Climbing and mountaineering Books

864 products


  • To the Greatest Heights

    Quercus Publishing To the Greatest Heights

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis'What a wonderful, honest, refreshing book, full of free-spirited adventure, humour and profound thoughts to provide inspiration to anyone who simply dreams of getting out and doing their own thing' SIR CHRIS BONINGTON'Ernest Shackleton listed those qualities an explorer should possess over a century ago: optimism, patience, idealism with imagination, and courage. Vanessa's qualities are truly akin to these' ALEXANDRA SHACKLETONWhen Vanessa O'Brien was made redundant in 2008 as part of the recession, she moved to Hong Kong with her husband for his career and resigned herself to being 'just the wife'. There she was, aged 46, bored, uninspired, unemployed. Was this going to be how she was going to live the rest of her life?One night in the infamous Kee Club, over shots of tequila, a friend suggested O'Brien climb Everest, and that was the start of an epic journey she never looked back from as she climbed Everest, K2 and many other mountains.This is her inspirational story. As O'Brien says, she couldn't explain to her readers how she got to the top of K2 at the age of 52 without being honest about what came before. In To the Greatest Heights, she reveals the trials and tribulations of her difficult childhood, and the result is a life-affirming book that shows how she achieved these climbs in spite of and because of her past.To read To the Greatest Heights is to know that there is a path to overcoming the worst of what happens to us, a path that helps us reach the summit of our lives too, whatever our age.Trade ReviewWhat a wonderful, honest, refreshing book, full of free-spirited adventure, humour and profound thoughts to provide inspiration to anyone who simply dreams of getting out and doing their own thing * Sir Chris Bonington *Ernest Shackleton listed those qualities an explorer should possess over a century ago: optimism, patience, idealism with imagination, and courage. Vanessa's qualities are truly akin to these * Alexandra Shackleton *O'Brien's story is deep in insight and observation. An impressive read * Peter Hillary, Chairman of the Himalayan Trust *To The Greatest Heights is a modern-day version of Dick Bass's book, but on steroids. A must read * Forbes magazine *

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Canadian Mountaineering Anthology, The: Stories

    Lone Pine Publishing,Canada Canadian Mountaineering Anthology, The: Stories

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisSixty-three pieces range from Conrad Kain's classic account of the first ascent of Mount Robson to Sharon Wood's thoughts on her experience as the first North American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Early explorers and modern daredevils, exhilarating achievements and deadly accidents provide a testament to extraordinary places and personalities.

    5 in stock

    £13.29

  • Deadly Peaks: Mountaineering's Greatest Triumphs

    Taylor Trade Publishing Deadly Peaks: Mountaineering's Greatest Triumphs

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisDeadly Peaks is a collection of the most notable mountaineering disasters and near-disasters in history. Exhaustively researched by two of the most respected authorities on mountaineering history, the book is structured in a unique way: Longer recitations in chronological order followed by a group of briefer narratives, which all offer an intimate glimpse into the worst case-scenarios high altitude adventure can offer.

    1 in stock

    £14.99

  • Crag Survival Handbook: The Unspoken Rules of

    Mountaineers Books Crag Survival Handbook: The Unspoken Rules of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisDogs at the trailhead, belayers in lawn chairs, long lines queued up at the classics in Eldorado Canyon - the crags seem more crowded and more crazy than ever. In fact, according to the Outdoor Industry association, in the United States more than 3.6 million people participated in climbing in 2011. Many of these new climbers are entering outdoor climbing solely through rock gyms, without having the opportunity to apprentice with an experienced friend or mentor - resulting in climbing accidents and conflicts. How do you become a responsible crag citizen? Crag Survival Handbook: The Unspoken Rules of Climbing is longtime climber Matt Samet's personal handbook to becoming a member of the climbing community. While Samet discusses key skills like movement, dealing with fear, gear management, and how to fall, he also delves into crag culture: ethics, access, dealing with conflict, dogs and kids at the crags, and Leave No trace practices. Samet lays out the unspoken rules you need to know. Chapters include: * Heads up! Safety, Hazards, and Basic Crag Awareness * Etiquette, Access, and Impact: You're Not the Only Fish in the Aquarium * Movement PhD: Crouch Like a Tiger, Hide Like a Dragon * Become a Rock Ninja: Tricks of the Cragger's Trade Crag Survival Handbook guides you through the essential questions, even the questions you didn't know you had, just like a personal climbing mentor would - minute by minute, hour by hour, skill by skill.

    1 in stock

    £15.15

  • Mountaineers Books Drawn: The Art of Ascent

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisA graphic-adventure that delves into why we pursue the wild outdoors. Shivering in a cave beneath Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, artist and rock climber Jeremy Collins had an intense and anxious vision, "both geographic and artistic," about his life and what he was doing with it. As a result, he left Argentina and commenced on a four-year journey that took him in the four cardinal directions from his home in Kansas City, north, south, east, west, to create art in the wild, climb new routes, and "live out his own map." Drawn: The Art of Ascent shares his exploits, his art, and what he discovered about balancing wilderness adventure with peace and home.

    Out of stock

    £999.99

  • Mountaineers Books All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £18.36

