First Lines of The Snow Leopard

At sunrise the small expedition meets beneath a giant fig beyond Pokhara - two white sahibs, four Sherpas, fourteen porters. The Sherpas are of the famous mountain tribe of northeast Nepal, near Namche Bazaar, whose men accompany the ascents of the great peaks; they are Buddhist herders who have come down in recent centuries out of eastern Tibet - sherpa is a Tibetan word for "easterner" - and their language, culture, and appearance all reflect Tibetan origin.
- Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard.

The little that I've read of this book so far has been intense. It's prose is fiercely felt, and demands that you experience it at its level, so it's an exhausting read. Interesting so far, tho. I'll let you know how it goes.