Climbing and mountaineering Books

Book SynopsisK2 is almost 800ft shorter than Everest, yet it’s a far harder climb. Many great mountaineers became obsessed with reaching its summit, not all of them lived to tell of their adventures. Capturing the depth of their obsession, the heart-stopping tension of the climb and delving into the controversy that still surrounds the first ascent, Mick Conefrey delivers the definitive account of the ‘Savage Mountain’. From drug-addicted occultist Aleister Crowley to the brilliant but tortured expedition leader Charlie Houston and, later, the Italian duo who finally made it to the top, Conefrey resurrects the tragic heroes, eccentric dreamers and uncompromising rivalries forever instilled in K2’s legacy. This is the riveting, groundbreaking story of the world’s deadliest mountain.Trade Review‘Only unbridled ambition is going to get you up K2. And the stories of the early attempts and the eventual success illustrate the complexity of the mountain and the climbers who chose to risk it all. Ghosts of K2 brings them back to life.’ -- Peter Edmund Hillary – mountaineer, expedition leader, philanthropist and author‘Mick Conefrey relates the often unedifying, occasionally heroic saga leading to its first ascent with great panache and lucid analysis of little-known material. A significant contribution to mountaineering historical writing.’ -- Jim Perrin – award-winning author of The Villain: The Life of Don Whillans and Snowdon: The Story of a Welsh Mountain‘Mick Conefrey judiciously and lucidly unravels this tangled tale of courage and conflict. And he displays once again... a consummate ability to tell a ripping good climbing yarn.’ -- Maurice Isserman – co-author of Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Travel Memoir Book of the Year, Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020 / Winner - GOLD in Personality of the Year, SILVER in The Extra Mile Award as well as SILVER in Book of the Year all in The Great Outdoor Awards 2019 'This uplifting memoir is testament that in life there are times when there is nothing for it but to scale that mountain' -The Herald Best Summer Reads 2019 In 1997, at the age of 24, Sarah lost her mother to breast cancer. Alone and adrift in the world, she very nearly gave up hope, but she'd made a promise to her mother that she would keep going no matter what. So she turned to the beautiful, dangerous, forbidding mountains of her native Scotland.Trade Review'I loved Just Another Mountain . . . It's a really good read' - Lorraine Kelly; 'Honest, raw and beautifully written, this uplifting memoir is testament that in life there are times when there is nothing for it but to scale that mountain' - The Herald Best Summer Reads 2019; 'An inspiring book for anyone facing challenges. And a heartfelt reminder that only some mountains look like mountains' - Tristan Gooley, author of The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs and Wild Signs and Star Paths; 'A beautifully written book . . . a powerful message and a thrilling conclusion to a seemingly unachievable goal' - Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of Cows; 'A story of love and loss and of the redemptive power of mountains, in particular the incomparable mountains of Scotland' --Stephen Venables, mountaineer and writer; 'An excellent memoir ... vivid and honest ... so much more than just a book about walking and climbing in the mountains. Quite frankly it's heart-breaking at times. Sarah Jane Douglas writes beautifully, her descriptive passages of what she sees and experiences on the mountains are some of the best I've read" - read-warbler.blogspot.com

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Book SynopsisA guidebook to 41 scrambles in the Peak District National Park. Covering the Dark Peak and Roaches areas, the routes are graded 1–3 and range from those that are suitable for adventurous walkers to harder routes that require some climbing experience.Alongside a route description, information on approach, link routes, variants and extensions is provided allowing the routes to be adapted to suit you. 1:25,000 OS maps are included for each route Four winter routes are described including Mam Tor and Black Tor gullies Easy access from Manchester and Sheffield Local points of interest include Kinder Scout and Bleaklow Advice on equipment, access and conservation restrictions Table of ContentsOS key Overview map Preface Introduction Scrambling in the Dark Peak Warnings and precautions Equipment Maps About the routes Access Conservation The Chew Valley area 1 Rimmon Pit Clough/Trinnacle/Holme Clough 2 Alderman's Rocks 3 Dovestone Quarry Central Gully 4 Charnel Clough The Wilderness Gullies 5 Wilderness Gully West 6 Wilderness Gully East 7 Wilderness Gully Far East 8 Wilderness Gully Far Far East 9 Wilderness Gully Far Far Far East 10 Chew Brook The Crowden area 11 Oaken Clough 12 Coombes Clough Bleaklow 13 Shining Clough 14 Deer Knowl 15 Lawrence Edge No 1 16 Lawrence Edge No 2 17 Wildboar Clough 18 Torside Clough 19 Torside Gully 20 Yellowslacks Brook/Dowstone Clough 21 Ashton Clough 22 Alport Castles Tower 23 Alport Castles Gully Kinder Scout 24 Blackden Brook 25 Fair Brook 26 Fair Brook Gully 27 Nether Red Brook 28 Upper Red Brook 29 Far Upper Red Brook 30 Square Chimney Exit 31 Kinder Downfall Climb 32 Arpeggio Gully 33 Red Brook 34 Crowden Clough 35 Grindsbrook Clough 36 Ringing Roger Outlying areas 37 Back Tor Gully 38 Mam Tor Gully 39 Elbow Ridge 40 Roaches Lower and Upper Tier Ridges 41 Chrome Hill/Parkhouse Hill Appendix A Index of routes Appendix B Further reading Appendix C Useful contacts

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Book SynopsisGuidebook to more than 450 winter climbs in the Northern Corries of Cairn Gorm, Braeriach, Beinn a’Bhuird, Lochnagar, Glen Clova and Creag Meaghaidh. Includes a wide selection of snow, ice and mixed routes of varying grades and lengths, from straightforward Grade I snow gullies through to extreme ice and mixed climbs of Grade VII and above. With clear route descriptions accompanied by symbols denoting the type of climb (snow, ice and mixed) and photographic topo diagrams, this guide helps climbers choose the best route for the prevailing conditions. Advice is given on how the required snow/ice conditions form for each climb, as well as how to evaluate avalanche risk, while approach maps for each climbing area show the best routes to access each crag. The Cairngorms offer some of the most reliable and accessible winter climbing in Scotland. Deep recesses and remote corries are home to some of the best mixed climbing anywhere. In good weather the journeys to and from the climbs can be as rewarding and memorable as the ascents themselves, while in poor weather the conditions will challenge the skill of the greatest mountaineers.

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Book SynopsisThis is for anyone who believes there is something special about taking on a challenging task in a remote place where few, if any people have been before. It may be a mountain range where your team is the only human presence, or a mountain on which you are making a first ascent. It's a unique opportunity to relate to a particular landscape, and in doing so to understand that environment and yourself better than before; something valuable that's shared within your team. Most mountaineers are familiar with challenges but the added dimension of remoteness intensifies the experience, tests one's self-reliance and teamwork so much more thoroughly. Having been told on numerous occasions that 'I'd love to go on an expedition but I don't know where to start', the Handbook offers much more than just a start. Based upon years of Alpinism and expeditionary mountaineering, including leading more than 20 expeditions, it became apparent to the author that a systematic approach can avoid logistical and personnel problems by thorough preparation. After running seminars on expedition planning at the National Outdoor Centre, the author believed there was much more ground to cover - even after a two-hour interactive session. As well as providing this information, the book shares some of the accumulated wisdom from the traditions of expeditioning in the writings of such towering figures as Bill Tilman, Eric Shipton and Frank Smythe. An Expedition Handbook includes many practical tips, from assessing the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning to tent design and pitching methods. Readers can learn about expeditions whilst enjoying the very elements that make it all worthwhile; the adventure, the camaraderie, the exotic locations, the triumphs. Aspirant expeditioners should therefore be able to organise more successful and satisfying expeditions so that fewer but better expeditions take place, cutting the climate cost of travel, and bringing back an appreciation of wild places and a willingness to stand up for rewilding in environments closer to home.