  • Mountaineers Books Unraveled

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature 2023 2023 Banff Mountain Book Award finalist in Mountain Literature "As a teen phenomenon, Katie Brown raised the bar to a whole new level. Unraveled is an honest and bold recounting of how Katie was able to navigate the dark days of her childhood to become a world champion climber, mother, and amazing human being." --Lynn Hill, author of Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World As a teenager in the 1990s, Katie Brown was one of climbing's first "comp kids"--a young natural who, along with her peers, redefined the image of a strong and successful climber. After climbing for less than two years, Brown won her first junior national title. The next year she became the Junior World Champion at age 14 in Laval, France. In 1996 she won both the Rock Master--a prestigious international contest in Arco, Italy--and the esteemed X-Games. From 1996 on, Brown won every US Adult National that she entered, as well as a World Cup Title in France in 1999. Yet even as she reigned on the podium, Brown felt her life begin to unravel. A quiet child, she struggled with a home life that was very different behind closed doors than it seemed on television. A fundamentalist version of Christianity was at the center of the household, and Brown fought to live according to rules that were strict, ever-changing, and irrational. Isolated and feeling hopeless, Brown latched onto food as something she could control. She quit competitive climbing and bounced in and out of the industry, eventually disappearing in her late twenties. Now, more than two decades later, Brown is ready to share her story. Unraveled answers the question thousands of fans worldwide have wondered: "What ever happened to Katie Brown?"Trade ReviewHonest and raw.--Leslie Hsu Oh "American Alpine Journal" Katie Brown's book Unraveled broke my heart. I'm glad I read it.--Delaney Miller "Climbing Magazine" Tensions lie at the heart of Unraveled, Katie Brown...explores these tensions in an unapologetic way all the while staying close to events as they were experienced at the time.--Tom Valis "Gripped Magazine" Beautifully written, Unraveled is the story of overcoming darkness both within and from without. In this unflinching memoir, Katie Brown pulls back the veil on her desperate struggle with anorexia and the fallout of years of brutal emotional abuse, all while competing at the very highest levels on the international climbing scene. Her vulnerability is sure to help others conquer their own battles and inspire them to push beyond all limitations.--Ben Moon "Ben Moon, photographer and author of Denali: A Man, A Dog, a" Unraveled takes on a summit of its own. Through raw vulnerability and honesty, Katie Brown inspires the world of climbing in this riveting page turner. This coming-of-age memoir is a must-read.--Sasha DiGiulian "professional climber and founder of SEND bars"

    7 in stock

    £16.95

  • American Alpine Club The American Alpine Journal 2021: The World's

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPublished annually since 1929, the American Alpine Journal (AAJ) is renowned as the world's journal of record for long new climbs of all kinds. The AAJ publishes each year's most compelling stories, told by the climbers themselves and carefully edited by a team of experts. Each year, many newly discovered climbing destinations are revealed, from Alaska to the Karakoram.

    1 in stock

    £26.55

  • American Alpine Club American Alpine Journal 2022: The World's Most

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisHundreds of first-person reports and photos The AAJ goes beyond social media and marketing copy with in-depth reports, carefully edited by a team of experts The Recon section covers the climbing history and new-route potential of Ushba, the Matterhorn of the Caucasus in eastern Europe Published annually since 1929, the American Alpine Journal is renowned as the world's journal of record for long new climbs of all kinds. The AAJ publishes each year's most compelling mountaineering stories, told by the climbers themselves and carefully edited by a team of experts. Each year's edition reveals newly discovered climbing destinations and unclimbed summits, from Alaska to the Karakoram, with hundreds of color photos.

    5 in stock

    £27.50

  • The Alpine Journal 2021

    Alpine Club The Alpine Journal 2021

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe long shadow of Covid 19 kept many of the worlds mountaineers close to home in 2020, but there were still extraordinary achievements further afield including the first winter ascent of K2 and a remarkable first ascent on Baruntse from the bold Czechs Mara Holecek and Radoslav Groh. Those unable to reach the Greater Ranges found plenty to explore in the Alps, which saw the largest number of new routes in recent years. This years Alpine Journal has reports on all of it. The year was also marked with the loss of two giants of British mountaineering, Doug Scott and Hamish McInnes, both honorary members of the Alpine Club, as well as controversial Italian legend Cesare Maestri, recalled by Alan Heppenstall. Peter Foster describes the climbing life of C F Meade, Leo Dickinson shares his picturesque life of as a documentary filmmaker and Nicholas Hurndall Smith takes on the mantle of the illustrious Leslie Stephen. With mountains increasingly under the media spotlight as climate change alters their very fabric, Julian Attwood has a detailed prescription for how the mountains of Wales could be returned to their former glory, locking up carbon and improving biodiversity. Alton Byers reports on how another mountain environment has done better than you might imagine. With reports, reviews, art and comment from around the globe, the Alpine Journal has everything the dedicated alpinist needs to inspire and reflect.

    7 in stock

    £24.70

  • The Alpine Journal 2022

    Alpine Club The Alpine Journal 2022

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith restrictions on travel easing, the world's leading alpinist were able to return to the high mountains with renewed enthusiasm. This year's Alpine Journal reports on several of the highlights, including first ascents on Tengkangpoche and Jugal Spire in Nepal: inspiring new routes by British teams climbed in the best style. This year is also the centenary of the 1922 Everest Expedition, celebrated in this edition with art of Everest and a report from the Alpine Club's successful exhibition featuring images and artefacts from its valuable collections. More recent heritage also features, with Abbie Garrington capturing the moment in history when rock music and the mountain world enjoyed a fascinating synergy. In another year of record temperatures and shocking images of glacial retreat from drying mountains, Sturart Dunning reports on the jaw dropping Ronti landslide in the Nanda Devi region and the role of climate change in such events. Cath Flitcroft reports on the BMC's developing environmental work and how climbers face the travel conundrum. Big wall legend John Middendorf writes on the early history of the piton, Eric Vola reveals how Raymond Lambert lost his toes and Simon Pierse remembers the life of Wilfred Noyce. With reports, reviews, and comment from around the globe, the Alpine Journal has everything the dedicated Alpinist needs to inspire and reflect.

    2 in stock

    £24.70

  • The Alpine Journal 2023: Volume 127: 127

    Alpine Club The Alpine Journal 2023: Volume 127: 127

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Alpine Journal reports on the world's most significant mountaineering from 2022, featuring articles from Nepal, Pakistan, Greenland and the Alps by leading alpinists Mára Hole’ek, Callum Johnson, Jacob Cook and Tom Livingstone. How women were written out of mountaineering history also features in this year's Alpine Journal, with Suzanne Strawther saving an early female ascent of the Matterhorn from oblivion, the lost art of Alpine pioneer Elizabeth Campbell, an excerpt from Rachel Hewitt's ground-breaking book In Her Nature and from John Middendorf a reappraisal of Miriam O'Brien, a leading alpinist from the 1920s. John Harding looks back on the mountain life of writer Robin Fedden, Dennis Gray recalls the legend that was Don Whillans and John Wilkinson revisits the aftermath of the first winter ascent of the Aiguilles du Diable: the Devil's Needles. Climate change and its impacts on the world's mountains are becoming obviously and rapidly worse. We have reports from the Himalaya and on how retreating glaciers are affecting the flora of the Alps. With reports, reviews, art and comment from around the globe, the Alpine Journal has everything the dedicated alpinist needs to inspire and reflect.

