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Lost in the Himalayas
In the Himalayan winter, without food or shelter, a human being is not expected to live longer than a week. James Scott lasted 43 days.
He survived cold, hunger, isolation and despair, hanging on the dwindling hope that a search team might find him, or that he could crawl out when the snow thawed. He should never have made it out of the mountains alive.
This is the incredible story of his survival, of how he focused his thoughts to sustain hope until he was rescued.
It is also the story of another struggle, of the search kept alive by his sister, Joanne Robertson. Fighting disbelief and the difficulties of working with government officials in a foreign country, she refused to give up hop, systematically eliminating every possibility – long past the point where anyone expected to find much more than James’ body.
Lost in the Himalayas is a story about hope, endurance, survival and the human spirit
He survived cold, hunger, isolation and despair, hanging on the dwindling hope that a search team might find him, or that he could crawl out when the snow thawed. He should never have made it out of the mountains alive.
This is the incredible story of his survival, of how he focused his thoughts to sustain hope until he was rescued.
It is also the story of another struggle, of the search kept alive by his sister, Joanne Robertson. Fighting disbelief and the difficulties of working with government officials in a foreign country, she refused to give up hop, systematically eliminating every possibility – long past the point where anyone expected to find much more than James’ body.
Lost in the Himalayas is a story about hope, endurance, survival and the human spirit
222 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
7 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 12, 2014
Conflict of interest: I actually have the pleasure of knowing the author James though I did not know him when he endured this incredible ordeal of 43 days without food in freezing conditions.
Co-written very naturally with his sister Joanne who persevered in looking for her brother when nearly all had given him up for dead. An amazing journey of faith, hope and endurance in unimaginable circumstances. Also a damning indictment of the Australian media and public for doubting his story. I know for a fact James still suffers from damage to his nervous system and vision decades later.
A great book for reminding us to be grateful for what we have-all James wanted in those 43 days was food, warmth and company.
This book is also a great testament to the awesome beauty of the Himalayas and its people.
Co-written very naturally with his sister Joanne who persevered in looking for her brother when nearly all had given him up for dead. An amazing journey of faith, hope and endurance in unimaginable circumstances. Also a damning indictment of the Australian media and public for doubting his story. I know for a fact James still suffers from damage to his nervous system and vision decades later.
A great book for reminding us to be grateful for what we have-all James wanted in those 43 days was food, warmth and company.
This book is also a great testament to the awesome beauty of the Himalayas and its people.
December 29, 2024
Po pomalém rozjezdu to začíná být napínavé a stránky začnou ubývat. Jamesovy zápisky jsou poměrně zajímavé, ale protože je jich málo, tak jsou doplněné zápisky jeho sestry Joanne, která organizovala záchranné výpravy v Nepálu. Ty mi přišly o poznání méně čtivé. Joanne mi bohužel přišla poměrně nesympatická, i když její nasazení ve hledání bratra rozhodně zaslouží obdiv. I když se v zápiscích snažila být co nejvíce neutrální, tak je z nich prostě znát ten pohrdavý tón holky z australského města vůči nepálské kultuře. Která navíc ztrácí čas s psychotroniky a podobnými. Na druhou stranu přiznává své chyby, to dojem napravuje.
Zajímavý mi přišel i epilog s pronásledováním novináři. Bulvární novináři jsou bohužel opravdu odpad.
Zajímavý mi přišel i epilog s pronásledováním novináři. Bulvární novináři jsou bohužel opravdu odpad.
October 11, 2020
A great page turner. A really interesting telling of the story of James Scott who was lost in the Himalayas for 43 days (as the title kind of gives away, lol).
I don't have any pre-existing interesting in trekking, mountain climbing, the Himalayas and I had never heard of the story before, having said that I found the book totally engrossing.
I have no memory of how I acquired the book, it's been sitting on the bookshelf a long time, and in these Covid times I decided to give it a read. I was not expecting how all-consuming I found the book. I especially enjoyed how it was written as diary entries from different peoples perspectives. On occasion I would have liked entries from others mentioned in the story (for example James' fiancée, his parents, the illusive Mark or even the Australian/Nepalese officials).
Initially I felt that some emotion was missing from the book, however this changed about midway through the entries. Looking back I think that this was out of necessity the first half being about gathering the information on the situation and hatching a plan. Whereas towards the middle of the book this was all in place and the bleak situation and the feelings of desperation became more apparent.
That being said I would highly recommend the book, even if you have no interest in mountaineering.