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive book is an excellent planning resource for those who wish to venture into the Swiss Alps. Whether you are planning a walk, scramble, climb or ski tour this larger format guide describes each mountain area throughout Switzerland - the peaks, passes, valleys and bases - to help readers identify the best destinations for their chosen mountain activity. Dozens of individual valleys are described, together with the mountains that wall them, with recommendations given for their finest walks, treks and climbs. Working eastwards across the country, this guide is divided into seven chapters: Chablais Alps, Pennine Alp, Lepontine and Adula Alps, Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps, Bernese Alps, Central Swiss Alps and the Silvretta and Ratikon Alps, each devoted to a specific range or group of connecting ranges. However, this is not a route guide and detailed descriptions are not provided. The aim of the book is to inspire as well as inform; to show first-time visitors just what the Swiss Alps have to offer and provide a new perspective for those who have been before.Table of ContentsOverview Map Introduction About this Book The Mountain Ranges Practicalities When to Go Weather Getting There Getting Around Accommodation Mountain Huts Maps and Guidebooks Health Considerations The Mountains Mountain Activities Safety Dos and Don'ts Mountain Rescue Plant and Animal Life Environmental Ethics Information at a Glance Chapter 1: Chablais Alps 1:1 Val de Morgins 1:2 Val d'Illiez 1:3 Vallon de Susanfe 1:4 Rhône Valley Approaches 1:5 Vall#xe9;e du Trient Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 2: Pennine Alps 2:1 Val Ferret 2:2 Val d'Entremont 2:3 Val de Bagnes 2:4 Val de Nendaz 2:5 Val d'H#xe9;r#xe9;mence 2:6 Val d'H#xe9;rens 2:7 Val de Moiry 2:8 Val d'Anniviers 2:9 Turtmanntal 2:10 Mattertal 2:11 Saastal 2:12 Simplon Pass Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 3: Lepontine and Adula Alps 3:1 Simplon Pass East 3:2 Binntal 3:3 Val Bedretto 3:4 Valle Leventina 3:5 Val Verzasca 3:6 Valle Maggia and its Tributaries 3:7 Valle di Blenio 3:8 Vals Calanca and Mesolcina 3:9 The Northern Valleys Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 4: Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps 4:1 Val Madris and the Averstal 4:2 Engadine Valley: Left Bank 4:3 Val Bregaglia 4:4 The Bernina Alps 4:5 The Swiss National Park Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 5: Bernese Alps 5:1 Alpes Vaudoises 5:2 Les Diablerets to the Rawil Pass 5:3 The Wildstrubel Massif 5:4 Kandersteg and the Gemmipass 5:5 Blu?emlisalp and the Gasterntal 5:6 The Kiental 5:7 Lauterbrunnen Valley 5:8 Grindelwald and the Lu?tschental 5:9 Haslital and Grimsel Pass 5:10 The Southern Valleys Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 6: Central Swiss Alps 6:1 Uri Alps: Dammastock Group 6:2 North of the Sustenpass: Titlis Group 6:3 Glarner Alps Access, Bases, Maps and Guides Chapter 7: Silvretta and Rätikon Alps 7:1 Silvretta Alps: Lower Engadine 7:2 Silvretta Alps: Prättigau 7:3 Rätikon Alps 7:4 The Alpstein Massif Access, Bases, Maps and Guides APPENDIX A Glossary of Alpine Terms APPENDIX B Selective Bibliography APPENDIX C Index of Maps APPENDIX D The Swiss 4000m Peaks Index

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Book SynopsisIn this stunning large-format book, British mountaineer Alan Hinkes describes for the first time in one place his experiences of climbing all 14 of the peaks over 8000m: the world's highest mountains, in the Himalaya and Karakoram. While the photographs - despite being taken in impossible conditions - capture the beauty and majesty of the mountain landscapes of the roof of the world, the text describes the minute-by-minute struggle to survive in 'the death zone', let alone climb to the summits, often solo and in roaring winds and Arctic temperatures. As well as reflecting on the Yorkshire childhood and first Alpine ascents that got him to his first 8000m summit attempt, and the life that he has led and plans to lead since becoming the first Briton to reach all the 8000ers, Alan recalls the climbing companions he met along the way, several of whom have died in their beloved mountains, the trek-ins, the base camps, the setbacks and the triumphs. A book to challenge and inspire mountain-lovers everywhere.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements The Himalaya and Karakoram Mountains Foreword by Brian Blessed Preface Introduction 1 Shisha Pangma Jerzy Kukuczka & the Polish Climbers 2 Manaslu Reinhold Messner 3 Cho Oyu Summit Flags & Fiona 4 Broad Peak Chapatti & Chips 5 K2 The Death Zone 6 Everest Mallory & Irvine 7 Gasherbrum I The Trek-in 8 Gasherbrum II Coffee or Tea? 9 Lhotse Photography & filming 10 Nanga Parbat Kurt Diemberger 11 Makalu Dealing with Death 12 Annapurna Dressed to Survive 13 Dhaulagiri The Incident Pit 14 Kangchenjunga Roseberry Topping Aftermath Shooting the Summits by Joe Cornish Appendices 1 The 8000m peaks and their first ascents 2 Alan Hinkes Expeditions 3 Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisA guidebook to 41 graded walks and scrambles in the Anti-Atlas mountains. Exploring the dramatic scenery of southern Morocco, the walks are suitable for confident walkers and scramblers with good navigation skills. Walks range from 3 to 40km (2–25 miles), taking between 1hr to 2 days to walk. The scrambles are graded from 1 to 3+ allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. A 1-week 110km (68 mile) long-distance trek from Ait Baha to Ait Mansour across the north-west Anti-Atlas is also described. 1:50,000 maps are included for each walk and topos for scrambling routes GPX files available to download Detailed information on planning, facilities and accommodation Highlights include Jebel El Kest. Table of ContentsMap key Overview map Location of routes Transport and communications Introduction The landscapes of the Anti-Atlas Geological evolution The Berbers and the Anti-Atlas History and politics Plants and animals Local culture Personal safety Terrain When to go What to take Money and entry requirements Where to base yourself Getting there Getting around Information and guides Eating and drinking Health and emergencies Route selection and grading Using this guide 1 Tafraout Route 1 Ouadou Desert Basin Walk and Scramble Route 2 The Painted Rocks and Tafraout Back Country Route 3 The Elephant's Trunk Route 4 Napoleon's Hat and the Three Flagpoles Scramble Adrar Mqorn Route 5 Direct from Ayerd Route 6 Traverse by Southeast Ridge Route 7 The Grid Ridge Scramble Route 8 Tahala Peaks Scramble and Walk 2 Ait Mansour and the South Route 9 Afra Ridge Scramble Route 10 Tasselt Walk Route 11 Tizi Ridge Scramble Ait Mansour Route 12 Northern Skyline Route 13 Southwest Rim and Summits Route 14 Southeast Towers 3 Ameln Valley and Abdellah Cirque Route 15 Jebel Amagdour (Horseshoe Route) Route 16 Ardrar Idekel Scramble and Walk Route 17 Tizgut Ridge Scramble Route 18 Above the Lion's Face Route 19 Below the Lion's Face Route 20 Ameln Villages Valley Traverse Abdellah Cirque Route 21 Abdellah Ridge Scramble and Azarhar Summit Route 22 Isefsas Peak Route 23 Azgour Ridge Scramble Route 24 Oumsnat Peak by Dinosaur Wall West Window 4 Jebel El Kest Route 25 The Summits from Tagdicht Route 26 Tagdicht Skyline Scramble Route 27 West Ridge Scramble and Summits from Anergui Route 28 West Ridge Scramble from Afantinzar Route 29 Jebel El Kest and the Ameln Summits 5 Taskra and the Northeast Route 30 The Tamgelochte Fortress Route 31 Amzkhssan Summit Route 32 Tassilla Summits Route 33 Jebel Taskra and the Tizi Skyline Route 34 The Targa Skyline 6 Tanalt and the Northwest Route 35 In Search of Darth Vader Route 36 Dwawj Circuit Adad Medni Route 37 The Tirki River Valley and Potter's Cave Route 38 The Lost World of Adad Medni Route 39 Adad Medni Tighmert Face Circular Walk Route 40 Jebel Imzi and the Dragon Tree Gorges 7 A Traverse of the Northwestern Anti-Atlas Route 41 From Ait Baha to Ait Mansour Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B Distance table Appendix C Useful contacts

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Book SynopsisThe 2015 Clwyd Limestone Rockfax covers a wealth of traditional and sport climbing. From the magnificent Eglweseg valley, through the popular sport routes in the quarries above the village of Trevor, and on to the two trad cliffs of Pandy Outcrop and Pontesford Rocks. Since the previous Clwyd Limestone Rockfax in 2005 the area has seen around 250 new routes developed and significant re-gearing of older lines. The area is now living up to its potential as a destination in its own right of as a regular stop-off on journeys to or from North Wales.The previous Rockfax book to Clwyd has been a major contributing factor in the boom in visitors to the area. The area is now a popular destination for travelling climbers and this book is the only one that covers the climbing. It is produced in the customary high standard that climbers now demand featuring full-colour photo-topos and loads of action photos and maps.

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Book SynopsisA book for every climber (from beginner to expert) keen to improve their climbing; the things you really need to know without the clutter of an exhaustive ropework manual (and with a lot more helpful advice on climbing moves). The book includes a progressive series of exercises from simple to more complex movements to practice at your local climbing wall, crag, boulders or at home to improve all aspects of your climbing. Most of the exercises are intended for bottom roping or bouldering so you can drill the moves until they become second nature. The aim is to help you climb safer, with more confidence and less effort than before. There's advice on learning (how to make the most of your time spent practicing) and safety (what every climber needs to know). Basic footwork, handholds and body position: the foundations of all the more complex moves like corkscrew rock-overs and the secrets of arete climbing. Resting: how to take time-out in some improbable places. Advanced techniques including exotic (but really handy) foot-locks and dyno's as well as redpointing tips. Lead climbing: reading routes, placing runners and sound tactics for success. Mind games: how to improve your confidence and conquer your fear of falling. And finally training: identifying your weaknesses and making yourself strong and fit to challenge your dream goal climb. The section on training young people will be of interest to any parent or coach. It contains progressive exercises and drills to help you get practicing straight away and to help these skills become second nature. It includes tips and techniques from the most basic steps to exotic (but very useful) foot-locks and 'chicken wing' jams. It will appeal to a wide range of climbers.

