Climbing and mountaineering Books

Book SynopsisClimbers who court danger in the world''s highest places risk far more than just their own skins. When tragedy strikes, what happens to the people who love them? Why would anyone choose to invest in a future with a high-altitude climber? What is life like in the shadow of the mountain? Such questions have long been taboo within the international world of mountaineering. Now Maria Coffey breaks this silence. She recounts climbers'' stories of near-death experiences, and gives a voice to the families and loved ones of Chris Bonington, Ed Viesturs, Anatoli Boukreev and Alex Lowe, amongst many other famous names. Her riveting narrative weaves tales of adventure with first-person accounts of the people left behind, highlighting the conflicting beauty, passion and devastation of this alluring obsession.

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Book SynopsisIn 1992, an Indian climber was left to die on the South Col of Mount Everest by other climbers who watched his feebly waving hand from their tent. He was filmed in his last hours for a television feature. Why did onlookers not hold the dying man''s hand and comfort him? The answer appals Joe Simpson, who was himself left for dead in a cervasse in Peru in 1985 - ''because it might compromise their summit bid''. It is an ethical question that Joe is forced to confront as he climbs a hazardous route on Pumori. Now that Everest has become the playground of the rich, where commercial operators offer guided tours to the top, camping admist the detritus and unburied corpses of previous less fortunate climbers, Joe wonders if the noble instincts that once characterised mountaineering have been irrevocably displaced - as in politics, in business, in the media and in other facets of society.Trade ReviewSimpson writes better on the darker side of mountaineering than any man alive -- Paul Johnson * The Times *His concern is that the strong ethics and selfless instincts that have characterised mountaineering in the past are being eroded by modern-day ambition, selfishness and greed -- Audrey Salkeld * Sunday Times *Simpson is an elegant stylist and as usual his prose is laced with humour * Daily Telegraph *An astonishing first chapter describes thoughts and feeling of a mountaineer slowly dying on Everest, while other climbers relax in a tent a few feet away. They know he is dying but ignore his feeble wave. Simpson is horrified that such selfishness should gradually invade the mountaineering fantasy -- Brian Masters * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisExplore and experience nature with your kids with these 30 fun and educational family activities dedicated to spending more time outside. Less screen, more green! In the world of smartphones, tablets, and online learning, the need for children to engage with nature has never been more evident. Outdoor activities and projects inspire exploration, creativity, curiosity, learning, and a sense of wonder. Interacting with nature also fosters a healthy love and respect for the outdoors.The Family Guide to Outdoor Adventures features fun and engaging hands-on nature, camping, and bushcraft projects that get you and your children outside having more fun, strengthening your bond, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Written by expert survival instructor Creek Stewart, each project is designed to get parents and their kids outside and teach them about nature and the great outdoors. From casting animal tracks and dyeing t-shirts with walnuts to building a debris hut and catching minnows with a spider web your family with get your hands dirty, learn some cool nature facts, and complete some awesome projects with your family. Explore, create, laugh, love, and experience the great outdoors together with The Family Guide to Outdoor Adventures.Trade Review“Perfect for parents and caregivers.” —Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe captivating and heroic story of Hudson Stuck—an Episcopal priest—and his team's history-making summit of Denali.In 1913, four men made a months-long journey by dog sled to the base of the tallest mountain in North America. Several groups had already tried but failed to reach the top of a mountain whose size—occupying 120 square miles of the earth’s surface —and position as the Earth’s northernmost peak of more than 6,000 meters elevation make it one of the world’s deadliest mountains. Although its height from base to top is actually greater than Everest’s, it is Denali's weather, not altitude, that have caused the great majority of fatalities—over a hundred since 1903. Denali experiences weather more severe than the North Pole, with temperatures of forty below zero and winds that howl at 80 to 100 miles per hour for days at a stretch. But in 1913 none of this mattered to Hudson Stuck, a fifty-year old Episcopal priest, Harry Karstens, the hardened Alaskan wilderness guide, Walter Harper, part of the Koyukon people, and Robert Tatum, a divinity student, both just in their twenties. They were all determined to be the first to set foot on top of Denali. In A Window to Heaven, Patrick Dean brings to life this heart-pounding and spellbinding feat of this first ascent and paints a rich portrait of the frontier at the turn of the twentieth century. The story of Stuck and his team will lead us through the Texas frontier and Tennessee mountains to an encounter with Jack London at the peak of the Yukon Goldrush. We experience Stuck's awe at the rich Inuit and Athabascan indigenous traditions—and his efforts to help preserve these ways of life. Filled with daring exploration and rich history, A Window to Heaven is a brilliant and spellbinding narrative of success against the odds. Trade Review"In A Window to Heaven, Patrick Dean brings together the story of a humble Episcopal priest with the stupendous chronicle of the improbable first ascent of North America's tallest and most magnificent mountain. A book whose scope, themes, and drama are worthy of Denali itself." -- Kevin Fedarko, author of THE EMERALD MILE"No matter how many times the Denali story gets told, it never gets old. The trick, if one is to write about it, is to make it new. Outdoors writer Patrick Dean has done just that in A Window to Heaven, casting the climb in new light. The story reverberates today. And while Stuck is controversial among climbers and others, in Native communities throughout the state, he remains widely revered. Stuck provides a roadmap for religious leaders grappling with these questions.He presents Stuck as an imperfect but still commendable model for our own times. We should pay attention." -- David A. James * The Anchorage Daily News *"From the Texas frontier to North America’s tallest peak, this balanced biography of Hudson Stuck offers plenty of adventure, setbacks, and turmoil. It seeks a way to impact the world and will engage." * Library Journal *"A Window to Heaven is much more than a climbing epic—it’s equal parts Wild West gold rush extravaganza, sub-arctic exploration saga, and social justice crusade. Dean takes us along with the prickly muscular Christian missionary Hudson Stuck as he dogsleds thousands of miles through Alaska’s frozen wilderness, fighting to shield its native cultures from the greed, whisky, physical and sexual abuse, cultural imperialism, and environmental devastation riding in the vanguard of white 'civilization,' all while telling the astonishing account of Stuck’s triumphant first ascent of Denali." -- Gregory Crouch, author of The Bonanza King and Enduring Patagonia"Everyone should know about Hudson Stuck. This Englishman left for the Texas frontier in the 1880s, became a missionary in Alaska, traveled thousands of miles by dogsled, and made the first summit of Denali in 1913. He's a spectacular character who deserves to be better known today." -- Alastair Humphreys, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, author of My Midsummer Morning“A ‘missionary first and a mountain climber afterwards,’ Hudson Stuck, at age fifty, became the first to climb to the top of Mount McKinley (Denali) and glimpse ‘a window into heaven.’ His is a remarkable story – of faith and vision and determination – extraordinarily well told by Patrick Dean.” -- John McCardell, Vice-Chancellor and President Emeritus, Professor of History at The University of the South"A rich and sensitive portrait of a man, a mountain, and an era in Alaska’s history that we should know better. With grace and clarity Dean reveals Hudson Stuck as a missionary-explorer who was both fully of his time and able to recognize some of its deepest prejudices. Surrounded by the miners, gamblers, and Sourdoughs of the Last Frontier, Stuck rejected dominant cultures of consumption and extraction to become a rare advocate for Indigenous culture. In his careful exploration of Stuck’s life and his race to be the first to summit Denali, Dean offers a wonderful view onto the North at a time when its people, and its landscapes, should be more on our minds than ever." -- Neil Shea * National Geographic *