    2 in stock

    £23.40

  • Inner Ranges: An Anthology of Mountain Thoughts

    Rocky Mountain Books Inner Ranges: An Anthology of Mountain Thoughts

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisInner Ranges brings together an enlightening and entertaining selection of mountain writing by one of Canada's most respected adventure journalists and thinkers.This collection of original and previously published pieces includes provocative editorial and opinion work about the state of adventure, personal tales from a life of exploration and risk-taking, some touches of humour, and award-winning profiles of some of Canada's mountaineering greats. Stories include conversations with and profiles of alpine personalities such as Barry Blanchard, Sonnie Trotter, Lena Rowat, Raphael Slawinski, David Jones and many more.Bringing these essays together for the first time has given Geoff the unique opportunity to reflect back on the stories behind the stories, the consequences of their publication, and the sometimes complex processes of writing about adventure and adventurous lives.

    1 in stock

    £15.19

  • A Story of Karma: Finding Love and Truth in the

    Rocky Mountain Books A Story of Karma: Finding Love and Truth in the

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis"An intriguing tale that entwines exploration and education."Kirkus ReviewsA deeply personal travel memoir that combines alpine adventure, family connections, and spiritual encounters in two very different worlds: a Himalayan village and Vancouver, Canada.In 2012, Michael Schauch and his wife, Chantal, undertook an expedition deep in the Himalaya of northern Nepal, into a remote valley that had been closed off to outsiders for decades. They led a team of artists (a photographer, a musician, and a painter), with the objective of capturing a moment in time through their unique lenses. As a mountaineering fanatic, Michael had a second (and less conspicuous) goal to climb an unknown mountain he had only identified through a photograph. What unfolded in the mountains forced him to question his values and his own identity, and eventually resulted in meeting a little girl, which was the most profound encounter of his life. Little did either know that from that moment they would completely change the trajectory of each other's life.A Story of Karma recounts this journey, and the years that follow as Karma (the little girl), and Michael and Chantal grow their lives together amidst the confusing dichotomies and backdrop of Karma's 17th-century Himalayan village; the impoverished and polluted Kathmandu; and the modern world of Vancouver, Canada.

    2 in stock

    £22.09

  • Rock Climbing

    Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd Rock Climbing

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisRock Climbing provides basic information on belaying, leading and rappelling techniques and offers advice on useful equipment and respect for the environment.Like every climber you will come to the point where you want to leave the climbing gym and exchange plastic handles for real rock beneath your palms. You want to breathe in fresh air, enjoy the sun, wind, and the scenery surrounding you. But in order to do that safely, you first have to train for it.When rock climbing, unlike indoor climbing, you are responsible for protecting yourself. While this promises excitement and a more intense experience, it also requires additional knowledge and both physical and mental strength.This book will cover the right techniques, crucial safety procedures, and essential equipment that allows you to successfully master the first steps in rock climbing. Numerous photos illustrate the challenging and complex sequences and movements in an easy-to-understand way.A brief introduction to indoor climbing is also included

    3 in stock

    £12.30

  • Dow and Coppermines: FRCC Guide

    FELL AND ROCK CLIMBING CLUB Dow and Coppermines: FRCC Guide

    20 in stock

    Book SynopsisDow Crag above Coniston is simply one of the best mountain crags in the UK, with a splendid outlook and rough textured rock that is a total joy to climb on. Furthermore, despite being high in the mountains, it is very easily accessible via an easy walk from the Walna Scar road. Best savoured in the morning sunshine, it offers climbs to suit all tastes and abilities, including classics such as Eliminate A which have lost none of their allure over the past century. This handy pocket-sized FRCC guidebook has comprehensive coverage of all the routes on Dow, neighbouring Blind Tarn Crag and, for the first time, records the climbs on five adjacent outcrops. Also included in this guidebook is a selection of twenty-one crags in the Coppermines valley, detailing the best climbs and conditions. The guidebook uses the familiar FRCC format, with detailed area maps, clear photo diagrams, concise descriptions and convenient QR codes. It is sumptuously illustrated with stimulating action images. The Fell & Rock Climbing Club is the premier rock climbing and mountaineering club in the English Lake District. The Club was founded in 1906-07 and has been publishing a definitive series of climbing guidebooks to the Lakes since 1922.

    20 in stock

    £26.92

  • Nick Wharton How Hard Can It Be?

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow hard can it be? Not a bad question for anyone to ask when faced with a challenging situation whether that is at work, in the home, or in a chosen pursuit. This book describes that positive, self-confident approach by Nick Wharton during his many and varied adventures. The book takes the reader on a journey through a wide collection of stories and insights into his own escapades and how he has faced them over the past 40 years starting with learning to climb at boarding school - climbing the buildings in the middle of the night. We get an insight into his time in the army - holding back the Russians in Germany; patrolling the streets of Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles; training Mozambique forces in Zimbabwe; and, back home in the UK. Living in the Lake District, Wharton retrained as an Environmental Health Officer which started his unlikely choice of career in health and safety. We get an insight into his perspective of risk and how he has used his climbing to help get the H&S message across to colleagues and clients with great effect. He gives us an insight into his own, distinctive approach to climbing His insight into the world of hazards and risk management helps us to understand, what has been described by many as one of the most bold approaches to climbing in recent years. The book is a fabulous collection of stories and anecdotes with contributions from many others - colleagues, friends, climbing partners and well-known characters from the climbing world. Illustrated throughout with a range of full-colour photos. The book will appeal to climbers and other outdoor activity enthusiasts but also to anyone with a sense of adventure and fun. It is introduced with a foreword by Leo Houlding - one of the best-known adventurers of our time.

