Speaking With...

It will be many years before life returns to normal in the Langtang valley, one of the regions worst-affected by the earthquakes in Nepal. Scott Mattoon/flickr, CC BY-SAHayley Saul and Emma Waterton were doing anthropological field work in the Langtang valley in Nepal when the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit on April 25 this year, killing more than 9,000 people. At the time of the quake, they were with several local guides from the village of Langtang, now dubbed “the worst affected” area in Nepal. Saul and Waterton were recording local oral histories. They were interested in how these local stories were written into the Himalayan landscape. It was their guides’ knowledge of the landscape, their humble acts of bravery and kindness that saved Saul and Waterton’s lives many times over two tough days, and enabled them to reach safety. Saul and Waterton would witness many acts of courage and heroism after the earthquake, which was often not reported by the overseas media that tended to focus on the qu