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Book SynopsisDoug Scott was a legend among mountaineers. His expeditions, undertaken over a period of five decades, are unparalleled achievements. This book describes the extraordinary drama of them all, from the Himalaya to New Zealand, Patagonia, Yosemite and Alaska. It includes his famous ‘epic’ on The Ogre, one of the hardest peaks in the world to climb, his ascent of Kangchenjunga without supplementary oxygen and his ascent, with Dougal Haston, of Everest in 1975. Catherine Moorehead also uncovers the elusive man behind the obsessive mountaineer. From his rumbustious youth in Nottingham through two tempestuous marriages to a secure third marriage, she shows how Scott matured in thought and action as his formidable global reputation increased. In doing so she reveals him to be a clash of opposites, an infuriating monomaniac who took extraordinary risks yet who developed a deep interest in Buddhism and inspired widespread affection. Scott spent almost as long as his climbing career in founding and developing Community Action Nepal, providing schools and health posts in remote parts of Nepal, where he is still much revered. Doug Scott died in 2020.Trade Review'Doug Scott was one of my closest friends. He had so many facets to his character – integrity, courage, great intelligence, and a strong sense of social responsibility, particularly in the way he devoted his later life to support the people of up-country Nepal. This book is a remarkable tribute to an extraordinary climber and a great humanitarian' -- Sir Chris Bonington'Doug Scott was one of the earliest and most successful proponents of Alpine-style ascents in the highest mountains on every continent. His ethical regard for the mountain environment was also well ahead of its time. This biography commemorates and explores the life of a visionary climber and a man of great humanity' -- Reinhold Messner'Reveals the extraordinary drama of [Scott's] life, both on and off the mountains' * Sunday Post *'reveals a multi-faceted man in a biography that will be of as much interest to those who love the mountains as those who prefer to study the human condition' * Scottish Field *

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Book SynopsisScrambling is a hands-on sport and without the stop-start of rock climbing, the joy of it can be appreciated more freely. Here, Alan Tees guides mountaineers to exhilarating scrambles in some of the most beautiful parts of the country. All abilities are catered for in these graded routes, from straightforward scrambles to serious routes where the ability to abseil is required. Each route is described concisely and simply so you can keep your head up to enjoy the stunning surroundings. Clear maps and photos showing the ascent line complement descriptions that include historical trivia and all the necessary information: grid references, time and equipment needed, height gain, OS map references, directions and what to expect as you climb. Visiting these invigorating places is an adventure in its own right, but reaching them by scrambling adds to the euphoria of experiencing a rarely visited place.Trade ReviewIf it's euphoria you're after ... try a few of these routes. -- Dan MacCarthy * Irish Examiner *It is perhaps the diversity of the locations described throughout the guide that makes this a unique publication and a great addition to any Irish hillgoer's library. * Irish Mountain Log *

