crozier captures the real side of travelling through this contested and harsh region with friends and family, and relates the joys of a lifetime loving the outdoors and mountains.