    10 in stock

    £16.10

  • To Live: Fighting for life on the killer mountain

    Vertebrate Publishing Ltd To Live: Fighting for life on the killer mountain

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn 25 January 2018, Élisabeth Revol and her climbing partner Tomasz Mackiewicz summited Nanga Parbat, the killer mountain. Situated in the Karakoram, the world’s ninth-highest peak is an immense ice-armoured pyramid of rock rising to an altitude of 8,125 metres. Élisabeth and Tomek had completed only the second winter ascent of the mountain, and Élisabeth had become the first woman to summit Nanga Parbat in winter. But their euphoria was short-lived. As soon as they reached the top, their adventure turned into a nightmare as Tomek was struck by blindness.In her own words, Élisabeth tells the story of this tragedy and the extraordinary rescue operation that resounded across the globe as fellow climbers flew in from K2 to help the stricken pair. She confronts her memories, her terror, her immense pain and the heartbreak of having survived, alone. To Live is Élisabeth Revol’s poignant tribute to her friend and climbing partner.Trade Review'First-person accounts of Himalayan ascents by women are few and far between, and To Live is a worthy addition to any mountain literature collection.' – UKClimbing.com

    1 in stock

    £21.60

  • In High Places

    Canongate Books In High Places

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn his own words Dougal Haston covers the years from his childhood in Scotland, where his love of climbing was first sparked, through to his development into perhaps the most formidable climber of his generation; his reputation was forged by his successful ascents of familiar peaks by unfamiliar routes (of which the most famous was the Eiger Direct).Infused throughout with his passion for climbing and his great determination to succeed, In High Places is a compelling and eye-opening portrait of the climber as a young man and a must read for all those with an interest in mountaineering.Trade ReviewA fascinating book both as an insight into one of Britain's most intriguing climbers and also as an account of a particularly rich period of British climbing history. -- Chris BonningtonHaston's prose is fast-paced, economical and wellsuited to a climbing narrative. * * Mountain Magazine * *Haston's style of writing is crisp and laconic . . . There is no superfluous padding but the essentials are there, stark and bold. I very much enjoyed reading this book. * * Alpine Journal * *

    1 in stock

    £16.14

  • Summit Fever

    Canongate Books Summit Fever

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen poet Andrew Greig was asked by Scottish mountaineer Mal Duff to join his ascent of the Mustagh Tower in the Karakoram Himalayas, he had a poor head for heights and no climbing experience whatsoever. The result is this unique book.Summit Fever has been loved by climbers and literary critics alike for its refreshing candour, wit, insight and the haunting beauty of its writing.Much more than a book about climbing, it celebrates the risk, joy and adventure of being alive.Trade ReviewA wonderful, gritty expedition book. -- Chris Bonnington

    1 in stock

    £16.14

  • High Endeavours: The Life and Legend of Robin

    Canongate Books High Endeavours: The Life and Legend of Robin

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisRobin Smith was one of the most legendary climbers ever to have tackled a mountain. This definitive biography draws on contributions from people who knew this charismatic and complex young man, as well as diary extracts from Smith himself. As Smith was a friend and inspiration to many climbers worldwide, including fellow Scot Dougal Haston, High Endeavours is a fitting and long-overdue tribute to one of Britain's most revered mountaineers, and one of the finest books ever written on the allure of the mountainside.Trade ReviewA gem of a book. -- Alan Jackman * * Rock Climbing Club's Centenary Journal * *Cruickshank has produced a fitting memorial for his friend. * * Climber Magazine * *It succeeds triumphantly in its primary purpose, which is to bring a memorable spirit to life. * * Sunday Telegraph * *Former school friend and early climbing partner Jimmy Cruickshank succeeds in giving a flavour of the anarchic genius of Smith by means of a selection of reminiscences, unpublished correspondence and extensive quotation from Smith's peers. It represents more of an affectionate tribute to a friend. * * Scotland on Sunday * *

    2 in stock

    £14.24

  • The Francis Frith Collection Rock Climbers In Action In Snowdonia

    2 in stock

    2 in stock

    £20.00

  • Everest and the Struggle to Conquer the Himalaya

    Pen & Sword Books Ltd Everest and the Struggle to Conquer the Himalaya

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA century ago the summits of the world's highest peaks, Everest included, were beyond reach. Pioneering attempts to overcome the dangers of climbing at extremely high altitudes ended in failure, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Yet today high-altitude ascents are frequent, almost commonplace. Everest can be conquered by relatively inexperienced mountaineers, and their exploits barely merit media attention - unless they go fatally wrong. In this fascinating study of the dramatic history of Everest climbs, Richard Sale and George Rodway describe in vivid detail the struggle to conquer the mountain and the advances in scientific knowledge that made the conquest possible. Their account gives a compelling insight into the science of mountaineering as well as the physical and psychological challenges faced by individuals who choose to test themselves in some of the harshest conditions on earth. Dr George Rodway, an assistant professor at the University of Utah, is a physiologist, mountaineer and an expert on mountain medicine and the science of high-altitude climbs. As well as publishing many papers and articles on these subjects, he is the editor of George Ingle Finch's The Struggle for Everest. He has also written extensively on the history of high-altitude physiology for journals such as High Altitude Medicine and Biology.