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Book SynopsisA resource book covering the finest walks, treks and climbs in the High Pyrenees for 400km between France and Spain, from the Cirque de Lescun, on the edge of the Basque country in the west, to the Carlit massif and the Cerdagne to the east of Andorra. The book is divided into five regional chapters: the Western Valleys; Cirques and Canyons; the Central Pyrenees; Enchanted Mountains; and Andorra and the Eastern High Pyrenees. Intended as a resource book for those planning a range of mountain activities in the Pyrenees, the guide describes each area valley by valley, and provides information on access and accommodation, as well as recommended maps and guidebooks. Unlike a conventional walking book, detailed route descriptions are not included; the guide does, however, direct the reader to the finest walks, treks and climbs in the area and provide an outline of specially selected routes. An extensive introduction gives all the practical advice and information needed for planning a trip. It offers a background to the mountains and their exploration, and provides a snapshot of the range with sections that help the reader focus on specific areas of activity, and suggests where best to exercise that activity.Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1: The Western Valleys 1:1 Vall#xe9;e d'Aspe 1:2 The Cirque de Lescun 1:3 Upper Vall#xe9;e d'Aspe 1:4 Valle del Aragón (Valle de Canfranc) 1:5 Valle de Echo 1:6 Valle de Ansó 1:7 Vall#xe9;e d'Ossau 1:8 Vall#xe9;e du Valentin 1:9 The Upper Vall#xe9;e d'Ossau 1:10 Valle de Tena Access, Bases, Maps and Guides CHAPTER 2: Cirques and Canyons 2:1 Vall#xe9;e du Gave de Pau 2:2 Vall#xe9;e d'Estaing 2:3 Vall#xe9;e d'Arrens 2:4 Vall#xe9;e de Cauterets 2:5 Vall#xe9;e du Marcadau 2:6 Vall#xe9;e de Gaube 2:7 Vall#xe9;e de Lutour 2:8 Vall#xe9;e de Bastan 2:9 In and around the N#xe9;ouvielle reserve 2:10 Vall#xe9;e de H#xe9;as 2:11 Cirque de Gavarnie 2:12 Valle del Ara 2:13 Valle de Ordesa 2:14 Valle de Añisclo 2:15 Valle de Tella 2:16 Valle de Pineta 2:17 Valle de Barrosa Access, Bases, Maps and Guides CHAPTER 3: The Central Pyrenees 3:1 Vall#xe9;e d'Aure 3:2 Vall#xe9;e du Louron 3:3 Vall#xe9;e d'Oô 3:4 Vall#xe9;e de la Pique 3:5 Valle de Gistaín 3:6 Valle del Ésera 3:7 Valle de Eriste 3:8 Valle de Estós 3:9 Vallhiverna 3:10 Upper Ésera Access, Bases, Maps and Guides CHAPTER 4: Enchanted Mountains 4:1 Pays de Couserans 4:2 Vall#xe9;e du Biros 4:3 Vall#xe9;e de Bethmale 4:4 Upper Vall#xe9;e du Salat 4:5 Vall#xe9;e d'Ustou 4:6 Vall#xe9;e du Garbet 4:7 Vall d'Aran 4:8 Vall Noguera Ribagorçana 4:9 Vall de Boí 4:10 Vall Fosca 4:11 Vall d'Espot 4:12 Vall d'Àneu 4:13 Vall de Cardós 4:14 Vall Ferrera Access, Bases, Maps and Guides CHAPTER 5: Andorra and the Eastern High Pyrenees 5:1 Vall#xe9;e du Vicdessos 5:2 Haute Vall#xe9;e de l'Ari#xe8;ge 5:3 Andorra 5:4 Vall#xe9;e d'Orlu 5:5 The Carlit Massif 5:6 The Cerdagne 5:7 Vall de Núria Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational larger format guidebook to 20 summer treks in the Alps across Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Slovenia, including the classics such as the Tour of Mont Blanc and lesser-known routes like the Traverse of the Slovenian Alps. Perfect for planning, the treks included are: Tour of Mont Blanc, Tour of the Matterhorn, Tour of Monte Rosa, Walker's Haute Route, Tour of the Jungfrau Region, Tour of the Vanoise and Dolomites AV 1 and 2; (longer trans-Alpine routes) GR5 (Lake Geneva to Nice), Eastern Alps E5, Italian Alps GTA and the Traverse of the Slovenian Alps; and (for the Alpine adventurer) Alpine Pass Route, Tour of the Oisans, Tour of the Queyras, Tour of Mont Ruan, Stubai High Route, Zillertal High Route, Gran Paradiso AV2 and the Ratikon Hoehenweg. Outline schedules for each trek allow you compare the routes and become inspired to take up the challenge. Basic day-by-day route descriptions for each route are illustrated with maps and profiles, helping you choose the best routes to walk.Table of ContentsAbout the authors 8-9 Overview of routes 12 Introduction 15 About this book 19 Hut conventions 21 Advice for trekkers 21 When to go 23 Safety in the mountain 23 Words of greeting 24 The Treks Trek 1 Grande Traversata delle Alpi: GTA - Gillian Price 26 Trek 2 Tour of the Queyras - Alan Castle 38 Trek 3 Tour of the Oisans - Kev Reynolds 48 Trek 4 Tour of the Vanoise - Kev Reynolds 58 Trek 5 Gran Paradiso Alta Via 2 - Gillian Price 68 Trek 6 Tour of Mont Blanc - Kev Reynolds 78 Trek 7 GR5: Through the French Alps - Paddy Dillon 88 Trek 8 Tour of Mont Ruan - Hilary Sharp 102 Trek 9 The Walker's Haute Route - Kev Reynolds 112 Trek 10 Alpine Pass Route - Kev Reynolds 124 Trek 11 Tour of the Jungfrau Region - Kev Reynolds 136 Trek 12 Tour of the Matterhorn - Hilary Sharp 148 Trek 13 Tour of Monte Rosa - Hilary Sharp 158 Trek 14 Tour of the Rätikon - Kev Reynolds 170 Trek 15 Across the Eastern Alps: E5 - Gillian Price 180 Trek 16 Stubai High-Level Route - Allan Hartley 194 Trek 17 Zillertal High-Level Route - Allan Hartley 204 Trek 18 Dolomites Alta Via 1 - Gillian Price 214 Trek 19 Dolomites Alta Via 2 - Gillian Price 224 Trek 20 Julian Alps Traverse - Roy Clark & Justi Carey 234 Appendix A Useful contacts 246 Appendix B Glossary for trekkers 247 Index

