Countries all around the world have legends of hairy human-like animals that live in areas untouched by modern explorers. In Nepal and Tibet, this mythical figure is known as the yeti, from the Tibetan yeh (meaning ‘snow valley’) and teh (‘man’). You may also hear the name mehton kangmi, which translates as ‘abominable snowman’.
According to alleged sightings, the yeti walks upright with a lumbering gait, but often drops to all fours. Its body is covered with black or brown fur and it gives a high, piercing yell when disturbed. However, like America’s Bigfoot and the Australian yowie, the yeti legend is mainly built on circumstantial evidence – melting footprints found high on the slopes of Himalayan peaks and sightings in blizzards by superstitious herders and altitude-affected mountaineers.
Every year there are new expeditions to find the truth of the yeti legend. Sir Edmund Hillary even carried a yeti skull from Khumjung to America to be studied in 1960. The relic turned out to be made from antelope fur, bur believers are still hopeful that proof will be found. Here are some pivotal moments in yeti history:
- 1889 – Major LA Wasell finds a set of mysterious footprints in northeastern Sikkim, the first recorded sighting of a yeti by Westerner.
- 1923 – British mountaineer Alan Cameron spots humanoid creatures walking along a ridge near Everest.
- 1937 – Lord Hunt and HW Tilman find yeti tracks on the Zemu Glacier in Sikkim.
- 1939 – German professor Ernst Schaefer visits Tibet in search of the yeti, allegedly on the orders of the Nazi SS.
- 1951 – Eric Shipton discovers yeti tracks during a reconnaissance mission to Everest.
- 1970 – Don Whillans hears weird cries and watches a yeti through binoculars while climbing Annapurna.
- 1984 – Tim McCartney-Snape and Greg Mortimer find unexplained tracks near the summit of Everest.
- 1986 – Reinhold Messner claims to have seen a yeti in Tibet; he later describes it as being like a ‘Tibetan bear with human abilities’.
- 1992 – Peter Matthiessen collects ‘yeti hair’ in Mustang, but DNA sequencing reveals it to be from a horse.
- 2008 – A Japanese expedition to Dhaulagiri IV finds yeti footprints, but fails to capture yeti on film.
The legend of the Yeti in the local traditions of Nepal and Tibet is rich and varied, with different versions depending on the community and region. However, in general, the story of the Yeti is related to the belief in a mysterious creature that inhabits the remote and snowy mountains of the Himalayas. Here is a generalized version of the legend:
According to tradition, the Yeti is considered a shy and mysterious being, rarely revealing itself to humans. It is believed to live in the high peaks and caves of the mountains, and its appearance is said to be similar to that of a large ape, but with human-like features. Some versions of the legend describe it as a huge, hairy creature, while others portray it in a more spiritual light, as a guardian entity of nature.
The story of the Yeti has been passed down through generations through oral tales and legends. In many cultures of the region, the Yeti is seen as a mythical figure that has connections to the spirituality of the mountains and the relationship between nature and humans. The Yeti is believed to possess ancestral wisdom and deep knowledge of the land and its secrets.
Some stories tell that the Yeti is a solitary being that avoids humans due to its shyness and reserved nature. Other narratives suggest that the Yeti can be both benevolent and dangerous, depending on how it is treated or provoked. In some legends, the Yeti is regarded as a protector of the mountains and a guardian of sacred places.
It’s important to highlight that the legend of the Yeti is an integral part of local culture and has been passed down through generations. While scientific expeditions have not been able to provide conclusive evidence of the Yeti’s physical existence, its legacy persists as a symbol of the relationship between humans and nature in the majestic Himalayan mountains.