It's a nice easy read and once you pick it up it is hard to put down, the dairy entries are short and keep the story moving at a good pace. Even though you know the ending from the blub this does not detract from the journey.
Below are some of the questions that the book left me with:
I found an odd paradox in the book which was the religious aspect, which whilst not mentioned constantly, was mentioned frequently enough for it to be recognised. It was interesting for me to see how people of faith might change their internal monologue accordingly. For example it was clear that James had an absolute faith in God (strengthened by the experience), at times explaining how he felt it was part of Gods plan that this had happened to him, and yet he felt a lot of internal guilt about how he (James) had behaved so recklessly to end up in this position (in spite of acknowledging a moment earlier that God has put him in his predicament). This continued through the story, although thankfully not enough to be too much of a distraction. The one religious part of the story I did enjoy was that of the Lama, for reasons that you will see yourselves.
There are definitely moments that restore your faith in humanity that are not related to a transactional value in the book, however there is also an underlying discussion on wealth, which left me feeling a little uncomfortable as I wondered if the story would have had quite such a happy ending if James' family could not have afforded the costs of the search and rescue operations, to Joanne's credit (James' sister) does acknowledge this. However there was a passage that discussed James having to go to a third world hospital, instead of an Australian hospital. Whilst I understood the sentiment, this mildly infuriated me. Up to this point the only people who has invested time and energy into James' rescue were all in Nepal, the Australian government being portrayed as fairly inept to deal with the situation .
I don't have any pre-existing interesting in trekking, mountain climbing, the Himalayas and I had never heard of the story before, having said that I found the book totally engrossing.
I have no memory of how I acquired the book, it's been sitting on the bookshelf a long time, and in these Covid times I decided to give it a read. I was not expecting how all-consuming I found the book. I especially enjoyed how it was written as diary entries from different peoples perspectives. On occasion I would have liked entries from others mentioned in the story (for example James' fiancée, his parents, the illusive Mark or even the Australian/Nepalese officials).
Initially I felt that some emotion was missing from the book, however this changed about midway through the entries. Looking back I think that this was out of necessity the first half being about gathering the information on the situation and hatching a plan. Whereas towards the middle of the book this was all in place and the bleak situation and the feelings of desperation became more apparent.
That being said I would highly recommend the book, even if you have no interest in mountaineering.
It's a nice easy read and once you pick it up it is hard to put down, the dairy entries are short and keep the story moving at a good pace. Even though you know the ending from the blub this does not detract from the journey.
Below are some of the questions that the book left me with:
I found an odd paradox in the book which was the religious aspect, which whilst not mentioned constantly, was mentioned frequently enough for it to be recognised. It was interesting for me to see how people of faith might change their internal monologue accordingly. For example it was clear that James had an absolute faith in God (strengthened by the experience), at times explaining how he felt it was part of Gods plan that this had happened to him, and yet he felt a lot of internal guilt about how he (James) had behaved so recklessly to end up in this position (in spite of acknowledging a moment earlier that God has put him in his predicament). This continued through the story, although thankfully not enough to be too much of a distraction. The one religious part of the story I did enjoy was that of the Lama, for reasons that you will see yourselves.
There are definitely moments that restore your faith in humanity that are not related to a transactional value in the book, however there is also an underlying discussion on wealth, which left me feeling a little uncomfortable as I wondered if the story would have had quite such a happy ending if James' family could not have afforded the costs of the search and rescue operations, to Joanne's credit (James' sister) does acknowledge this. However there was a passage that discussed James having to go to a third world hospital, instead of an Australian hospital. Whilst I understood the sentiment, this mildly infuriated me. Up to this point the only people who has invested time and energy into James' rescue were all in Nepal, the Australian government being portrayed as fairly inept to deal with the situation .
July 11, 2025
Ich kann nicht verstehen, wie jemand so blauäugig einfach losziehen kann. Aber als ich dann gelesen habe, dass James ohne Verpflegung aufgebrochen ist, sich von seinem Freund getrennt hat, Karten einfach ignorierte und dann noch seine Bergschuhe gegen Turnschuhe getauscht hat, weil er Blasen bekommen hat :schulterzuck: Ganz ehrlich: wie blöd kann man sein?
Schon am zweiten Tag hat er aufgegeben und wie sich später herausstellt, war er nicht so weit von einem rettenden Weg entfernt... da kann er mich nicht damit überzeugen, dass ihn das mentale Training vom Karate wieder hochgezogen hat. Vieles, was er geschrieben hat, klang nach aufgeben und nicht nach mentaler Stärke.