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guidebook to climbing Aconcagua in South America. At 6962m, Aconcagua is the highest peak outside the Himalayas and is accessible to both trekkers and mountaineers. The book covers two popular trekking routes: the Normal (Horcones Valley) route and the Vacas Valley (Polish Glacier) route. It also includes trekking routes up Tupungato, the Maipo Volcano, and other acclimatisation treks, with suggestions for things to see and do around Mendoza and Santiago City. The guide provides a wealth of practical and indispensable information for those taking on the challenge of Aconcagua. There is information on travel to South America and to the start of the trek, and essential know-how on preparing for high-altitude mountaineering, including advice on equipment, coping with altitude, and strategies for acclimatisation. It gives expert advice on permits, food and water, hiring guides and mules, and staying healthy. With maps and colour photos and supplemented by background information on the mountain, its history, geology, wildlife and local culture, this is a comprehensive and must-read guide for anyone considering tackling Aconcagua.Table of ContentsContents Index of maps and illustrations Map key Map of South America Area maps in this guide Aconcagua - Normal and Vacas Valley Routes Routes to the summit Summary of camps Summary comparison of Normal and Vacas Valley Routes Table of co-ordinates and elevations Foreword by Sebastian Tetilla Preface A note on the third edition Introduction The mountain in context Two trekking routes Location Geology Topography Maps and co-ordinates Wildlife History Climbing history Trekker/climber profiles Weather When to go Getting there Preparations Acclimatisation Guides and trekking companies Part 1 The ascent of Aconcagua Mendoza to Puente del Inca Mendoza The road to Puente del Inca Aconcagua routes The Normal Route The Vacas Valley Route Summit day The long walk out Other routes Part 2 Acclimatisation near Aconcagua, 
Vallecitos and the Maipo Volcano Treks in the Aconcagua area Puente del Inca and Los Penitentes A walk to the Statue of Cristo Redentor Horcones Valley to Plaza Francia Routes at Vallecitos Vallecitos Ski and Mountain Lodge Lomas Blancas (3850m) Cerro Vallecitos (5770m) The Maipo Volcano Part 3 The Tupungato area Tupungato The Andes' Great Mountain Tupungato routes Tupungato via Chile and Rio Colorado Tupungato Provincial Park Wilderness Trek to Friar's Col Part 4 The Santiago area Santiago Santiago City In and around Santiago Routes near Santiago El Morado Valley La Campana National Park El Plomo (5430m) Provincia and San Roman Appendix A Maps, guidebooks and further reading Appendix B Checklist of essential gear Appendix C Guides and mountain services Appendix D Accommodation and local facilities Appendix E South American cuisine Appendix F Wine tasting in Argentina and Chile Appendix G Spanish-English language notes

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Book SynopsisThe first in a series of selective guidebooks, "France: Haute Provence" presents many of the finest sport climbing destinations in the world together in one clear and colourful book. Covering all the best areas from the magnificent walls of Ceuse in the north to the impeccable climbing playground of Buoux to the south, this book has a lifetime's worth of climbing waiting on its pages. Produced in the universally-praised Rockfax style, the books presents the reader with clear landscape photos of each crag, never-before-seen close-up photo-topos, and a wealth of action photos specifically taken for the book. Whether you're planning your trip from home, or choosing your next route at the crag, this guide will have everything you're looking for: from inspiration to perspiration. This will be the only english language guidebook that covers this wide range of crags and the only book that is easily available to travelling climbers. It will also be the only guidebook in print for several of the crags. The Crags Covered include: Ceuse, Sisteron, Volx, Orpierre, Bellecombe, Baume Rousse, Ubrieux, Saint Julien, Saint Leger Rochers du Groseau, Combe Obscure, Les Dentelles de Montmirail, Venasque, and Buoux.

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Book SynopsisThe Southern Sandstone climbing area is situated in the Southeast of England on the borders of Kent and East Sussex. It offers some superb top-rope climbing and bouldering on beautiful sandstone formations. This will be the first Rockfax guidebook to cover the climbing and bouldering. The book will use the usual Rockfax style - big full-colour photo-topos, detailed maps and full text descriptions - all lavishly supported by some great action photography.Crags CoveredBowles Rocks, Eridge Rocks, Harrison's Rocks, High Rocks, High Rocks Annexe, Happy Valley, Bull's Hollow, Toad Rocks, Mount Edgecumbe Rocks, Bassett's Farm Rocks, Under Rockes, Stone Farm

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Book SynopsisThese 18 sport climbing crags are, with the one exception of Tyddyn Hywel, situated between junctions 16 and 31 on the A55 and a short hop from the expressway. They are only one and a half hours from Manchester and three quarters of an hour by car from Llanberis and Gogarth. Easy route finding, technical climbing, and bolted routes maes for a fun day out. It's a great way to bag a few routes on the way back from Anglesey or Snowdonia or enjoy a full day of varied and fun climbing with short walk-ins. The new third edition features 157 new routes, 6 new crags and 8 new sectors. All 437 routes (from F2 to F8c, including a handful of trad) are accessible single pitch sport venues with varied aspects and are either situated a short walk from car parking or are accessible by rail and bike.