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Book SynopsisHarold Raeburn was one of Scotland's greatest ever mountaineers, with a legacy of prized lines scattered far and wide across the Highlands. In feats of extraordinary vitality, he made winter ascents of Tower Ridge, North-East Buttress and Crowberry Gully in four days, cycling from Fort William to Glencoe in between. His breathtaking ascent of Green Gully, cutting steps up near-vertical ice with a single axe, was doubtless the hardest ice climb anywhere at the time and was unsurpassed in difficulty in Scotland for nearly three decades. But perhaps Raeburn's finest achievement was the first winter ascent in 1920 of Observatory Ridge, which remains one of Ben Nevis's longest and most serious winter climbs. These routes, amongst so many others, were visionary, while beyond Scotland, he pioneered climbs in the Alps, Norway and the Caucasus, attempted Kangchenjunga and was Climbing Leader on the calamitous 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Tragically, the latter was to be his undoing, precipitating a 'melancholia' that had perhaps, to some degree, dogged him all his life. With extracts from Raeburn's own elegant writings and accounts from his friends and climbing companions, The Steps of a Giant is an intimate portrait of a master craftsman, chronicling his outstanding mountaineering record while digging beneath the surface of his modest reserve to reveal a complex, driven character upon whose shoulders subsequent generations of climbing luminaries stand.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis work tells the story of explorations and ascents in the Scottish Highlands in the days before mountaineering became a popular sport - when Jacobites, bandits, poachers and illicit distillers traditionally used the mountains as sanctuary.Trade ReviewIn this new book on pre-mountaineering ascents and near ascents in the Highlands, we have at last a work which does justice to those who lived and worked, travelled and fought in the Highlands before Walter Scott. - Professor Bruce Lenman, from his foreward...will give you much to think about next time you’re up that mountain. - David Newnham, The GuardianTo have produced a work of such significance that is also fun to read is an achievementHIGH

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Book SynopsisThe more I walk the hills, the more I become aware that I am hearing echoes which resonate with other echoes, footfalls on footfalls. When you make your footfalls on the mountains, you are not simply experiencing beauty as in a museum or gallery. With your eyes and ears you can see and hear what has gone before you, appropriate it and immeasurably enrich your experience.This is the story of the adventures of Stobcross Gentlemen’s Climbing Club. Against all the odds thrown up by the Scottish weather, faulty map reading and the symptoms of physical decline, they strove to maintain the fine traditions of Scottish mountaineering. They battled through their Munros and Corbetts whilst valiantly trying to celebrate Burns’ Night, Guy Fawkes Night and Hogmanay in a ritual calendar of the Scottish Hills.Alongside these adventures are explorations of a different kind – ones into the history of the bothies and the mountains that make up the present-day landscape, as well as the stories of those who have vacated the bens and glens within living memory. Based on Ian Mitchell’sresearch and experiences, Mountain Footfalls adds a new dimension to hillwalkers’ appreciation and enjoyment of the Scottish Highlands.Trade ReviewAs well as being a good read the book is an authentic word picture of this part of the climbing scene in latter-day Scotland, which, like any good picture, will increase in charm over the years. IAIN SMART in Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal on Mountain Days and Bothy NightsA humorous, entertaining but informative book written by two men with obvious expertise, knowledge and love of their subject. SCOTS INDEPENDENT on Mountain Days and Bothy NightsTo have produced a work of such significance that is also fun to read is an achievement. TERRY GIFFORD, High Reviews on Scotland's Mountains Before the Mountaineers We tend to associate the figure of the 'flaneur' with Paris, a city that encourages walking through all districts. But here Mitchell reclaims it forcefully and often beautifully for Glasgow, exhorting us to explore areas once thought 'off limits' as well as the tourist attractions to provide also a history of the working class. THE SUNDAY HERALD on Walking Through Glasgow's Industrial PastIf you buy any one mountain book this year, make sure it is this one. KEVIN BORMAN, High Mountain magazine on View from the RidgeOne of Scotland's most distinguished mountain writers. The Great Outdoors Magazine on View from the RidgeWritten... with obvious expertise, knowledge and love of [the] subject. Scots Independent on View from the RidgeHe knows his mountains and his history and that awareness informs almost every page. Scots Magazine on View from the Ridge

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Book SynopsisThe Blue Cliff is focused on the more aquatic sea cliff exploits, i.e. those where you stand a serious chance of getting wet, and the sea is by necessity engaged with, not just a pleasant backdrop to the action. So, it's mostly about sea-level traversing, sea stacks and, above all, deep water soloing. This book takes you on a clockwise circumnavigation of the British coastline, starting from the chalk of the White Cliffs of Dover. Along the way, the book deals with some particular questions: Did Aleister Crowley invent sea-cliff climbing, and was he the best climber in the world in the 19th century? Did the St Kildan natives really evolve prehensile feet? What is the truth about the famous story of commandos watching Menlove Edwards deep water soloing and then drowning while trying to emulate him? The chapters are structured by area. Most of the essays and images are previously unpublished but some have appeared before in books, magazines, or journals.

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Book SynopsisJoe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the ‘big’ mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true ‘alpine-style’ climbs in the Greater Ranges.The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains. A superb writer, he vividly describes the first British winter ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang – considered a ‘preposterous’ plan by the climbing world – and his two unsuccessful attempts on K2, the second highest mountain on Earth.Savage Arena is both moving and exciting, an inspirational tale of the adventuring spirit which follows its own path, endlessly seeking new challenges, climbs and difficulties to overcome. It is not reaching the summit which counts, it is the journey to it. It is also a story of the stresses and strains of living for long periods in constant anxiety, often with only one other person, and of the close and vital human relationships which spring from those circumstances.Trade Review‘The most riveting book on climbing that I have ever read.’ – Sir Chris Bonington‘A gripping story of tremendous courage and unbelievable endurance.’ – Sir Edmund HillaryTable of ContentsPublisher's NoteForeword by Chris Bonington 'A Great Partnership'Chapter 1 Or Men Will Come For YouChapter 2 It is Forbidden to Walk on the Track: The EigerChapter 3 It Could be Worse: DunagiriChapter 4 Figures on a Screen: ChangabangChapter 5 ‘Let’s Draw Matchsticks’: K2Chapter 6 In the Treasure House of the Great Snow: KangchenjungaChapter 7 Apocalypse: K2PostscriptChronology

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Book SynopsisExtreme Lakeland by Nadir Khan and Tom McNally is a stunning photographic celebration of all that makes the Lake District a magnet for those with a heart for adventure and who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the hills and mountains of this jewel in the English landscape. From the crags of the high fells to the lakes and tarns for which the Lakes is famous, Nadir and Tom showcase incredible adventure sports through the seasons, including rock climbing, mountain biking, fell running, wild swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, base jumping and ski touring. Alongside a foreword by renowned rock climber Leo Houlding, and original illustrations by Anna Sharpe, there are inspirational literary contributions from wild swimmer Gilly McArthur, fell runner Ellis Bland, climbers Anna Taylor and Peter Goulding, and adventurer Jon Sparks. Extreme Lakeland is a visual feast for those that treasure the Lake District.

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Book Synopsis‘If we were guaranteed success in everything we tried then life would be pretty boring.’Mainstream news reports about climbing are dominated by action from the world’s highest mountains, more often than not focusing on tragedy and controversy. Far removed from this high-altitude circus, a group of visionary and specialist mountaineers are seeking out eye-catching objectives in the most remote corners of the greater ranges and attempting first ascents in lightweight style.Mick Fowler is the master of the small and remote Himalayan expedition. He has been at the forefront of this pioneering approach to alpinism for over thirty years, balancing his family life, a full-time job at the tax office and his annual trips to the greater ranges in order to attempt mountains that may never have been seen before by Westerners, let alone climbed by them.In No Easy Way, his third volume of climbing memoirs following Vertical Pleasure and On Thin Ice, Fowler recounts a series of expeditions to stunning mountains in China, India, Nepal and Tibet. Alongside partners including Paul Ramsden, Dave Turnbull, Andy Cave and Victor Saunders, he attempts striking, technically challenging unclimbed lines on Shiva, Gave Ding and Mugu Chuli – with a number of ascents winning prestigious Piolets d’Or, the Oscars of the mountaineering world.Written with his customary dry wit and understatement, he manages challenges away – the art of securing a permit for Tibet – and at home – his duties as Alpine Club president – all the while pursuing his passion for exploratory mountaineering.

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Book SynopsisCompiled by award-winning film-maker Alastair Lee, Exposed Leo Houlding is a large format photographic book presenting the extraordinary life of one of the world's finest climbers, Leo Houlding. Leo's landmark endeavours are captured through breathtaking photography accompanied by the compelling stories behind the imagery.

