Thomas Quay Williams

Evening in Rishikesh Thomas Quay Williams

Evening in Rishikesh-A Climber's Journey Home is a memoir of growing up rock climbing in Colorado in the late 1970s and 80s seeing remarkable qualities in my heroes that have a proto-yogi quality. The first section is dedicated to the remarkable pioneer Layton Kor, who's energetic pursuit of first ascents around the world form an otherworldly myth that inspires my early climbing career. The desire to be a standard setter like Kor ensnares me in a competition after my first climb, The Bastille Crack 5.7+, in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado in 1979, to someday ascend the hardest climb in the world at that time: Genesis 5.12+. However, I'm not a talented climber, and to make it up such a difficult route, I begin a ten-year quest that takes me all over the world looking for the key to become an accomplished athlete in the world's greatest sport. Englishman Derek Hersey arrives in section two, inviting the temptation to "free solo," or climb completely un-roped on difficult terrain-the most dangerous game a climber can play. This leads to personal revelations on Fairview Dome in Yosemite National Park that echo through my discovery of yoga in college and its similarities to climbing. Juxtaposed to this is the arrival of "sport climbing," a European style of climbing which okays drilled bolts and an aggressive, gymnastic style. Larger than life personality Johnny Dawes, also of England, becomes one of the keys to my quest to climb Genesis as he generously coaches me on the sunny white Provence limestone of southern France. His legendary dangerous and difficult climbs have brought Dawes international fame and glory. It seems he has it all-or does he? The main body of the book shifts away from climbing to delight the armchair traveler and yoga enthusiast with a firsthand account of a journey to India. There I seek to discover what yoga is truly about and whether I will ever really climb the fabled Genesis. "A Fantastic Read and an Unforgettable Life Journey"- Ed Webster, Everest legend and author of "Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest." Nameste