"How did this woman, who has never climbed a mountain or visited Everest base camp, become the top authority the climbing world depends on to document, authenticate, and evaluate the significance of expeditions in the Nepal Himalaya? How did she command the respect of elite mountaineers (some of whom report fear of her sharp tongue and relentless probing)? What are her personal views on the storied feats, notorious scandals, and great tragedies of Himalayan climbing history? What does she really think of climbing Iegends Hillary, Messner, Chris Bonington, Tomaz Humar, Ed Viesturs, and more? What of her rumored romances with famous climbers? What of the tumultuous political and social change she has witnessed in Nepal over more than forty years?".