    2 in stock

    £17.99

  • In Search of Peaks, Passes & Glaciers

    Gill In Search of Peaks, Passes & Glaciers

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisNo goggles or glacier glasses, no hi-tech axes or day-glo Gore-Tex adorned Alpinists of the mid-nineteenth century. From the 1850s to the early twentieth century, the achievements of Irish mountaineers are largely obscured in British historical accounts. This sets the record straight. Frank Nugent, mountaineer-explorer, reveals a significant Irish contribution beginning with the Golden Age of Alpine Mountaineering when the first ascents of mountains like the Eiger and Weisshorn and the first traverse of the Matterhorn from Italy were by Irish climbers. Significant climbers of the time were: John Tyndall, a scientist from Carlow; John Ball MP from Dublin was the first president of the Alpine Club and led the popularisation of the sport with a series of guidebooks; Anthony Adams-Reilly from Westmeath produced the first reliable map of the Mont Blanc massif; Elizabeth Whitshed from Greystones, a pioneering woman mountaineer, was one of the first to engage in winter Alpine climbing; Valentine Ryan from Offaly is often considered the finest Alpine climber of the early twentieth century.The Alpine's Club's first publication in 1859 was Peaks, Passes and Glaciers, edited by John Ball. A climbing record of the Alpine Club, it was the blueprint for the Alpine Journal published annually ever since. The varied social, political and scientific backgrounds of Irish Alpine pioneers provide absorbing insights into nineteenth-century Irish society.Trade Review'Superbly researched and beautifully produced.' * Irish Mountain Log *

    3 in stock

    £17.99

  • North York Moors

    Harvey Map Services Ltd North York Moors

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisDetailed map of the North York MoorsIncludes the popular North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Lyke Wake Walk. Tough, light, durable and 100% waterproofIncludes Rights of Way

    Out of stock

    £999.99

  • Summits for All: French Alps - 100 Easy Mountains

    Menasha Ridge Press Inc. Summits for All: French Alps - 100 Easy Mountains

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £9.45

  • Dorset Bouldering

    Rockfax Ltd Dorset Bouldering

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDorset has emerged as a major bouldering area in recent years thanks to the hard work of a bunch of diligent locals who have combed the coastline seeking out every block, problem and traverse. In addition to the well known areas of the Cuttings, the Boulderfield and the Neddyfields, the book has extensive information on the West Coast of Portland, many more areas on the East Coast, plus Swanage and Lulworth. It describes nearly 2000 boulder problems on around 400 pages.This Rockfax book is the first one to cover the bouldering in any depth. It completes the coverage adding a wealth of new information and is presented in the standard now demanded by today's climbers. It includes all the usual Rockfax features.

    15 in stock

    £26.96

  • Lakes Bouldering: Rockfax Climbing Guide

    Rockfax Ltd Lakes Bouldering: Rockfax Climbing Guide

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisPresents a "Rockfax" guide to the bouldering to be found in and around the Lake District.

    15 in stock

    £17.95

  • Rockfax Ltd Peak Limestone

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisPeak Limestone covers the best of the sport and trad routes in a single volume, updating the previous edition from 2012 with the latest developments. The book is beautifully illustrated with some stunning action photographs from top photographers like Mike Hutton and Nick Brown. The crag photography has been re-taken using the latest technology creating the best ever photo-topos. The book features new even clearer maps and enhanced descriptions. It is likely to be the main source of information for the area for many years to come.

    10 in stock

    £33.26

  • Northern England

    Rockfax Ltd Northern England

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe wide rolling hills, outcrops and quarries of sandstone and gritstone that pepper northern England have long been popular with the locals, though visitors are less common, except on the few better known cliffs. Although lacking the extravagantly draped grandeur of the spectacular Edges of the Peak District, there are many fine crags and hidden classics here waiting for the diligent explorer. This guidebook will help climbers get the most from this extensive area.Table of ContentsYorkshire: Shooter's Nab, Pule Hill, Heptonstall, Widdop, Earl Crag, The Chevin, Caley, Ilkley, Almscliff, Brimham, Eastby, Rylstone, Crookrise, Simon's Seat, Slipstones, Goldsborough Carr, Crag Willas North York Moors:Beacon Scar, Scugdale, Wainstones, Ravenscar, Highcliffe Nab, Park Nab Northumberland: Causey Quarry, Crag Lough, Peel Crag, Great Wanny, East Woodburn, Sandy Crag, Ravensheugh, Simonside, Corby's, Callerhues, Back Bowden, Bowden, Kyloe in the Wood, Kyloe out the Wood

    10 in stock

    £18.86

  • Dorset: Portland, Swanage, Lulworth

    Rockfax Ltd Dorset: Portland, Swanage, Lulworth

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Dorset Rockfax is now the established source of climbing information for this increasingly popular area. With a huge increase in new climbers coming into the sport from the metropolitan areas of Southern England, this book represents their closest extensive sport climbing area. The fifth edition of the Dorset Rockfax and the biggest Rockfax guidebook yet. It covers all the sport climbing across Portland, Lulworth and Swanage in Dorset and also the best of the trad climbing. The book features all the new developments since the previous book in 2012 and a few extra areas. Every crag has been rephotographed and presented with big aerial overviews and detailed new maps. Crags Covered Portland - Blacknor North, Blacknor Central, Blacknor South, Blacknor Beach, Blacknor Far South, Battleship Edge, Battleship Back Cliff, Wallsend North, Wallsend South, Coastguard North, Coastguard South, White Hole, Lighthouse Area, Cave Hole, Beeston Cliff, Godnor, Neddyfields, Cheyne Cliff, Dungecroft Quarry, Lost Valley, The Cuttings, The Knobs Lulworth Swanage - Winspit, Hedbury, Dancing Ledge, Guillemot Ledge, Cormorant Ledge, Blackers Hole, Fisherman's Ledge, The Promenade, Cattle Troughs, Boulder Ruckle, Subluminal The Needles

