Sylvia Verange smiling with snowy mountain landscape

Hiking Across the Himalayas

Two Breaths, One Step

"I realized I was alone and the trail had completely disappeared. I had no idea where it was, nor did I know where I had ventured off from it. I was lost, and I had backpacked enough to know this was not a good sign, not a good sign at all."

In 1984, Sylvia Verange set off on a 500 mile journey across the Himalayas of Nepal. Hiking through the breathtaking scenery, remote mountain villages, and treacherous, freezing conditions, Verange's story lays out both a historical snapshot of the region, as well as an epic travelogue of a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Part Elizabeth Gilbert, part Paul Theroux, Two Breaths, One Step follows one woman's hike through the Himalayas as she endures nature and comes to know herself.

Sylvia Verange at an author signing and discussion event

Upcoming Events

STAY TUNED FOR THE PUBLICATION OF VERANGE'S SECOND BOOK: The Land Where People are Wildflowers

SEPTEMBER 2022Interview with Travel Writer and Host, Rick Steves; broadcast across the U.S. stations.
April 15, 2020REI Concord Store — 1975 Diamond Blvd b 100, Concord, CA — 7 pm
April 23, 2020REI Mountain View Store — 2450 Charleston Rd Mountain View, CA — 7pm
April 29, 2020REI Berkeley Store — 1338 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA — 7pm
May 13, 2020REI Corte Madera Store — 213 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA — 7pm
January 2019Stay tuned: Key Note speaker for large fundraising event, Auburn, CA
January 23, 2019REI Store, Concord, CA
January 30, 2019REI Store, Berkeley, CA
February 13, 2019REI Store, Corte Madera, CA
February 28, 2019NPR Interview with Peter Robinson — KALW, 91.7 FM, 1pm
March 10, 2019NPR sponsors event at Barnes & Noble Books, Corte Madera — "Conversation with Sylvia Verange" moderated by NPR interviewer, Peter Robinson, 5:00 pm
March 14, 2019REI Store, Mountain View, CA
August 31, 2019Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Emeryville, CA
July 19, 2018Radio Interview/Talk: KWMR at 1pm, Pt Reyes Station, CA
Sept 6, 2018A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland (Montclair), CA
Sept 22, 2018REI Store, Dillon, CO
Sept 26, 2018Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO
Oct 9, 2018East West Books, 7:30–9pm, Mountain View, CA
Oct 23, 2018Broadway Books, 7pm, Portland, OR
Oct 25, 2018East West Bookstore, 7pm, Seattle, WA
May 2018Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA — BOOK LAUNCH

If you would like to schedule an event with Sylvia Verange and Two Breaths, One Step, please e-mail us with your request.

Sylvia Verange, author of Two Breaths, One Step

About the Author

Born in California, Sylvia Verange has long wandered remote corners of the world, using her journeys to further understand both herself and the world in which she lives. When not on an adventure in wild and beautiful places, Verange paints, writes, and teaches in Northern California.

Paintings of the Himalayas

Himalayan painting 1
Himalayan painting 2
Himalayan painting 3
Himalayan painting 4
Himalayan painting 5
Himalayan painting 6
Gate at Junebesi

Gate at Junebesi

watercolor 7 x 5"

Mountain Village

Mountain Village

watercolor 5 x 7"

Lake at Gokyo

Lake at Gokyo

watercolor 5 x 7"

Mountain Pass

Mountain Pass

watercolor 5 x 7"

Windswept Fogbank at Pheriche

Windswept Fogbank at Pheriche

watercolor 5 x 7"

Fogbank at Pheriche

Fogbank at Pheriche

watercolor 5 x 7"

Reviews

Two Breaths, One Step book cover

"Some journeys delve into the unknown, the exotic and the new; Some journeys probe the past, into memories and lessons learned to find sensations long buried. Sylvia Verange's Two Breaths One Step accomplishes both with grace, wit, and humor. A rare feat."

—JOSEPH BHARAT CORNELL, author of The Sky and Earth Touched Me and Deep Nature Play

"Two Breaths, One Step is a weave of extraordinary natural beauty, personal determination, intriguing cultural encounters, and magical spiritual moments—a significant personal odyssey coming together during a few months trekking the Himalayas. Sylvia writes with candor and the kind of descriptive detail that makes you feel you are walking right along with her."

—JOSEPH SELBIE, author of The Yugas

"Rich with cultural, geographical, and personal details, Sylvia Verange's Two Breaths, One Step is a sensual encounter with the beauty and danger of the Himalayas. Like the artist she is, Verange paints a vivid picture of the sounds, smells and the challenges of traveling in the highest mountains in the world."

—NANCY ANDERSON, author of Work with Passion

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Two Breaths, One Step book cover

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