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Book SynopsisKen Wilson’s Classic Rock is one of the most popular and iconic works of climbing literature ever written. Along with Hard Rock and Extreme Rock, it has acquired legendary status. First published in 1978, Classic Rock represented the absolute best of British climbing at that time, quickly establishing itself as a must-have publication. It is a celebration of 80 of the best lower-grade routes in Great Britain, bringing them to life through a superb selection of photographs, anecdotes and essays from some of the most accomplished climbers of the day. ‘Ticking’ the book became an instant and obvious challenge, and remains so to this day (Wilson wasn’t a fan, describing it as ‘puerile ticking’). Any climber working his or her way through the book will be taken on a tour of the finest routes on the best cliffs and crags to be found throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Many of the routes in the book were established over a century ago. At that time the Victorian and Edwardian alpinists, flushed with successes abroad, sought harder challenges at home. With their well-honed confidence, they went straight for the biggest cliffs of Scotland. Anyone seeking to retrace their steps will immediately be transported to bold lines of weakness up otherwise daunting precipices! Before long these pioneers trailed their hemp ropes and balanced their hobnail boots up the sea cliffs of Cornwall and the gritstone edges of the Pennines, and the crags of the Lake District and North Wales. These climbers provided us with a great national treasure – a repository of adventure and spectacle that can provide a lifetime’s enjoyment and challenge. An ascent of a great historic route will rarely disappoint. Such routes retain much of their original challenge, unsullied by the pitons and bolts often found on their continental equivalents. They take bold, logical lines up otherwise difficult cliffs – usually cleaned and stabilised by years of use. Classic Rock provides a mere sampling of these treasures. This latest edition has been transformed with over 300 new colour photos. These sit alongside archive images to create an inspirational dialogue between today’s climbers and those of history. Fifty-five chapters, contributed by acclaimed climbers and writers such as Jim Perrin, Paul Nunn and Angela Soper, describe the finest classic rock climbs in Britain.Table of ContentsPreface The Early Days of Classic Climbing PEAK AND PENNINE1 FLYING BUTTRESS, APRIL CRACK, BLACK SLAB Stanage Edge Jim Perrin 2 SAIL BUTTRESS, TOPSAIL, POWDER MONKEY PARADE Birchen Edge Charles Clark 3 CENTRAL CLIMB (K2 and Modern) Hen Cloud Paul Nunn 4 VIA DOLOROSA, BLACK AND TANS, TECHNICAL SLAB The Roaches Dave Cook 5 PARSONS’ CHIMNEY Almscliff Crag Angela Soper 6 RED PENCIL DIRECT Penyghent Anthony Greenbank NORTH WALES7 MILESTONE DIRECT ROUTE Milestone Buttress Barbara James 8 GASHED CRAG, FIRST PINNACLE RIB, GROOVED ARÊTE Tryfan Showell Styles 9 DIRECT ROUTE Glyder Fach David Cox 10 HOPE, LAZARUS, THE ARÊTE, GREY SLAB Idwal Slabs/Glyder Fawr Ron James 11 GREAT GULLY Craig yr Ysfa Tony Moulam 12 FLYING BUTTRESS, SPIRAL STAIRS Dinas Cromlech Roger Grimshaw 13 CRACKSTONE RIB, WRINKLE Carreg Wastad Dave Cook 14 NEA Clogwyn y Grochan Nea Morin 15 THE CRACKS Dinas Mot Anne Wheatcroft 16 MAIN WALL Cyrn Las Sir Charles Evans 17 AVALANCHE, RED WALL, LONGLAND’S CONTINUATION Lliwedd Harold Drasdo 18 CREAGH DHU WALL Tremadog Rocks Jim Perrin 19 WILL-O’-THE-WISP Craig Cywarch John SumnerSOUTH-WEST ENGLAND20 PITON ROUTE Avon Gorge Mike Thompson 21 CLIMBERS’ CLUB ORDINARY Dewerstone Mike Banks 22 THE DEVIL’S SLIDE Lundy John Cleare 23 DEMO ROUTE Sennen Robert Moulton 24 TERRIER’S TOOTH, PENDULUM CHIMNEY Chair Ladder Dave Cook 25 DOORPOST Bosigran Mike Banks THE LAKE DISTRICT26 LITTLE CHAMONIX Shepherd’s Crag Angela Soper 27 TROUTDALE PINNACLE Black Crag Anthony Greenbank 28 GILLERCOMBE BUTTRESS Gillercombe Joann Greenhow 29 NAPES NEEDLE Great Gable Paul Nunn 30 TOPHET WALL Great Gable Dennis Gray 31 ASH TREE SLABS, C ROUTE Gimmer Crag Lord Hunt 32 BRACKET AND SLAB Gimmer Crag Tom Price 33 BOWFELL BUTTRESS Bowfell Walt Unsworth34 MURRAY’S ROUTE Dow Crag Anthony Greenbank 35 NEW WEST CLIMB, RIB AND SLAB Pillar Rock C. Douglas Milner 36 JONES’S ROUTE DIRECT FROM LORD’S RAKE Scafell Pinnacle Tony Toole 37 MOSS GHYLL GROOVES Scafell Crag Tom Price SCOTLAND 38 SOU’WESTER SLABS, LABYRINTH Cir Mhor, Isle of Arran Graham Little 39 RECESS ROUTE, PUNSTER’S CRACK, ARDGARTEN ARÊTE The Cobbler John Mackenzie 40 NORTH FACE ROUTE,AGAG’S GROOVE Buachaille Etive Mòr Tom Weir 41 THE CHASM Buachaille Etive Mòr Ken Crocket 42 LONG CRACK,ARCHER RIDGE,CRYPT ROUTE Aonach Dubh/B.nam Bian John Mackenzie 43 CLACHAIG GULLY Glen Coe Allan Austin 44 ARDVERIKIE WALL Binnein Shuas Bill Skidmore 45 SAVAGE SLIT Coire an Lochain Doug Lang 46 THE CLEAN SWEEP Hell’s Lum Crag Allen Fyffe 47 THE TALISMAN Creagan a’Choire Etchachan Brian Lawrie 48 SQUAREFACE Garbh Choire, Beinn a’Bhuird Martin Burrows Smith 49 MITRE RIDGE (CUMMING/CROFTON ROUTE) Garbh Choire, Beinn a’Bhuird Robin Campbell 50 EAGLE RIDGE Lochnagar Bill Brooker 51 THE CIOCH NOSE Applecross Donald Bennet 52 CIOCH DIRECT, ARROW ROUTE, INTEGRITY Sron na Ciche, Isle of Skye Paul Brian 53 THE BLACK CUILLIN RIDGE Isle of Skye Ted Maden 54 TOWER RIDGE Ben Nevis Robin Campbell 55 THE LONG CLIMB Ben Nevis Malcolm Slesser Other Good Climbs Map Guidebooks/Maps Grading Comparisons Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisLure of the Mountains is the first published biography of accomplished photographer, ornithologist, teacher and 1924 Everest expedition member Bentley Beetham (1886 - 1963). Written by the late Michael D. Lowes, a pupil of Beetham's at Barnard Castle School in County Durham, and with a foreword by Graham Ratcliffe MBE, the first Briton to have summited Everest from both the North and South sides, and also a pupil of Barnard Castle School, Lure of the Mountains charts Beetham's life from childhood in Darlington, to rock climbing in the Lake District and selection by the Mount Everest Committee as a member of the infamous and ill-fated 1924 Everest Expedition on which George Mallory and Sandy Irvine disappeared high on the mountain. Many of Beetham's images, including those made on the 1924 expedition, were for over 25 years curated by Michael Lowes and are reproduced in this book with the kind permission of the Bentley Beetham Trust and Durham University. His images of Tibet are 'an important historical record of Tibetan culture and a way of life that in modern times has rapidly begun to disappear'. Beetham was a highly skilled rock climber and a pioneer of new routes in the Borrowdale Valley, where he established such notable climbs as Little Chamonix on Shepherd's Crag, and Corvus on Raven Crag. The author, like many other pupils Beetham inspired, was introduced to climbing by his teacher in the Lake District on club trips, and over the years he became a valuable source of information and expert on Beetham's life and work.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Wetterhorn in 1854 to the Matterhorn in 1865 – from triumph to tragedy – the Alps were conquered in a decade. It was what Reverend W.A.B. Coolidge called the ‘golden age of alpinism,’ the era of the first great guides (Christian Almer, Melchoir Anderegg, Michel Croz) and gentlemen climbers (Leslie Stephen, John Tyndall, Edward Whymper).Almost all European Alpine clubs were founded during this period, crowned by the successful ascents of the Aiguille Verte, the Matterhorn, and the Brenva face of Mont Blanc. Summits were no longer scaled in the name of science, but for the beauty and difficulty of ascents that embodied the pleasure of the ‘noble sport’ of mountaineering, as invented during this golden decade.1865: the Golden Age of Mountaineering, by Gilles Modica, documents this great time in the history of alpinism. Illustrated with 350 photographs and illustrations and lavishly produced, it is co-published in English and French by Vertebrate Publishing and Éditions Paulsen.Table of ContentsIntroduction: 1865, the Golden Age of Mountaineering; Chapter 1: Early Ascents (1744-1854); Chapter 2: James David Forbes and Albert Smith; Chapter 3: The Wetterhorn - 17 September 1854; Chapter 4: Chamonix Guides - Auguste Balmat and Francois Devouassoud; Chapter 5: Chamois Hunters; Chapter 6: One Guide or Another - La Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix; Chapter 7: Charles Hudson - or Mont Blanc without Guides; Chapter 8: The Alpine Club; Chapter 9: John Ball and John Ruskin; Chapter 10: Johann Josef Bennen - First Attempts on the Matterhorn; Chapter 11: Conquering the Weisshorn; Chapter 12: The Race to the Matterhorn - John Tyndall and Edward Whymper; Chapter 13: John Tyndall (1820-1893); Chapter 14: Shaggy Natives, Gentlemen Travellers - Nutrition and Health; Chapter 15: Shaggy Natives, Gentlemen Travellers - Early Equipment and Techniques; Chapter 16: Leslie Stephen - The Schreckhorn; Chapter 17: Francis Fox Tuckett - At the Height of the Golden Age; Chapter 18: A.W. Moore - Keeping up the Pace, 20 June - 27 July 1864; Chapter 19: The Year 1865; Chapter 20: Edward Whymper - A Keen 'Wanter'; Chapter 21: The Matterhorn - Mr Whymper's White Trousers; Chapter 22: The Matterhorn - Taugwalder's Rope; Chapter 23: The Brenva Spur; Appendices: Major Alpine Firsts; Bibliography; Picture Credits; The Author; Acknowledgements; Viatimages and Viaticalpes.