    15 in stock

    £33.26

  • The Beginners' Guide for Climbers

    Rockfax Ltd The Beginners' Guide for Climbers

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is a new book aimed at young climbers learning the National Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme (NICAS). It features cartoon illustrations giving step-by-step instructions on the basic skills required for Levels 1 and 2 of the scheme and is fully endorsed by NICAS. It is also endorsed by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. The book is beautifully illustrated by Sophie Mitchell with appealing drawings and comes with a robust hardback fold-out cover and is package with a short section of cord which enables readers to practice the knots they are learning in the book.Trade Review"The NICAS trustees are delighted to recommend this book with its innovative approach to introducing the basic skills of climbing. Sophie's wonderful artwork will have special appeal to young readers and will help them develop a thorough grounding in these fundamentals. The knowledge, technical skills and attitude required to become a safe climber are clearly described whilst still conveying the fun and excitement of this challenging sport. Climbing develops fitness, movement skills, teamwork, and determination and this lively book is sure to enthuse many budding young climbers on their way." (Guy Jarvis, NICAS Chair) "The MCofS supports the NICAS scheme as an excellent way to engage young children going to climbing walls, to learn the basics of safe climbing and to keep them motivated through their early years discovering our unique sport. A picture is worth a thousand words, but only if it is relevant, and despite there being many instructional handbooks available, this is the first book designed to appeal to children with its clear and often funny cartoon depictions of the best way to learn vital skills. It is a perfect resource for parents, climbing coaches and children themselves to help them through their NICAS achievement." (Kevin Howett, MCofS Development Officer)"

    5 in stock

    £9.95

  • Atchison's Walks: The Complete Hills of Britain:

    Jingo Wobbly Publishing Atchison's Walks: The Complete Hills of Britain:

    20 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Atchison's Walks - The Complete Hills of Britain Series" - is a guidebook series in 10 volumes. Each book divides a region of Britain into 50 separate hill walking areas, and then illustrates 3 superb walks for each area; a short morning/afternoon ramble, an all day hill walk, and a challenging big circuit to either walk or fell run. "Northern England Vol 2 - 150 Hill Walks" is the second title in the series, and includes walks from Dovedale in the White Peak, Kinder Scout in the Dark Peak, Central Pennines, Pendle Hill & Forest of Bowland, The Wolds, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Howgill Fells and the Northern Pennines. Features of this title are as mentioned below. 50 Areas - the 50 finest hills in Northern England have been selected, giving a prime hill to ascend in every area. A double page map is provided for each area showing walks, plus written descriptions. Walks - every walk is a circular tour from an 'easy to park location,' and combines hilly ascents with enjoyable fine views to ascend a major peak for the day. Three walks at every location. Maps & diagrams - every walk is illustrated with a relief cross section, highlighting the angle of peaks to ascend, plus illustrating the pubs too. All of the maps have been specially drawn by the author who has completed every walk, and gives exceptional clarity with modern computer graphics. Photographs - the book has been exceptionally well illustrated by the author who is a professional photographer, and is highly experienced in capturing the impressive scenery of Northern England.

    20 in stock

    £16.14

  • Sandstone: Climbing in South East England: A Rock

    Jingo Wobbly Euro Guides Sandstone: Climbing in South East England: A Rock

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis title provides all climbers and boulderers living or visiting the South East, a guidebook to the nine top popular areas that have suitable easy public access. It is the first in a new generation of "Jingo Wobbly Photo" guidebooks that uses exceptionally high quality professional photography for crag illustration, and is supported by superb action photography with around 100 action shots. The guidebook is completely definitive to the 9 outcrops, and has been put together by team Jingo Wobbly that consists of some 50 climbers and boulderers. They are all local climbers who have lived and climbed in the area for years and know the rocks inside out, and are responsible for many of the first ascents. The book has been designed for ease of use, and should perfectly suit anyone visiting for the first time. It is a very easy to use, modern photo topo climbing guidebook with exceptional clarity in printing. Each page has the routes listed in order of difficulty, making it very friendly to newcomers. All of the routes are marked on the photos, show their climbing grades, and also have descriptions. Excellent maps to all of the climbing locations are included, along with all SAT NAV details. 100 climbing action shots will entice anyone to get out climbing. It has plenty of humour in the text with 'local chat' sections, but also full details on environmental care.

    15 in stock

    £21.38

  • Jingo Wobbly Euro Guides The Climbers Handbook to England and Wales

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis climber's handbook contains all the useful information that any climber will need. It presents a clear and straightforward picture to all the climbing facilities and opportunities in the area.

    10 in stock

    £17.95

  • Jingo Wobbly Euro Guides Climbing Dyno-mite: Learning to Climb on Indoor

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis learning book has been written and designed for anyone who wants to begin climbing at an indoor climbing wall. It starts you from the very first basics of indoor climbing, by introducing readers to the 'give-it-a-go' sessions that many climbing walls offer.

    15 in stock

    £17.06

  • Distant Snows: A Mountaineer's Odyssey

    Baton Wicks Publications Distant Snows: A Mountaineer's Odyssey

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn Distant Snows, mountaineer John Harding recollects his worldwide adventures spanning sixty years across Europe, Iran, East Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Arctic. He climbed many classic peaks including Mont Blanc, Mount Kenya, and Mount Cook, explored obscure ranges, and pioneered ski mountaineering expeditions in Turkey, Spain and Greece.Written with candour, a sharp eye for the tragicomic and with a sympathetic insight into the history and culture of indigenous mountain peoples, Harding’s compelling narrative proclaims the power of nature, the glory of landscape and the spirit of the mountains. Distant Snows is a window into the mind and passions of a mountaineer while faithfully preserving the memory of the many characters who accompanied him on his mountain odyssey.With a foreword by the celebrated explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison, Distant Snows offers tales of serious undertakings as well as more leisurely exploits, complemented by Harding’s personal photographs and hand-drawn maps. This is a must-read for mountaineers, lovers of the natural world and those with aspirations of adventure.Trade ReviewThe book is a fantastic reminder that you can have great adventures without being a top flight, up to the moment Tiger. – Stevie Haston Harding’s numerous achievements, and the fact that he still alive to tell the tale, are proof that much can be attained through determination, some degree of prudence and an open mind. Not only is this book a good read for anyone interested in mountains, Harding's knowledge of the history and culture of the places he visits, so eloquently woven into the narrative, brings a dimension to mountain adventure that will appeal to a wider audience than the mountaineer. – Adele Long, editor of the Alpine Club newsletter Whether you’re an armchair adventurer, a ski mountaineer, or a travel fanatic you need to read Distant Snows. All 18 chapters will inspire you to get outside, explore the mountains, and chase your dreams. Add this one to your book shelf of mountaineering novels. – Derek Lennon, A Mountain Journey I think this book will become a classic of its genre, a life story packed with interest, adventure and history. – Dennis Gray With over 300 pages packed with stories from all the corners of the earth Harding truly has had an insatiable thirst for travel and exploration. – Nick Carter, Alpha MountaineeringTable of ContentsPreface; Foreword by Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE; Chapter 1 The Persian Expedition; Chapter 2 At the Crossroads; Chapter 3 Snow on the Equator I: Mount Kenya; Chapter 4 Olympian Heights: Greece and Anatolia; Chapter 5 Snow on the Equator II: Mount Kenya and Ruwenzori; Chapter 6 Kurdish Hakkiari; Chapter 7 Antipodean Ventures I; Chapter 8 Mixed Fortunes; Chapter 9 Mountains of Paradise; Chapter 10 End of an Era; Chapter 11 'Ski mountaineering is mountaineering'; Chapter 12 Antipodean Ventures II; Chapter 13 The Taurus; Chapter 14 The Pontic Alps; Chapter 15 Mediterranean Snow to Arctic Ice; Chapter 16 Hellas Rears its Mountains; Chapter 17 Alpine Envoi; Chapter 18 Treks Far and Wide; Bibliography; Index.