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Book SynopsisWired Guides Scottish Rock Climbs showcases the very best trad and sport routes across Scotland, covering a wealth of climbing never before presented in a single volume. Its breadth and scope takes in the Galloway hills,m the outcrops of the Central and North-West Highlands, the mountain ranges of Arran the Cairngorms, Glen Coe, Lochaber, Torridon, Assynt and Sutherland, as well as the sea-cliffs of the north0east and north-west coasts, the Hebrides and the Northern Isles, and historical urban test-pieces at Dumbarton. Each of the 1,700 routes is shown on a diagram and supported by detailed information gathered and compiled by local activists. Its the book you need to inspire a lifetime's worth of rock climbing adventure in Scotland. Key features: - The book covers Scotland in it's entirety, with all levels of difficulty covered and inspirational photography throughout from some of the UK's premier photographers. - It presents the very best climbing that Scotland has to offer, both classic and lesser trodden - but equally impressive - venues. - There are venues and diagrams included that have not yet appeared in a guidebook, included recent world-class developments, - You'll find everything from relaxed climbing at sport outcrops through to full-scale sea-cliff adventures. - every single route is on a diagram, with detail never before presented in a Scottish guidebook. - Every venue has an accompanying map and detailed access information to get you to the crag. - Each section is based upon input from local activists , so the information is accurate and up-to-date and with the best routes selected. - Details of where to find further information in our comprehensive guidebooks is included. - We've included top tips to get you away from the honeypots for some top-class Scottish climbing adventures. - The book sits neatly alongside the Wired Guidebooks to 'Pembroke Rock,' 'Lake District Rock,' 'Northern Rock,' 'Peak District Rock,' and 'Lakes Sport and Slate'

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Book SynopsisWilliam Hutchison Murray (1913 - 1996) was one of Scotland's most distinguished climbers in the years before and after the Second World War. As a prisoner of war in Italy he wrote his first classic book, Mountaineering in Scotland, on rough toilet paper which was confiscated and destroyed by the Gestapo. The rewritten version was published in 1947 and followed by the, now, equally famous, Undiscovered Scotland. In 1951 he was depute leader to Eric Shipton on the Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. In later years he became a successful novelist and pioneer conservationist.

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Book SynopsisOn Thin Ice is Mick Fowler's second set of climbing memoirs, following Vertical Pleasure. Here, the celebrated mountaineer records his expeditions since 1990 where, despite work and family commitments, he maintained a regular series of 'big trips' to challenging objectives around the world with a sequence of major successes. The combination of exotic travel with major climbs provides the ultimate adrenalin-soaked holiday experience that Mick Fowler has mastered to the full. We are transported from the cliffs of Jordan to remote peaks in deepest Asia via Taweche and Changabang in the Himalaya, with jaunts to the Andes and Alaska thrown in for good measure. That Fowler has organised this routine for years, while holding down a conventional nine-to-five job with the Inland Revenue, has constantly amazed his peers. In this, his second book, he has also mastered the skills of amusing travel-writing to entertain us as a preliminary to the finale of a titanic struggle on each of his fiendishly demanding climbs. His ascent of Siguniang in 2002, with Paul Ramsden featured hard ice climbing on a fabulous face in deepest China and was so admired by the international climbing community that it won the US Golden Piton and the French Piolets d'Or, both awards given for the finest alpine achievements in the world during that year. Fowler describes his travels in the great traditions, with engaging modesty and wit, but the climbs themselves are frequently so dramatic that the anxiety and tension forces its way to the surface to be matched by a corresponding relief and triumph when success and safe descent is achieved.Trade Review'The paradox of a highly professional tax man being arrested for climbing has the hint of iconic myth about it, and deliberately taps into the anarchic, anti-establishment impulse seemingly ingrained in all serious climbers.' (Tim Noble, Climbers' Club Journal). 'We are invited to visit places from Jordan to the Himalaya and share in activities of a collection of climbing partners which include some of the biggest names in mountaineering.' (Paul Hudson, Fell and Rock Climbing Club Journal). 'Mick Fowler's name is utterly synonymous with adventure - British style.' (Dave MacLeod, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal). 'On Thin Ice is inspiring at every turn. Fowler's humility is a nice touch, and while I believe it is genuine, this is no ordinary bloke, this is a truly extraordinary climber.' (David Stevenson, American Alpine Club Journal). 'What shines through the book is the palpable enjoyment and enthusiasm which enables him to keep making tiring and difficult journeys to potentially dangerous mountains.' (Stephen Venables, Climber Magazine).

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. The Uncrowned King of Mont Blanc by Peter Foster is the biography of scientist and mountaineer Thomas Graham Brown, whose encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountain earned him the soubriquet, and whose achievements in the Alps and Greater Ranges place him at the forefront of British mountaineering between the two world wars.Born in Edinburgh in 1882, Graham Brown first pursued a career in the sciences as a physiologist – his exacting father demanding the highest standards – and the results of his research, largely unrecognised at the time, now underpin current understanding of the nervous control of movement in animals and man. His mountaineering career began in earnest after the First World War. From rock climbing in the Lake District he progressed to guided climbs in the Alps, where in 1927 he was fatefully introduced to Frank Smythe with whom he made the groundbreaking first ascents of the Sentinelle Rouge and the Route Major on the Brenva Face of Mont Blanc. This resulted in an obsession with the mountain and a feud between the pair that smouldered and flared for twenty years.Ambitious, determined and uncompromising in his views, he never left others feeling neutral: Geoffrey Winthrop Young thought him ‘a vicious lunatic’, yet Charles Houston felt closer to Graham Brown ‘than almost anyone else I know’. Graham Brown’s life was one of turbulence in his career, relationships and in the mountains, whether on expeditions to Mount Foraker, Nanda Devi and Masherbrum, or most frequently, the Alps.Peter Foster has drawn upon diaries, letters and extensive archival research that illuminate the highs and lows of Graham Brown’s scientific and climbing careers, and explores the imbalance between the significance of his achievements and the lack of recognition he received. But, above all, The Uncrowned King of Mont Blanc allows one to hear Graham Brown’s voice: querulous, opinionated and, to the discomfort of his many adversaries, almost always right.Table of ContentsForeword by Lindsay Griffin. Introduction. Chapter 1: Early Influences. Chapter 2: First Steps in Physiology. Chapter 3: Sherrington and Liverpool. Chapter 4: Physiologist at War. Chapter 5: Professor. Chapter 6: A New Direction. Chapter 7: To the Alps. Chapter 8: Climbs with F.S. Smythe. Chapter 9: Fallout. Chapter 10: Alpine Heyday. Chapter 11: The Alpine Club. Chapter 12: Annus Mirabilis. Chapter 13: C.S. Houston and Mount Foraker. Chapter 14: Himalayan Prospects. Chapter 15: Nanda Devi. Chapter 16: Masherbrum. Chapter 17: Interlude. Chapter 18: Return to the Mountains. Chapter 19: Editor of the Alpine Journal. Chapter 20: Alpine Historian. Chapter 21: Vagabond Professor. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe popular climbing areas around Glossop and the north-west Peak District have been written about in many guidebooks. Moorland Grit by Paul Durkin features those lost and hidden crags often overlooked by previous explorers and scribes.Quality rock does abound and there are many ticks that are tucked away in secluded areas and high on moor edges for those who want to get away from it all.Featuring 340 routes from Mod to E3 and 425 boulder problems with full colour action photography.