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Book SynopsisAndy Pollitt is as close to a Hollywood A-lister as the climbing world will ever get. He had the looks, and he starred in all the big roles in the 1980s and 1990s - Tremadog, Pen Trwyn, the big Gogarth climbs, Raven Tor and the cult Australian adventures. Alongside co-stars like Jerry Moffatt, John Redhead and Malcolm 'HB' Matheson, he brought us sexy climbing - gone were the beards, the woolly socks and the fibre pile. Andy was all skin-tight pink Lycra, vests and brooding looks. For those watching, Andy Pollitt had it all. But Punk in the Gym gives us the whole truth. The self-doubt, the depression, the drinking, the fags, the womanising, the injuries, the loss of a father and the trouble that brings, and a need for something - for recognition, a release for the pain, and, for Andy, more drinking, more tears, bigger run-outs.With nothing held back, Andy tells his roller-coaster story from the UK to Australia, exactly as it happened. Exposing his fragile ego and leaving us to laugh, cry, marvel and judge, this is a sports autobiography like no other. The legendary routes are all here - The Bells, The Bells!, Skinhead Moonstomp, The Hollow Man, Boot Boys, The Whore of Babylon and Knockin' on Heaven's Door. And the route that broke him and robbed the climbing world of its Hollywood star - Punks in the Gym.

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Book SynopsisNorth Wales Trail Running is a comprehensive guide to off-road running across North Wales, including Snowdonia, Anglesey and into the Llŷn Peninsula and the Clwyds. With 20 runs from 4km to 20.4km in length, this book is suitable for runners of all abilities.North Wales has some of the most diverse terrain in the UK, from rocky outcrops and large cwms to steep-sided valleys and magical llyns. It is a Mecca for the adventurous runner, and home to the 104km Paddy Buckley Round. In this book, author Steve Franklin has collected together many of his favourite runs, from low-lying loops around idyllic llyns and reservoirs, to serious hands-on-knees fell runs on some of Snowdonia’s biggest mountains. Summit Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Conwy Mountain, and discover quieter corners of the country around Cnicht, the Northern Carneddau and the Crafnant valley.Each route features clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, details of distance and timings, and refreshment stops and local knowledge.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout The routesMapsDescriptions, distances & ascentTerrainRecommended equipmentFootwearClothingFuel & HydrationSafetyMountain RescueMountain Rescue by SMS textThe Countryside CodeNorth Wales Trail Running area map1 Llyn Idwal Loop2 Moel Famau3 Conwy Mountain4 Holyhead Mountain5 Llyn Padarn Loop6 Snowdon: Llyn Llydaw7 Beddgelert Forest, Moel Lefn & Moel Yr Ogof8 Tour of Yr Eifl9 Cadair Idris10 Moelwyn Bach & Moelwyn Mawr11 Eastern Carneddau: Llyn Dulyn12 Croesor & Cnicht13 Llyn Dinas14 Alwen Reservoir15 Moel Eilio16 Y Foel Goch & Cwm Tryfan17 Snowdon: Rhyd Ddu & The Ranger Path18 Newborough Forest & Beach19 Llyn Crafnant & Cowlyd Reservoir20 Northern CarneddauBonus Section Coed Y BreninAppendix

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Book Synopsis‘The idea of owning anything except the experience is hubris.’Unknown Pleasures is a collection of works by the climber and award-winning author Andy Kirkpatrick.Obsessed with climbing and addicted to writing, Kirkpatrick is a master storyteller. Covering subjects as diverse as climbing, relationships, fatherhood, mental health and the media, it is easy to read, sometimes difficult to digest, and impossible to forget.One moment he is attempting a rare solo ascent of Norway’s Troll Wall, the next he is surrounded by the TV circus while climbing Moonlight Buttress with the BBC’s The One Show presenter Alex Jones. Yosemite’s El Capitan is ever-present; he climbs it alone – strung out for weeks, and he climbs it with his thirteen-year-old daughter Ella – her first big wall.His eye for observation and skilled wordcraft make for laugh-out-loud funny moments, while in more hard-hitting pieces he is unflinchingly honest about past and present love and relationships, and pulls no punches with an alternative perspective of our place in the world. Unknown Pleasures is Andy Kirkpatrick at his brilliant best.Trade Review'A wonderful book, I raise a glass to you.' – Stevie Haston'Eminently readable, perfectly written, thought provoking, challenging and very current. Read every page, think about them, agree or disagree, but don’t miss out on these superbly expressed cogent tales. This book deserves to be read widely and not just by those who know Andy Kirkpatrick is “a bit of a climber”!' – John Hall, Professional Mountaineer magazine'I have no doubt that some will find this book controversial, demanding and challenging. But I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend others to do the same. It is well produced, and is a case bound book that meets the high standards Vertebrate have set for this type of production.' – Dennis Gray, Footless Crow'Kirkpatrick is at his strongest (which is very strong indeed) in the climbing pieces. It is climbing that gives him the lens through which he can most clearly see what it means to be alive.' – Ian Crofton, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal

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Book SynopsisChallenge and train your hands, feet, body and brain with over 120 climbing games. This book is for anyone wanting to have fun climbing while developing crucial skills. The games described can be used in a wide range of activities from working on specific skills to fun warm-ups. As an aid to a climbing session or as the sole activity, climbing movements can be broken down and practised in a safe but challenging environment.The book takes an introductory look at which specific aspects of climbing and methods of coaching are important - together with some aspects of sports science, this give the text a dual purpose as a coaching manual and as an encyclopaedia of games.Many of these games are particularly suited to those that are new to climbing and wish to improve their skills. If you're new to climbing, you'll find games which introduce some essential skills (such as 'crimping' a hold). Equally, old hands may welcome new games as an aid to helping friends progress or as an addition to a weekly climbing session.As a qualified instructor or an informal coach teaching friends or a parent teaching their children, this book provides an invaluable tool for hours of practical training or even just entertainment for rainy afternoons! The easy to use format allows those coaching or even the client themselves to select their own games based on current needs and desires. The overview of skills employed in each game will help you turn play into progress.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements1. IntroductionHow to use this bookEquipmentSafety issues2. The fundamental skillsBalanceBody awarenessConnection points3. Warm-up games4. Traversing games5. Balance games6. Body awareness games7. Footwork games8. Other un-roped games9. Encouragement/fun games10. Roped games and activitiesIndexFurther reading

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Book SynopsisIn January 1959, ten experienced young skiers set out for Mount Otorten in the far north of Russia. While one of the skiers fell ill and returned., the remaining nine lost their way and ended up on another mountain slope known as Kholat Syakhl (or ‘Mountain of the Dead’).

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Book SynopsisEdmund Hillary – A Biography is the story of the New Zealand beekeeper who climbed Mount Everest. A man who against expedition orders drove his tractor to the South Pole; a man honoured around the world for his pioneering climbs yet who collapsed on more than one occasion on a mountain, and a man who gave so much to Nepal yet lost his family to its mountains. The author, Michael Gill, was a close friend of Hillary’s for nearly 50 years, accompanying him on many expeditions and becoming heavily involved in Hillary’s aid work building schools and hospitals in the Himalaya. During the writing of this book, Gill was granted access to a large archive of private papers and photos that were deposited in the Auckland museum after Hillary’s death in 2008. Building on this unpublished material, as well as his extensive personal experience, Michael Gill profiles a man whose life was shaped by both triumph and tragedy. Gill describes the uncertainties of the first 33 years of Hillary’s life, during which time he served in the New Zealand air force during the Second World War, as well as the background to the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, when Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit – a feat that brought the pair instant worldwide fame. He reveals the loving relationship Hillary had with his wife Louise, in part through their touching letters to each other. Her importance to him during their 22 years of marriage only underlines the horror of her death, along with that of their youngest daughter, Belinda, in a plane crash in 1975. Hillary eventually pulled out of his subsequent depression to continue his life’s work in the Himalaya. Affectionate, but scrupulously fair, in Edmund Hillary – A Biography Michael Gill has gone further than anyone before to reveal the humanity of this remarkable man.Trade Review‘A fascinating piece of work.’ – Mick Conefrey, Alpine Journal * Alpine Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 A pioneering heritage 2 Percy goes to Gallipoli 3 Growing up in Tuakau and Auckland 4 ‘The most uncertain and miserable years of my life’ 5 Escape into the Air Force 6 Harry Ayres teaches Ed the craft of mountaineering 7 The New Zealand Garhwal expedition and the Shipton cable 8 Everest Reconnaissance 1951 9 Everest from Tibet, 1921 and 1922 10 Mallory and Irvine, 1924 11 The 1930s, a decade of disillusion 12 Lessons on Cho Oyu, 1952 13 The Swiss get close, 1952 14 Organising Everest, 1953 15 ‘We were on top of Everest!’ 16 ‘The most sensible action I’ve ever taken’ 17 ‘A somewhat disastrous journey’ into the Barun Valley 18 Employment opportunity in the Antarctic 19 Scott Base 20 ‘Hellbent for the Pole’ 21 Beekeeper in search of a better-paying occupation 22 The Silver Hut expedition 23 Makalu unravels 24 Three new careers 25 Repaying a debt 26 The best decade of Ed’s life 27 A plane crash ends two lives and blights another 28 Killing time making films 29 Ocean to Sky, the last big expedition 30 Reconciliation 31 The last two decades Epilogue Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSixth edition of this classic trekking guide to the Everest region of Nepal's Himalaya. Ranging from lush terraced fields to the highest mountain on earth, the scenery is breathtaking. There are trekking possibilities to suit all budgets - from independent trekkers on a shoestring staying in simple lodges with Sherpa families to travellers on guided treks with every luxury provided. This practical guide includes detailed route maps covering not only the classic treks but also the wild routes: *Everest expedition route *Rolwaling *Trekking from Lukla *Salpa-Arun *The Gokyo trek *High passes *Trekking peaks - including Mera and Island Peak Getting to Nepal l Kathmandu - trek preparations and what to see Where to stay and eat l Health and safety Employing a guide or porter in NepalTrade ReviewThe pick of the guides to the area -- Adventure Travel Magazine (UK); "Highly recommended." - Wisconsin Bookwatch, USA, August 2018; 'A wealth of information', Backpack, Backpackers Club, Winter, 2018;

