Rebecca Orton Publishes Across the Snow Mountains: From Tibet to Exile

Book cover of Across the Snow Mountains: From Tibet to Exile by Rebecca S. Orton. The cover features a dramatic landscape of snow-covered Himalayan peaks rising above a rugged valley with a winding river. The sky fades from deep blue to lighter tones near the horizon. The title appears in large white serif lettering across the upper half of the cover, with the subtitle “From Tibet to Exile” beneath it. A tagline at the top reads, “A moving portrait of endurance, hope, and the unbreakable ties of culture and faith.” The author’s name, Rebecca S. Orton, appears at the bottom.

Rebecca Orton ’08, ’12 (Seattle, BA, MA) published her nonfiction book, Across the Snow Mountains: From Tibet to Exile, which was released in October for global distribution. The book recounts the stories of four Tibetan women who journey across the treacherous, oxygen-deprived terrain of the Himalayan “Snow Mountains.” Each woman faces the immense challenge of surviving a brutal climate and evading China’s border patrol as she makes her way to India and the Dalai Lama. Their journeys are extraordinary accounts of survival—and of the resilience of the human spirit. Yet when they reach their destination, they are unprepared for the realities and hardships of life in exile.

Orton has devoted more than two decades to studying Tibetan history, culture, and politics, and has become a dedicated advocate for Tibetans worldwide. Her commitment grew from living among the exiled Tibetan community in McLeodganj, India, where she gained a deeper understanding of their experiences and the pain of separation from their homeland.

Learn more about Orton and her book on her website.