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Book SynopsisIn early 1978, an extraordinary new invention for rock climbers was featured on the BBC television science show Tomorrow's World. It was called the 'Friend', and it not only made the sport safer, it helped push the limits of the possible. The company that made them was called Wild Country, the brainchild of Mark Vallance. Within six months, Vallance was selling Friends in sixteen countries. Wild Country would go on to develop much of the gear that transformed climbing in the 1980s. Mark Vallance's influence on the outdoor world extends far beyond the company he founded. He owned and opened the influential retailer Outside in the Peak District and was part of the team that built The Foundry, Sheffield's premier climbing wall - the first modern climbing gym in Britain. He worked for the Peak District National Park and served on its board. He even found time to climb eight-thousand-metre peaks and the Nose on El Capitan. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his mid fifties and robbed of his plans for retirement, Vallance found a new sense of purpose as a reforming president of the British Mountaineering Council.In Wild Country, Vallance traces his story, from childhood influences like Robin Hodgkin and Sir Jack Longland, to two years in Antarctica, where he was base commander of the UK's largest and most southerly scientific station at Halley Bay, before his fateful meeting with Ray Jardine, the man who invented Friends, in Yosemite. Trenchant, provocative and challenging, Wild Country is a remarkable personal story and a fresh perspective on the role of the outdoors in British life and the development of climbing in its most revolutionary phase. Mark Vallance (1945–2018), the man who made Friends. Trade Review'[The book] chronicles not just the mountains [Mark] has climbed, but the part he played in bringing to market a little piece of sporting equipment that revolutionised mountaineering and saved countless lives.' – Sarah Freeman, Yorkshire Post ‘Widely-known as the man who made Friends, Mark Vallance’s influence is far wider than that, as his autobiography elucidates. Dick Turnbull summed up Mark’s achievements very well as the book launch at Outside on 2 June 2016, when he said to a packed audience, “your entire climbing career is entirely dependent upon Mark”.' – Keith Sharples, Climber magazine 'This is an outstanding book by an outstanding personality and it is a tragedy that it needs to end on such a sad note with failing vigour, decimated by a presently incurable disease, however he assures us that he is "still fighting gravity and always will".' – Dennis Gray, Footless Crow 'It is a good inspiring read which covers not just the life of a remarkable man, but gives a unique view of some of the developments in our world of climbing that these days we take for granted.' – David Medcalf, Footless Crow 'A thoroughly well written book which combines the personal adventures of the life of a climber with an interesting history of climbing gear and its manufacture in Britain over the last 50 years.' – Nick Carter, Alpha Mountaineering 'The book is an inspirational tale of a very determined man who has without doubt altered and enhanced the climbing world. Absolutely a ‘must-read’.' – Ian Sykes, Scottish Mountaineering Council JournalTable of ContentsPrologue: Diagnosis; 1 First Moves; 2 Lessons from Jack; 3 India; 4 New Schools; 5 Gash Hand; 6 America; 7 A Proper Job; 8 Making Friends; 9 Tomorrow's World; 10 You Don't Need a Hammer to Crack a Nut; 11 Super Nova; 12 Moving the Centre; 13 Three Big Mountains and a Smaller One; 14 Climbing the Walls; 15 Infinity on Trial; 16 Swansong; Acknowledgements.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2017 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature. 'How much risk is worth taking for so beautiful a prize?' The Magician's Glass by award-winning writer Ed Douglas is a collection of eight recent essays on some of the biggest stories and best-known personalities in the world of climbing. In the title essay, he writes about failure on Annapurna III in 1981, one of the boldest attempts in Himalayan mountaineering on one of the most beautiful lines - a line that remains unclimbed to this day. Douglas writes about bitter controversies, like that surrounding Ueli Steck's disputed solo ascent of the south face of Annapurna, the fate of Toni Egger on Cerro Torre in 1959 - when Cesare Maestri claimed the pair had made the first ascent, and the rise and fall of Slovenian ace Tomaz Humar. There are profiles of two stars of the 1980s: the much-loved German Kurt Albert, the father of the 'redpoint', and the enigmatic rock star Patrick Edlinger, a national hero in his native France who lost his way. In Crazy Wisdom, Douglas offers fresh perspectives on the impact mountaineering has on local communities and the role climbers play in the developing world. The final essay explores the relationship between art and alpinism as a way of understanding why it is that people climb mountains.Table of ContentsForeword by Katie Ives; 1 The Magician's Glass; 2 Stealing Toni Egger; 3 Searching for Tomaz Humar; 4 Big Guts; 5 Crazy Wisdom; 6 What's eating Ueli Steck?; 7 Lone Wolf; 8 Lines of Beauty: The Art of Climbing; Acknowledgements.