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Book SynopsisOne Man's Legacy chronicles the brief but brilliant life of Dr Tom Patey: bard, musician, and one of Scotland's foremost climbers and mountaineers. His story is one of pioneering ascents and boundless enthusiasm, and his spontaneity, carefree approach and ability to burn the candle at both ends remain legendary, several decades after his untimely death. Meticulously researched over several years, this definitive biography covers every aspect of Patey's life in rich detail. Youthful endeavours with the Scouts and early forays on the Aberdeen sea cliffs were the foundation for Patey's university years, where he established - often solo - many classic summer and winter lines in the Cairngorms, cementing his reputation as a tough, fearless mountaineer with exceptional endurance. A stalwart of 1950s bothy culture, his natural gifts as a musician and raconteur garnered him friends far and wide, and enabled him to transcend social and cultural boundaries with ease. Later, as a Royal Marine and then a highly respected GP, he maintained an insatiable appetite for exploring new terrain both in his native Scotland and further afield, in the Alps, Norway and the Karakoram. By drawing on Patey's essays and verses, published collectively in the celebrated One Man's Mountains, the narrative is imbued with dry wit and gentle satire, and brought to life by unseen images from renowned photographer John Cleare and the Patey family archive. Supported by a foreword from Mick Fowler and first-hand insights from some of the leading climbers of the last century, including Sir Chris Bonington, Joe Brown and Paul Nunn, One Man's Legacy celebrates a complex, larger-than-life character who rightly deserves his place in mountaineering history.

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Book SynopsisFreedom Climbers is the multi award-winning book by Bernadette McDonald, now available in the UK and Ireland thanks to Vertebrate Publishing. Freedom Climbers tells the story of the extraordinary Polish adventurers who emerged from under the blanket of oppression following the Second World War to become the world's leading Himalayan climbers. Although they lived in a war-ravaged landscape, with seemingly no hope of creating a meaningful life, these curious, motivated and skilled mountaineers built their own free-market economy under the very noses of their Communist bosses and climbed their way to liberation. At a time when Polish citizens were locked behind the Iron Curtain, these intrepid explorers found a way to travel the world in search of extreme adventure - to Alaska, South America and Europe, but mostly to the highest and most inspiring mountains of the world. To this end, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nepal became their second homes as they evolved into the toughest Himalayan climbers the world has ever known. In her most engaging book to date, renowned and award-winning author Bernadette McDonald weaves a passionate and literary tale of adventure, politics, suffering, death and - ultimately - inspiration.Trade ReviewOne of the most important mountaineering books to be written for many years. – Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain LiteratureClimbers everywhere have much to l learn from this bold, tragic, ultimately magnificent story. – Grand Prize Winner, Banff Mountain Book FestivalA brilliantly crafted tale of mountain and political adventure that reveals a golden era in Himalayan climbing that was as glorious as it was tragic. – Sir Chris BoningtonThis important volume documents a defining chapter of Himalayan climbing history. – Reinhold MessnerPainstakingly researched and well crafted, this remarkable book acknowledges the significance of Polish mountaineers during the golden age of Himalayan exploration. Fascinating. – Andy Cave, author of Learning to BreatheMcDonald deserves special praise for bringing to light the stories of these remarkable men and women, and doing so in a manner that does honour to their memory. – Wade Davis, author of Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of EverestA gripping read, bound to become a classic of mountain literature. – Maria Coffey, author of Explorers of the InfiniteTakes the reader from deep within Communist-controlled Poland and into the lonely, dramatic landscapes of the world's most formidable mountain ranges. – Jim Curran, author of High Achiever: The Life and Climbs of Chris BoningtonFreedom Climbers is a very enlightening and captivating look at the Polish climbing superstars. – Ed Viesturs, author of No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

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Book SynopsisMountaineering in the Swiss Alps presents a selection of classic routes in the main Swiss climbing areas that have forged Switzerland's reputation as a mountaineering paradise. Featured are over thirty climbs, ranging from relatively easy normal routes to more challenging itineraries. All are within the capabilities of most mountaineers and provide an excellent introduction to the wide variety of climbing that Switzerland has to offer.Every route, whether it is a pure rock climb, a mixed ridge, a big north face or a long traverse, was chosen for the beauty of the surroundings and the quality of the climbing. Some are on world famous peaks that every mountaineer aspires to climb, such as the Matterhorn (Mont Cervin), the Breithorn and the Monch; others are on lesser-known summits and will delight those who like getting away from the beaten track. Written by mountaineer and author Stephane Maire, each route features technical notes, a route description and topo, and photos illustrating the climb's unique character.Table of ContentsIntroduction & practical informationGlossary: English–French–German–Italian 1 Grand Muveran: Saille Ridge2 Gastlosen: South-west–North-east Traverse of the Marchzähne3 Petit Combin: North Face4 Aiguilles Rouges d’Arolla: North–South Traverse5 Matterhorn: Lion Ridge and Hörnli Ridge6 Besso & Blanc de Moming: South-west Ridge and Traverse7 Ober Gabelhorn: North Face8 Zinalrothorn: Rothorngrat and North Ridge9 Breithorn: East–West Traverse10 Liskamm: West–East Traverse11 Lenzspitze & Nadelhorn: North-east Face and Traverse12 Jegigrat: South-east Spur of the Grand Gendarme and North-east–South-west Traverse13 Weissmies: North Ridge14 Blüemlisalphorn & Morgenhorn: North Face and Traverse of the Ridge15 Bietschhorn: East Spur16 Stockhorn: South Ridge17 Mönch: Nollen18 Schreckhorn: South Pillar19 Klein & Gross Simelistock: North–South Traverse20 Gross Diamantstock: East Ridge21 Gross Bielenhorn: South-east Ridge22 Schijenstock: South Ridge23 Salbitschijen: South Ridge24 Poncione di Cassina Baggio: South Ridge25 Pizzo del Prévat: North-east Ridge and North-east Pillar26 Piz Cavardiras: South Ridge27 Piz Balzet: South Ridge28 Punta da l’Albigna: Meuli Route29 Piz Kesch: North-east Ridge of the Keschnadel and Keschgrat30 Piz Bernina: Biancograt

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Book SynopsisThis new edition with an expanded list of over 90 trad and sport crags describes almost 1300 routes offering the best of sport and trad climbing, reflecting recent development in this beautiful area.