    2 in stock

    £18.00

  • Baton Wicks Publications Ascents and Descents: An alpinist's memoir

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisI personally have always been quite comfortable either halfway up or halfway down a steep, snowy mountainside. Ascents and Descents is the autobiography of Peter Allison: civil engineer, rock climber, ski-mountaineer and mountain guide. Starting out on the crags of north-east England as a young boy, Peter soon became immersed in the emerging climbing scene of the 1950s, when harnesses were a thing of the future, and hemp ropes and plimsolls were the staple climbing gear. He soon began to explore ice climbing and mixed climbing, progressing to crags in the Lake District and then the Alps, and claiming several first British ascents. Over the course of an impressive sixty-five-year climbing career, he climbed hard lines on the high mountains, including the North Face of the Eiger and the Hoernli Ridge on the Matterhorn. Having initially juggled climbing with a thriving and extremely busy quarrying business, Peter decided it was time to dedicate more time to his love of the hills, and qualified as a mountain guide, subsequently specialising in routes on the Chamonix Aiguilles, the Aiguille du Chardonnet and the Aiguille d'Argentiere. He built an excellent reputation, balancing fun and risk with safety and prudence, and always putting his clients first. Ascents and Descents tells of the highs and lows of climbing, from standing on a summit in perfect conditions to the frustration of years of rehabilitation from a broken pelvis. Peter Allison recounts his colourful story with honesty, humour and frank detail, leaving you in no doubt about his true passion for the mountains.

    3 in stock

    £12.34

  • Itching to Climb: Mountaineer Explorer Pilot

    Baton Wicks Publications Itching to Climb: Mountaineer Explorer Pilot

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisInherited eczema and allergies made Barbara James different from her classmates, something she did not like. She was lucky. The severity of her eczema had lessened when her teacher introduced her to the Snowdonia hills. In 1964 she became a full time mountaineering instructor and mountain rescue first aider in Capel Curig at a time when there were few females instructing or leading difficult rock routes. Divorced in 1976 and with a mortgage to pay, Barbara needed a job, and became the first and possibly the only woman civilian to be employed by MOD to train soldiers. At the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion in Folkestone she learned another language, new codes of behaviour, and to lead expeditions. After early retirement, Barbara took her first holiday in 11 years. She was probably the second person to go, unaccompanied, to the magical Falkland Islands soon after the conflict. Alone she walked up Tumbledown, communed with wild life and was told that "Anyone can learn to fly". So on return, her 50th birthday present to herself was to get a Private Pilot's Licence. A year later she flew a Cessna 40 hours solo around Florida. But nothing Barbara had done was as challenging as surviving, alone, the furiously tourist evenings in Tenerife's Playa de Las Americas. Only the magical El Teide National Park and the genuine, spontaneous kindness of the Canarians ensured her return. She rented an apartment in Adeje village and the locals' initial suspicious looks soon disappeared. Itching to Climb tells the story of one woman's undaunting spirit in the face of adversities, of a life spent facing challenges head on, with a singleminded determination to achieve despite the difficulties that life had laid in her way. This is a story of encouragement and hope for anyone who suffers with eczema, or any similar debilitating condition.

    2 in stock

    £9.99

  • The Storms: Adventure and Tragedy on Everest

    Baton Wicks Publications The Storms: Adventure and Tragedy on Everest

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn August 1979 twenty-seven-year-old Mike Trueman set sail from the south-west coast of Wales, en route to Cornwall. The young army helicopter pilot was helping to move his friend's yacht from Northern Ireland to the south coast of England. But as they sailed out into the Irish Sea, the sky turned progressively darker and the winds gathered pace. Over the next twenty-four hours the two young sailors battled to survive force-10 gales in what became known as the Fastnet disaster and which claimed the lives of fifteen sailors off the coast of Ireland.Almost seventeen years later, Trueman was at Camp 2 at 6,400 metres on Mount Everest as the May 1996 tragedy unfolded high above him. As stricken guides, clients and Sherpas tried to survive the fierce storms which engulfed the upper mountain, Trueman was able to descend and - using his twenty-four years of experience as an officer in the British Army - coordinate the rescue effort from Base Camp. The Storms is the remarkable memoir of a British Army Gurkha officer. Trueman, a veteran of twenty expeditions to the Himalaya, gives a candid account of life inside expeditions to the highest mountain in the world. He gives a unique personal perspective on the 1996 Everest storm, as well as on the fateful day in May 1999 when Briton Mike Matthews disappeared high on the mountain after he and Trueman had summited.