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Book SynopsisFontainebleau is the world centre for boulder style climbing, with thousands of boulders scattered throughout the majestic forest. This 2nd volume covers all of the quieter areas that are 'deep' in the forest (TOP SECRET), hidden from the crowded hotspots. The climbing in these areas is stunning, with over 130 classic circuits that comprise of 5000+ problems. The beautifully clear graphics and 1400+ photo topos, also allows for an additional 4000+ off circuit problems to be included. This book gives an exceptional level of detail with problem styles, heights, and even crash pad ratings. * 9000+ climbing routes - 60 venues - beginner to expert* 130+ quiet circuits away from the crowds, covering all standards* Ultra modern graphics, and 1400+ quality photo topos* Ideal for indoor bouldering gym enthusiasts to explore outside* Bi-lingual guidebook, French and EnglishThis is the second in the series from Jingo Wobbly. Font Bloc Vol 1 - Fun Bloc, covers 7000 problems with 100 circuits. 9781873665152.

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Book SynopsisThis title is the second in the series of 4 books for general sport climbing in France, and is designed for all levels of climber. The title says it all, collecting together all of the great places to go climbing for the weekend in one book. - The perfect weekend book for climbers. - 3a to 8c all levels, ideal for indoor climbers going outside - 10 000 sport climbing routes in East France (250 cliffs) - Great access maps, GPS info, campistes and picnics - Family friendly, bi-lingual guidebook

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Book SynopsisIncrease your strength, power, skill, and focus to maximize your climbing performance. Praise for Training for ClimbingTraining for Climbing is a great resource. Whether you're just starting out or already ticking 5.13, you'll find valuable information here to help you climb harder. This is the most complete and up-to-date training guide available.Rock and Ice magazineDrawing on the latest climbing research, this third edition of the international best-selling Training for Climbing presents a comprehensive, evidence-based program for improving climbing performance. With the unique perspective of a veteran climber, researcher, and coach, Eric Hörst blends leading edge sport science with his decades of climbing and coaching experience to create a content-rich text packed with practical how-to and what-to-do information.A few of the new topics explored include: Energy system training to develop greater strength, power-endurance, and aerobic endurance. Recalibrating the brain's central gov

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Book SynopsisThe more you know about snow stability, the better your travel and rescue skills. And the sharper your decision making, the better you'll be able to avoid avalanche danger and have more fun in the winter backcountry. In Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, 3rd Edition, acclaimed snow and avalanche expert Bruce Tremper provides easy-to-understand avalanche safety tips and skills, including the latest snow research and techniques for evaluating snowpack, as well how to rescue companions in the event of an avalanche. Other topics include: How to evaluate terrain and decide whether it's safe or dangerous How avalanches work How to test snow stability How to control your exposure and lower your risk Safe travel techniques What to do if you're caught in an avalanche Search-and-rescue strategies Managing the human factors that contribute to accidents This fully revised and updated third edition of Bruce's best-selling book is organized according to the structure of American Avalanche Association classes, and all topics have been updated and reviewed by peer experts. This edition also features a wholly new chapter in which Bruce pulls all the pieces together to create an organized, step-by-step system for making decisions off, and on, the mountain. As Rocky Mountain News proclaimed, "No one who plays in the mountain snow should leave home without having studied this book." Clear, comprehensive, and engaging, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain shares everything skiers, snowboarders, and other backcountry travelers need to know to stay safe in the mountains.

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Book SynopsisWired Guides' book Northern Rock beautifully presents the best traditional climbing, sport climbing and bouldering in Yorkshire (grit and limestone), Northumberland, Lancashire and the North York Moors.

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Book SynopsisWhen Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top.  No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70-knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning, he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back to their camp and were desperately struggling for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.Into Thin Air is the definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest by the acclaimed journalist

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Book SynopsisEl Chorro is one of the legendary climbing areas of Spain. Famous for its iconic gorge, it has suffered from rumours of access problems over the years. Meanwhile the local climbers have been steadily developing the areas around the gorge with brilliant routes, both single and multi-pitch. Access is no longer a problem and the whole area is now thriving as a major destination for climbers, walkers and visitors attracted to the Caminito - the redeveloped walkway down the Gorge.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive Dartmoor guide from the Climbers Club is packed with tongue-in-cheek Devonian wit and banter plus some 600 routes and 1200 boulder problems with full photo-topos. These are partnered with stunning action shots showcasing this unique and fantastic area at its finest.

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Book SynopsisClimbing and mountaineering attracts millions of people around the world each year, but produces a unique set of challenges. The threat of danger is ever present, and professional medical help is often far away. Vertical Medicine Resources is a renowned climbing company providing medical training and consultation. In Vertical Aid, they have produced the most complete guide available for managing both emergencies and chronic injuries sustained during climbs. Researched and developed by professional healthcare providers and alpinists, the book includes helpful illustrations of common procedures and best practices, making it a practical and indispensable companion on any climbing, trekking, or alpine trip. It is replete with real-world-tested strategies, evidence-based medicine, and proven techniques. The diverse author team combines an EMS and emergency physician, a nurse, a physician assistant, and a nurse-trainer, who together have a profound depth of climbing, educational, and medical experience. With its unique combination of authoritative medical information and specific attention to the climbing environment, Vertical Aid is poised to become an authoritative resource for every climber, on every climb.Trade Review"By far the most updated medical information related to mountain travel." -- Rescue Climber Mountain Guides

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Book SynopsisDetails over 900 of some of the finest winter climbs in Scotland, with the emphasis on the popular lower and mid-grade classics. This book takes account of the change of climbing habits and weather conditions in the Scottish mountains. It presents descriptions, supplemented by colour cliff photo-diagrams and maps.