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Book SynopsisSelected Climbs: Mont Blanc & the Aiguilles Rouges presents the best rock climbs in the Mont Blanc range and on the Aiguilles Rouges, from F4 to F6a+. The selection is based on purely hedonistic criteria, including the beauty of the cliff, the variety of the climbing and the quality of the rock.The emphasis is on enjoyable climbs with easy access and descents. The routes cover a variety of rock types, climbing styles and protection (natural and fixed). All the routes are of moderate difficulty and can be done comfortably in a day without the need to carry heavy or bulky gear.Written by local climbers Jean-Louis Laroche and Florence Lelong, this selection of sixty climbs on forty summits in seventeen areas around the Chamonix valley features established classics and recent additions. Included are Marchand de Sable on the Tour Rouge, the Rebuffat Route on the Aiguille du Midi, and the Frison-Roche route of the south-east face of the Brevent, plus many more. Each route features technical notes, a detailed topo and route description, and photos illustrating the climb's unique character.Table of ContentsIntroduction & practical informationAiguille d'Orny: South-West FaceAiguille de la Cabane: Bon AccueilAiguille Purtscheller: South RidgePlateau du Jardin: Central CornerAiguille du Refuge: Le Gateau de RizAiguille du Genepi: Genepi Ridge, Mort de RirePointe de Bayere: Ravanel RouteLower slabs of the Envers: 20,000 Lieues Sous la Neige, Georges, Pilier des RhododindonsTours de Blaitiere: Magie d'Orient, L'Opium du PeuplePointe des Nantillons: Amazonia, Bienvenue au Georges VTour Rouge: Le Marchand de SableRed Pillar of the Blaitiere: Nabot LeonAiguille du Peigne: Les Lepidopteres & the Normal Route, Papillons RidgeAiguille du Midi: Rebuffat RoutePyramide du Tacul: East RidgePointe Adolphe Rey: Salluard RouteLe Roi de Siam: Le Lifting du RoiTour Ronde: Bernezat SpurAiguille d'Entreves: Traverse, Salluard Route, Reves d'EntrevesDent du Geant: Normal RouteParete dei Titani: Genepi - Monts Rouges du Triolet: Cris-talMonts Rouges du Triolet (Central Summit): La BeresinaMonts Rouges du Triolet (Second Central Summit): Profumo ProibitoBrevent: Poeme a Lou, Frison-Roche RouteLower Buttress of the Brevent: La Somone, CrakoukassClocher de Planpraz: Cocher-CochonAiguille de l'Index: L'An d'Emile, Perroux Route, South-East RidgeLower Buttress of the Gliere: Mani Puliti, Nez RougeAiguille du Pouce: Voie des DallesPetite Floria: (Manhattan) KaboulAiguille de la Floria: Manhattan (Kaboul), Asia, Fraises des BoatchsPointe Gaspard: Lady in Black, Gaspard 1erAiguilles Crochues: Ravanel Route (South Ridge)Tour des Crochues: Les Violons Tziganes, De Galbert RouteAiguille de Praz Torrent: Parat-Seigneur RouteTete des Mesures: L'Ile aux RazmoketsMont Oreb: L'Ete IndienGrand Perron: La Ballade des Gens HeureuxBarberine: Sylvie PhobieHuts, lifts and information

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize. Ron Fawcett is a natural-born climber. In 1969, while still at school in his native Yorkshire, he tied into a climbing rope for the first time and was instantly hooked. From that moment on, it seemed nothing else in his life mattered nearly as much as his next vertical fix. Ten years later, Fawcett was the most famous rock climber in Britain and among the best in the world, part of a new wave whose dedication to training transformed the sport, pushing standards further and faster than ever before - or since. His legacy of new climbs ranks him alongside the very best in the history of the sport. He was also the first to style himself a professional rock climber, starring in the landmark television documentary "Rock Athlete", and appearing on the covers of magazines around the world. But far from enjoying the fame, Fawcett found the pressures of the limelight too much to bear, and at the end of the 1980s he faded from view. Now, for the first time, he tells his extraordinary story, of how his love of nature and the outdoors developed into a passion for climbing that took him to the top - and almost consumed him. This title won the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize and was shortlisted for the 2010 Banff Mountain Book Competition. It comes from the publisher of "Jerry Moffatt - Revelations", winner of the Grand Prize at the 2009 Banff Mountain Book Festival. It is written by the leading journalist Ed Douglas. British rock climbing's folk hero Ron Fawcett tells his story for the first time.Trade Review"'A frank and engaging portrait of an unassuming yet remarkable climber; an inspirational subject and a story shot through with honesty and integrity.' Boardman Tasker Prize Winner. 'Muted in tone, the book is a rich pleasure: utterly real and worthy.' Rock & Ice Magazine. 'I don't like this book, I love it. I read it twice in a day, and was still reading bits of it out aloud to myself that night.' Stevie Haston, UKClimbing.com. 'A fitting celebration of a climbing life well spent, of a decent ordinary man who just happened to be an extraordinary climber.' Climber Magazine. 'This book is essential reading; Ron is a connection to the recent past that's so close in time but so distant in terms of climbing culture, attitudes, practices and ethics. He's a living embodiment of the idea that climbing is the best training for climbing.' Climb Magazine."

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Book SynopsisA guidebook to 35 day walks exploring the valleys and landmarks of the Dark Park area of the Peak District National Park, and 5 longer routes exploring the region’s more wild and remote gritstone edges and open moorland. With a variety of distances, terrain and strenuousness there are routes for all levels of ability. The day walks are circular and range from 7 to 22km (4–14 miles), and can be enjoyed in between 3 and 7 hours. The longer routes – 3 linear and 2 circular – are between 25 and 45km (15–28 miles) in length, and take from 8 to 13 hours to complete. 1:50,000 OS maps included for each day walk, and 1:100,000 maps for longer routes GPX files available to download Refreshment and public transport options are given where relevant Information given on local geology and wildlife Easy access from Hathersage, Castleton, Glossop, Sheffield Table of ContentsMap keys Overview map Introduction Geology Plants and wildlife History The future Local services and transport The walks Responsible walking Maps and navigation Using this guide Eastern Dark Peak Walk 1 Chatsworth to Birchen Edge Walk 2 Longshaw Estate and the gritstone edges Walk 3 Fox House to Big Moor Walk 4 Fox House to Stanedge Pole Walk 5 Grindleford to Higger Tor Central Dark Peak Walk 6 Hathersage to Stanage Edge Walk 7 Wyming Brook to Stanage Edge Walk 8 Bamford Moor Walk 9 Win Hill to Hope Cross Walk 10 Kings Tree to Shepherds Meeting Stones Walk 11 Westend and Bleaklow Stones Walk 12 Derwent Edge Walk 13 Alport Castles and the Woodlands Valley Walk 14 Margery Hill to Back Tor Walk 15 Low Bradfield and Dale Dyke Walk 16 Langsett to Howden Edge Walk 17 Langsett to Pike Lowe Walk 18 Torside to Bleaklow Head Walk 19 Wildboar Clough to Lawrence Edge Walk 20 Old Glossop to Bleaklow Head Walk 21 Kinder Scout Northern Edge Walk 22 Kinder Scout Western Edge Walk 23 Kinder Scout Walk 24 Kinder Scout Southern Edge Walk 25 The Great Ridge Northern Dark Peak Walk 26 Dunford Bridge to Ramsden Clough Walk 27 Crowden Horseshoe Walk 28 Crowden to Chew Valley Walk 29 Marsden to Black Hill Walk 30 Alphin Pike to Birchen Clough Walk 31 Binn Green to Great Dove Stone Rock Walk 32 Cotton Famine Road Western Dark Peak Walk 33 Goyt Valley to Shining Tor Walk 34 Derbyshire Bridge to Shutlingsloe Walk 35 The Roaches Long day walks Walk 36 Marsden to Edale Walk 37 Langsett to Edale Walk 38 Gritstone edges Walk 39 Edale Horseshoe Walk 40 Kinder Scout skyline Appendix A Route summary table Appendix B Useful information Appendix C Aircraft crash site locations

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the "Rockfax France" series covers the extensive and fertile climbing area west of the author's previous guide to Haute Provence. The areas covered largely surround the beautiful Parc National des Cevennes, but also includes crags that are close to the cities of Nimes and Avignon. Some areas have been climbed on for generations; others are still very much in development, all will leave you hungry for more. Starting in the family-friendly summer holiday destination of the Ardeche, the guide promises a tour of the very best crags in the region. The next stop is in the Gorge du Tarn, a highly acclaimed recent addition to France's portfolio of perfect crags, here you can choose from the never-ending stamina tests in the Tarn, the occasionally traditionally protected multi-pitch adventures of the Jonte, and the various high-quality offerings of Le Boffi. Moving south, we cover Thaurac, for its collection of fine lower grade single and multi-pitch climbs, then pause for some fine 'old school' adventure at Hortus. Moving back east, it's not far before we can pay our respects to Claret, Russan, and Seynes, each with its individual style, breath-taking quality, and lifetime supply of routes. Finally we end our tour at the well-developed crags surrounding Avignon, including the legendary Orgon which covers the range of difficulty from grade 4 to 9. Presented in the universally-praised Rockfax style, the book gives the reader with clear landscape photos of each crag, never-before-seen close-up photo-topos, and a wealth of action photos taken specifically for the book. Whether you're planning your trip from home, or choosing your next route at the crag, this guide has everything you're looking for.

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Book SynopsisKangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world and a notoriously difficult and dangerous mountain to climb. First climbed from the west in 1955 by a British team comprising Joe Brown, George Band, Tony Streather and Norman Hardie, it waited over twenty years for a second ascent. The third ascent, from the north, was made in 1979 by a four-man team including the visionary British alpinist Doug Scott.Completed before his death in 2020, and edited by Catherine Moorehead, Kangchenjunga is Doug Scott’s final book. Scott explores the mountain and its varied people – the mountain sits on the border between Nepal and Sikkim in north-east India – before going on to look at Western approaches and early climbing attempts on the mountain. Kangchenjunga was in fact long believed to be the highest mountain in the world, until in the nineteenth century it was demonstrated that Peak XV – Everest – was taller. Out of respect for the beliefs of the Sikkimese, no climber has ever set foot on the very top of Kangchenjunga, the sacred summit. Scott’s own relationship with the mountain began in 1978, three years after his first British ascent of Everest with Dougal Haston. The assembled team featured some of the greatest mountaineers in history: Scott, Joe Tasker, Peter Boardman and Georges Bettembourg. The plan was for a stripped-down expedition the following spring – minimal Sherpa support, no radios, largely self-financed. It was the first time a mountain of this scale had been attempted by a new and difficult route without the use of oxygen, and with such a small team. Scott, Tasker and Boardman summited on 16 May 1979, further consolidating their legends in this golden era. Kangchenjunga is Doug Scott’s tribute to this sacred mountain, a paean for a Himalayan giant, written by a giant of Himalayan climbing.

