Yeti Scalp

The Yeti Scalp at the Khumjung Monastery is perhaps the most travelled serow hide in the world. Serows are large goat antelopes that are found in dense thickets in the Himalayas from about 1,500 to 4,000 meters (5,000 to 13,000 ft). But that was proved only after Sir Hillary took it for a joy ride round the world following his unsuccessful Yeti hunt. While it was shown not to be a yeti scalp, it did gather a lot of attention and audience, saving Sir Hillary from the humiliation of not having anything to show after spending a sizeable sum on a large expedition. More likely than not, the 'yeti scalp' at Khumjung and also at Pangboche is a headgear reserved for high lamas or for some esoteric Buddhist rituals. The association of the serow hide with the yeti perhaps started when a creative local met a gullible visitor or vice versa!!