    10 in stock

    £12.34

  • Scrambles & Easy Climbs in the Lake District

    Grey Stone Books Scrambles & Easy Climbs in the Lake District

    Book SynopsisThis is the updated 2nd edition, now in full colour. "Scrambles & Easy Climbs in the Lake District" is about the appreciation of rock, the exhilaration of climbing, and the sheer pleasure of doing it in some of the most beautiful places on earth. By discarding the arbitrary division between scrambles and rock-climbs, the books makes its readers free to explore all the Lake District's rocky places. This book, by two experienced rock-climbers, Jon Sparks and Judith Brown, also offers sound advice on how to get started and how to progress; routes that are safe in the wet, and those that should be saved for perfect conditions; and, where to eat, drink and sleep between the ascents. But above all you'll find 69 routes, from scrambling Grade 1 to rock-climbing V.Diff, which explore the many faces of Lakeland rock. There is no better way to spend a Lakeland day than climbing Scafell Pike via the Esk Gorge, Thor's Buttress and Ill Crags. "Scrambles & Easy Climbs" offers a score of such expeditions, from valley floor to airy summit, with hands on rock almost all the way. Less arduous, but equally enjoyable, are days on valley crags like Shepherd's or stand-alone scrambles like Cam Crag Ridge. You can clamber on sunny Pikes Crag high above Wasdale Head; potter about above the oak woods of the Duddon valley; or climb Kirk Fell the wet way, through the waterfalls of Ill Gill.

    £12.30

  • The Mountain Men: A History of Early Rockclimbing

    10 in stock

    £7.99

  • The Day the Rope Broke: The Tragic Story of the

    Mara Books The Day the Rope Broke: The Tragic Story of the

    Book SynopsisThe first ascent of the Matterhorn in July 1865 is one of the key events in the history of mountaineering. It was the climax of five years' struggle by the English mountaineer Edward Whymper in competition with Jean Antonie-Carrel, the Italian mountain guide who had grown up in the mountain's shadow. It also produced perhaps the most famous mountaineering accidents of the 19th century, bringing to an end the 'Golden Age of Alpine climbing'. This is the story of the events leading up to this remarkable ascent and its terrible aftermath. This is a gripping classic.Table of ContentsPrologue: Men and the Matterhorn; Part One: The Cast Assembles; Carrel and Bersagliere; The Heir to the Marquess of Queensbury; The Clergyman from the Crimea; Whymper, the Man of the Matterhorn; Part Two: The Play Begins; Parties Converging on a Mountain; Parties Meeting below a Mountain; Part Three: The Tragedy; Ascent; Descent; Part Four: The Aftermath; Search; Enquiry; What the Critics Said; The Abiding Questions; Bibliography.

    £11.39

  • Cordee Preposterous Tales: The International Climbing

    20 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Preposterous Tales" captures an energy charged tour of the globe by two of Britain's best known and most colourful climbers. Having honed their rock and ice skills on home turf, Neil Gresham and Tim Emmett set out on a crusade which landed them in scrapes in such unlikely destinations as Mongolia, Cuba, Brazil, Quebec and Vietnam. This is an inspiring and uninhibited celebration of climbing at its most diverse.

    20 in stock

    £19.00

  • Mountain Rescue

    Hayloft Publishing Mountain Rescue

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £20.00

  • The Weekend Fix

    Sandstone Press Ltd The Weekend Fix

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisCraig Weldon was born in 1974 in Glasgow. He has been a student, an engineer, a submersible pilot, a songwriter and failed music studio owner, an itinerant temp worker, a technical editor, and a public servant - but the one steady thread has been his love of the hills and his hill-walking companions. Introduced by Hamish Brown.

    1 in stock

    £11.99

  • Rock Trails Lakeland: A Hillwalker's Guide to the

    Pesda Press Rock Trails Lakeland: A Hillwalker's Guide to the

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis book explains to the hillwalker, in easy to understand but accurate terms, how geology has shaped the landscape of the Lake District. A selection of fifteen guided walks is used to illustrate this in terms of what can be seen on the ground. "Rock Trails Lakeland", divided into two parts, is intended to help those who love the Lake District's mountain scenery to understand how this beautiful landscape came about. The first half narrates the story of colliding continents, volcanoes, mountain-building and glaciations in creating the Lakeland, explaining why volcanoes occurred, the rocks they created and how to interpret signs of mountain-building and glaciations on the ground. The second half describes recommended walks of differing levels of difficulty, all with a wide variety of geological features to be seen and, most important, with consistently fantastic views of the very best of the Lake District's wonderful scenery. The author has concentrated on what you can see as you walk around the hills, highlighting conspicuous, easily visible features in rocks as well as the overall shape of the terrain while accounting for the present-day landscape. This is the second book in the series from Pesda Press, following the publication in 2008 of "Rock Trails Snowdonia" (9781906095048).

    15 in stock

    £17.33

  • Climbing Wall Leading: Learn to Lead Efficiently

    Pesda Press Climbing Wall Leading: Learn to Lead Efficiently

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis book is in the same series and is a natural follow-up to the successful "Climbing Games". With the increase in the use of climbing walls more people are learning to lead indoors. This tends to be a more rapid progression than it may be outdoors, and also allows access to much steeper leading at a lower level of climbing experience. There is also an expectation that falling off is the norm, a complete reversal of early stages of leading outdoors on traditional climbs. Teaching leading indoors should be done progressively, the aim being to develop the climbing skills needed very thoroughly. Developing the skills for safe and efficient lead belaying is equally important. Ian Fenton has been involved in teaching leading outdoors and on indoor walls for a number of years. This has also involved evaluating and signing off other instructors to teach leading, at a number of climbing walls; both prior to the advent of the Climbing Wall Leading Award (CWLA), and now as a provider of the CWLA. In the past the teaching of leading has often been done haphazardly, with limited progression, poor route choice and inappropriate belaying. With the help of the exercises in this book it should be possible to design an appropriate progression to suit any individual, of any age or ability, who is learning to lead indoors and lead belay.

    10 in stock

    £9.99

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