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Book SynopsisWritten by world renowned rock climbers and veteran Falcon authors John Long and Bob Gaines, this slim volume will be the go-to resource for the necessities of rock climbing safety. By getting back to basics, it will be a great resource for both beginners and experienced climbers looking to brush up on their skills.

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Book SynopsisChris Bonington Mountaineer is a photographic autobiography, documenting over sixty years of climbing the world’s most beautiful and challenging mountains. Few climbers can match Bonington’s climbing achievements. He is one of the most accomplished and respected climbers in the world.In this 2016 revised edition, which features over 500 photographs, we are given a frank perspective into the surreal, majestic and occasionally tragic corners of his incredible mountaineering career. Whether in the Arctic, the jungle or on an 8,000-metre peak, Bonington’s stunning photography and engaging conversational prose take us through the detail of daily life on expedition, the action of the climbing and the grandeur of the mountains.From his foundations – climbing in Snowdonia, the English Lake District, and the Highlands of Scotland – Bonington takes us to the Alps and on his expedition apprenticeship in 1960s Nepal. This quickly leads to trips to Patagonia, the Karakoram, the Amazon, Baffin Island and the River Nile, before the meat of his career on the big walls and 8,000-metre peaks of the Himalaya – with his leadership of the expeditions that made the first ascents of the south face of Annapurna in 1970 and the south-west face of Everest in 1975, and culminating in his own ascent of Everest in 1985. The greatest challenge and survival story of all is his first ascent and epic descent of The Ogre in Pakistan with Doug Scott. Bonington’s undying hunger for adventure leads to later exploratory trips to Greenland, India and Morocco, and a return to the scene of one of his defining first ascents, the Old Man of Hoy, with world-class adventure climber Leo Houlding.The result is a penetrating insight into the motivations and fears of a driven climber who set out year after year from a life of comfort and success to test himself amongst the world’s most savage mountains. Chris Bonington Mountaineer is a must for anyone with a passion for exploration, mountains or climbing.Trade Review'A gem, both in terms of climbing history and pure scenic mountain photographic art.' (review of the first edition by The New York Times).Table of ContentsForeword by Leo HouldingIntroduction to the 1989 first edition by Ken Wilson1 Foundations2 The Alpine Experience3 Expedition Apprenticeship4 Adventure Journalist5 Himalayan Big Walls6 Small Teams, Fine Peaks7 K2: End of an Era8 Climbs from China9 Snatched Opportunities10 Everest: A Fulfilment11 Adventures in Greenland12 Tibet's Secret Mountain13 Joint Expeditions in India14 Treks and Family Climbs15 Young Men of HoyClimbing RecordAcknowledgements

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Book SynopsisSuitable for anyone interested in bouldering whether a complete beginner looking to learn the basics, an indoor climber keen to start bouldering outdoors or an experienced boulderer who wants to explore more advanced topics, this book includes chapters on: The Basics; Equipment; Staying Safe; Movement; Dynamics; Indoors; and Destinations.

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Book Synopsis‘Mountains have given structure to my adult life. I suppose they have also given me purpose, though I still can’t guess what that purpose might be. And although I have glimpsed the view from the mountaintop and I still have some memory of what direction life is meant to be going in, I usually lose sight of the wood for the trees. In other words, I, like most of us, have lived a life of structured chaos.’Structured Chaos is Victor Saunders’ award-winning follow-up to Elusive Summits (winner of the Boardman Tasker Prize in 1990), No Place to Fall and Himalaya: The Tribulations of Vic & Mick. He reflects on his early childhood in Malaya and his first experiences of climbing as a student, and describes his progression from scaling canal-side walls in Camden to expeditions in the Himalaya and Karakoram. Following climbs on K2 and Nanga Parbat, he leaves his career as an architect and moves to Chamonix to become a mountain guide. He later makes the first ascent of Chamshen in the Saser Kangri massif, and reunites with old friend Mick Fowler to climb the north face of Sersank.This is not just a tale of mountaineering triumphs, but also an account of rescues, tragedies and failures. Telling his story with humour and warmth, Saunders spans the decades from youthful awkwardness to concerns about age-related forgetfulness, ranging from ‘Where did I put my keys?’ to ‘Is this the right mountain?’Structured Chaos is a testament to the value of friendship and the things that really matter in life: being in the right place at the right time with the right people, and making the most of the view.Trade Review'In his unique, conversational style, Victor Saunders has taken us on a wonderful journey; sometimes heart-breaking, often hilarious. His observations are surgically precise, his evocative descriptions are skilfully penned and his personal reflections are unstintingly honest. From his early awkward years to his many impressive climbs in the Great Ranges, what stands out above all in Structured Chaos is the value he places on friendship.' – Bernadette McDonald, 2021 Book Competition Jury‘Victor is a fine writer, with a vivid authenticity to the narrative of his mountaineering adventures.’ – GRAHAM LITTLE, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal‘Saunders is a remarkable man who has survived all his life’s mishaps to write his autobiography.’ – STEPHEN A. CRAVEN, The Himalayan Journal‘Whether you are a seasoned alpinist or just starting out, this book sparks the imagination and leaves you psyched to go out there and find your own adventure!’ – GARETH JONES, The Professional Mountaineer

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS''The best Everest book I''ve read since Into Thin Air. Synnott''s climbing skills take you places few will ever dare to tread, but it''s his writing that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.'' - Mark AdamsVeteran climber Mark Synnott never planned on climbing Mount Everest. But a hundred-year mystery lured him into an expedition where a history of passionate adventure, chilling tragedy, and human aspiration unfolded.George Mallory and Sandy Irvine were last seen in 1924, eight hundred feet shy of Everest''s summit. A century later, we still don''t know whether they achieved their goal of being first to reach the top, decades before Hillary and Norgay in 1953. Irvine carried a camera with him to record their attempt, but it, along with his body, had never been found. Did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit and take a photograph before they fell to their deaths?Mark SynnotTrade ReviewThe Third Pole is an elegy of extremes, a white-knuckle tale of obsession and survival. From the archives of London's Royal Geographical Society to a tent battered by howling winds in the Death Zone, Mark Synnott puts it all on the line in his quest to solve Mount Everest's most enduring mystery. * Susan Casey, author of The Wave and Voices in the Ocean *A hundred-year-old detective story with a new twist. A high-altitude adventure. The best Everest book I've read since Into Thin Air. Synnott's climbing skills take you places few will ever dare to tread, but it's his writing that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime. * Mark Adams, author of Tip of the Iceberg and Turn Right at Machu Picchu *Join Mark Synnott on a quest for an artifact that could change Everest mountaineering history. Part detective story, part high adventure, Synnott engages obsessed historians, dodges Chinese bureaucrats, and ultimately risks his life high on the mountain's north face. As the tension rises, he discovers astounding strengths in his fellow climbers, tragic frailty, and an ineffable truth he never imagined. * Andy Hall, author of Denali’s Howl *Almost seventy years after my father, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, climbed the summit of Chomolungma with the British 1953 Expedition, Western narratives about Mount Everest continue to be haunted by the question whether it was Mallory and Irvine who had been the first to stand on the summit. Mark Synnott's The Third Pole pursues this mystery and brings us closer to closing this chapter of mountaineering history. I learned a lot from this book. -- Norbu Tenzing NorgayThe author and adventurer Mark Synnott skillfully describes early-twentieth-century exploration, then dives into a story about Everest that merges mystery, adventure, and history into a single tragic bundle. . . . Synnott knows how to keep readers turning the pages, and they will speed their way to his mystery's resolution. * The New York Times *Both a gripping adventure story and an engrossing historical mystery. -- Maggie Shipstead, author of Great CircleIf you're only going to read one Everest book this decade, make it The Third Pole. . . A riveting adventure. * Outside *Uncovers the dangerous obsession that tackling this behemoth holds today. * Newsweek *A hold-your-breath story that features the author's own hazardous journey and exploration of the motives behind climbers' obsession with reaching dangerous heights. * AARP *Captivates with mystery and adventure. * National Parks Traveler *The book is a fascinating tale and forces the reader to constantly ask themselves, What would I do? in each situation. * Fodor's *Mark Synnott's new book . . . is as rewarding as any Everest book can be, with history and geography wonderfully woven into the author's own climb, in 2019. * Air Mail *As in his previous book, the author's writing comes alive when he recounts life on the mountain. . . . This is a must-read for outdoor enthusiasts and readers of Everest and exploration history. * Library Journal, starred review *[A] hair-raising mountaineering story . . . A fine tale of adventure and exploration sure to please any fan of climbing and Everest lore. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *Synnott weaves back and forth between the early climbing pioneers' experiences and his 2019 expedition, harrowing in its own right. A gifted storyteller, he proves firsthand the irresistible lure and perilous dangers of climbing Mount Everest. * Booklist *

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