Über seine Schwester habe ich mich auch ärgern dürfen. Bei ihr hatte ich den Eindruck, als ob sie jedem außer ihrem Bruder die Schuld gibt. Anfangs glaubte man, dass James auf einem anderen Trek unterwegs war, weil eine Gruppe ihn mit einem anderen Wanderer verwechselt hat. Darüber hat sie sich furchtbar aufgeregt, weil diese Gruppe sich nicht mehr richtig erinnern konnte. Auch wenn es ihr Bruder war: er war nur einer von vielen Wanderern und die meisten waren wahrscheinlich sogar besser vorbereitet als er. Nein, die Geschichte der beiden hat mich nicht überzeugt.
Schon am zweiten Tag hat er aufgegeben und wie sich später herausstellt, war er nicht so weit von einem rettenden Weg entfernt... da kann er mich nicht damit überzeugen, dass ihn das mentale Training vom Karate wieder hochgezogen hat. Vieles, was er geschrieben hat, klang nach aufgeben und nicht nach mentaler Stärke.
Über seine Schwester habe ich mich auch ärgern dürfen. Bei ihr hatte ich den Eindruck, als ob sie jedem außer ihrem Bruder die Schuld gibt. Anfangs glaubte man, dass James auf einem anderen Trek unterwegs war, weil eine Gruppe ihn mit einem anderen Wanderer verwechselt hat. Darüber hat sie sich furchtbar aufgeregt, weil diese Gruppe sich nicht mehr richtig erinnern konnte. Auch wenn es ihr Bruder war: er war nur einer von vielen Wanderern und die meisten waren wahrscheinlich sogar besser vorbereitet als er. Nein, die Geschichte der beiden hat mich nicht überzeugt.
June 22, 2025
good story! very interesting to hear how someone survived in the himalayas for so long during winter. its a short story, which is perfect bc i may have lost interest if it was longer. i liked the pictures in the book hehe
January 21, 2020
A marvelous story for why we should not quit our hopes on life, people and God.
Want to read
December 14, 2025Review will follow when I finish reading. At present I wanted to have a 'survival' shelf set up for future books...
So, 'Lost in the Himalayas' is an incredible (in the purest sense of that word) story of survival by a young Australian medical student visiting Nepal who loses his way in the Himalayan mountains.
For more than six weeks he survives the mental anguish of isolation under the ledge of a cliff, with only a sleeping bag for protection from the elements, and a diet almost entirely of grass and snow.
It's also a story of incredible determination not to succumb to death from starvation and exposure, and hope that help will arrive.
And while James did not give up hope, neither did his sister, Joanne who remained convinced that her brother was still alive while others reduced his chances to almost nil.
When you read this story you will count your blessings every night when you fall asleep in a warm bed.
So, 'Lost in the Himalayas' is an incredible (in the purest sense of that word) story of survival by a young Australian medical student visiting Nepal who loses his way in the Himalayan mountains.
For more than six weeks he survives the mental anguish of isolation under the ledge of a cliff, with only a sleeping bag for protection from the elements, and a diet almost entirely of grass and snow.
It's also a story of incredible determination not to succumb to death from starvation and exposure, and hope that help will arrive.
And while James did not give up hope, neither did his sister, Joanne who remained convinced that her brother was still alive while others reduced his chances to almost nil.
When you read this story you will count your blessings every night when you fall asleep in a warm bed.
September 14, 2016
True story of James Scott who became lost on a short trek in the Himalayas and then survived for 43 days by living on snow and will power. He had become trapped after a sudden snowfall and then lost his bearings after separating from his companion. While the easy moral in the book would be not to be so careless in the first place, and to take a few more precautions, it is easy to be wise in hindsight. In fact after a slow start, the story becomes fairly gripping even when you know how it will end. Written in diary style it follows the mental state of James and his sister as the chances of him being found alive slowly diminish. It is a little easy to get lost as to where the searchers are, and you need to make reference to the maps at the front on a regular basis. What would have happened without the fortitude and determination of his sister is fairly easy to guess.
May 28, 2011
This is certainly an amazing story of how James Scott survived. I think it is a real pity that so many have accused him of that his story is not true.
It was also revealing about how much of a pain the media can be.. and don't get me started on the the psychic rubbish!
Bit of a mixed bag this book. Great story, drags in places too.
Moral of the story - Take care out there in the himalayas, get good shoes stick together and stay safe.
November 21, 2011
Read it many years ago but it was very catchy and i couldn't stop reading it.
December 29, 2015
Chilling. Godly. Must read. Must experience!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews