Searching for Happy Valley
Searching for Happy Valley
Natasa Ilic
, Kirsten Lyon
, Cassandra Schiemann
, Jude Castillo
, Barbara Nickerson
, Kevin Smith
, Marilyn Stanley
, Barry Kazimer
, Sarah Schwartz
, finn mulryan
, Linda Leitch
, Trish Bowering
, Marissa Yip-Young
, Mary Therrien
, PATRICIA SOPEL
, Noelle Walsh
, Margo Beredjiklian
, Margaret Palmer
, Laurie Burns
, Alice Meems
, Deb Philippon
, Rodney Cross
, Rosa Cross
, Andrea Gillespie
, Val Ross
, Kailey Gallant
, Melissa Poremba
, Marjorie Roy
, Russell Reitsema
, Andrea Pole
, Lisa Mallia
, Elmira Olson
, Michelle Brown-Matthews
, Karen Reid
, Joshua Lewis
, Janet Meisner
, Dani Kat
, Janice Cournoyer
, Margaret McKay
, Megan Bishop
, Beth Follett
, Donna Gamache
, Filomena Falocco
, Karen Nordrum
, Rachel Edmonds
, Dora Dueck
, C. Ray
, Pamela Roberts Griffith
, Kate Trgovac
, Randi Ann Doll
, Heather Belliveau
, Lynn Hallson
, Susan Baues
, BJ Underwood
, Shayla Bradley
, Pam Keetch
, Marla Schecter Howard
, Patricia McKeown
, Christopher Evans
, Zara Garcia-Alvarez
, Ken Gilmour
, Kim Cappellina
, Alex Henderson
, Benita Hartwell
, Ellen Clarke
, Debbie Youngman
, Christine Lion
, Debra Fisher
, P. Thompson
, Wendy Houlden
, Catherine Westerberg
, Susan Jang
, laura martina
, Patricia Johnson
, Susi Lovell
, Beth Dekoker
, Elisha Lazarski
, Thelma Ball
, Janet Hosokawa
, Faye Lilley
, Colby Clair Stolson
, Agnes Marshall
, Shawna Moodie
, Joan Clare
, Leila Grobel
, Liz Moreau
, Rhona Brinkman
, Karen Kendrick
, Cynthia Heinrichs
, joy mills
, Susan Ratcliffe
, Geordan Patterson
, diana kirkwood
, Carl Scott
, Marin Beck
, Kate Kostandoff
, Darlene Foster
, Sharon Bird
, Paula Ritchie
, Elaine Baptie
, Maureen Brownlee
, Rubyna Jinnah
, Nancy Stevenson
, Leslie Kallas
, yvonne corbett
, Alanna King
, Marilyn Kaluza Massoud
, tom stormonth
, Courtney Tucker
editor@49thShelf.com
A global quest to comprehend the meaning of “Happy Valley” on three continents and how these mountain communities continue to survive in a world that constantly challenges the very notion of “happiness.”
Over her 17-year career as a travel writer, Jane Marshall has wandered the planet, always in search of wild, high-altitude, off-the-beaten-track places. During her travels she discovered something profound. On three continents, separated by vast oceans, she found hidden valleys known locally as “Happy Valley.” Her quest: to discover what makes them happy and learn from their Indigenous keepers.
The happy valleys share common characteristics. They are geographically isolated and protected by walls of mountains; they are home to rare and endangered plants and animals; they exist outside of protections zones — which gives them autonomy but also makes them vulnerable; their Indigenous populations name the land after human and divine body parts; and women are seen as powerful. Inside these Happy Valleys a balance between humans and nature has been struck. Sleeping on ridges, in caves, and in the traditional homes of local people, Marshall makes gruelling journeys to the heart of the happy valleys as she strives to comprehend the deep peace she feels within them.