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Book SynopsisHaving suddenly lost her husband, Alex Lowe, in a tragic mountaineering accident, Jennifer Lowe struggled to hold her family together and deal with her grief. At the same time Alex's best friend, famed climber Conrad Anker, was dealing with the terrible loss as well as feelings of survivor's guilt. Jenni and Conrad gradually, and unexpectedly, found solace in one another. "Forget Me Not" spans continents and tells the story of three people whose lives intertwine to a degree they could never have imagined. Jennifer Lowe-Anker is an artist whose often whimsical paintings are rendered in vivid colour and rich texture inspired by her Montana upbringing. This is the paperback edition. Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award, it features an 8-page black & white photo section.

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Book SynopsisThe 66 via ferrata routes in this guidebook are grouped by area - Geneva and the Northern Alps, Chambery, the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, Grenoble and Briancon - and run the full gamut of challenge, from very easy, protected routes suitable for children, through to extremely exposed and technical routes for experienced ferratists only. Routes are illustrated by topo diagrams on colour photographs, and simple sketch maps. Those used to the older Italian routes will find these French routes quite different, closer to scrambling or rock climbing and often seeking out the most vertigo-inducing terrain. But most routes should be within the reach of any strong hillwalker and protection is high and well maintained. Recent years have witnessed a surge in the number of via ferrata routes set up in the iconic mountains of the French Alps. With routes set on or near many classics including the massifs of Mont Blanc, the Vanoise and the Queyras, this guide shows the best of what is now available.Table of ContentsMountain safety Map key Route listing Overview map Introduction When to go Getting to the Alps Getting around Language Costs Accommodation Maps Route grading Equipment Moving safely Climbing with children Dangers Accidents and mountain rescue Insurance Using this guide Routes and bases Geneva and the Northern Alps Chamb#xe9;ry Tarentaise Maurienne Grenoble Briançon Appendix A Routes listed in order of difficulty Appendix B Glossary of via ferrata terminology Appendix C Useful French words and phrases Appendix D Useful contacts

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Book SynopsisEverything you [n]ever wanted to know about big wall and aid climbing - from light and fast speed ascents to full-on vertical camping - along with the most up-to-date tips, tricks and techniques to teach you the Better Way to climb big walls. The "climbing porn" photos are superb, and the text is both creative and entertaining. The passion, thrill and suffering shared in the stories by the best aid climbers on the planet will make your hands sweat in terror, and the brilliant action photographs ensure this book will end up in haul bags and on coffee tables the wor Fabio Elli, one of the authors, is a chemical engineer who lives in the north of Italy near Como - he was introduced to climbing and the mountains by his dad when he was 14, and since then he's never stopped. He's an alpinism and ice climbing enthusiast, he also enjoys biking and photography. In 2010, he felt the pull of his aiders, and he has been active since then, often solo. He has climbed many of the most demanding classics in the Mont Blanc massif, and also on the Moose's Tooth in Alaska plus most of the 'classics' on El Capitan. Peter Zarbrok, the other author of the guide, began as a caver who started climbing in 1979. Also a chemical engineer, he is a self-unemployed financial advisor prefering the 'dirtbag' lifestyle. He is active in the exploration and survey of the Mammoth Cave System in Kentucky and also in Oaxaca, Mexico.

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Book SynopsisMountaineering in the Mont Blanc Range showcases the most beautiful lower grade snow, ice and mixed climbs (F to AD+) in the seemingly inexhaustible Mont Blanc Range. The routes described in this book should be within the capabilities of almost all mountaineers.Reflecting all recent changed topographical conditions due to the steady glacial retreat created by climate change, authors Jean-Louis Laroche and Florence Lelong have selected 36 climbs from across the range, which are easily accessible from well appointed mountain huts, useful telepheriques and mountain railways.The routes described are an ideal introduction to the climbing in this magnificent area. They are on snow or mixed ground and, distributed among the main glacier basins, they will enable you to visit a representative selection of summits along the full length of the range. Among them are some of the finest classics, including: the North Face of the Tete Blanche; the Whymper Route on the Aiguille d'Argentiere; the Cosmiques Ridge of the Aiguille du Midi; the Normal Route, Contamine-Grisolle, and Chere Couloir on the Mont Blanc du Tacul; and of course a choice of routes on Mont Blanc itself.Each route features a detailed and comprehensive route description, a sketch map and a route summary detailing the start point, difficulty, timings, height gain, best time of year and the gear required. Beautifully illustrated with photos that show both the lie of the land and also the haunting beauty of the fabulous peaks of the Mont Blanc Range, this guide clearly indicates alpinism's continued popularity to climbers of all ages.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Aiguille du Tour: Traverse and Table Couloir2 Tête Blanche (North Face) and Petite Fourche3 Aiguille du Chardonnet: Forbes Arête and Migot Spur4 Aiguille d’Argentière: Normal Route, Whymper Route, Y Couloir and Flèche Rousse5 Petite Verte: Normal Route, North-West Face and Chevalier Couloir6 Les Droites: Normal Route7 Les Courtes: Traverse8 Pointe Isabella: Normal Route9 Aiguille de l’Éboulement: South-West Couloir and Traverse10 Aiguille de Rochefort: Rochefort Ridge11 La Tour Ronde: Normal Route, North Face/Crampon Fûte and Gervasutti Couloir12 Aiguille du Plan: Midi-Plan Traverse13 Aiguille du Midi: Cosmiques Ridge14 Mont Blanc du Tacul: Normal Route Contamine-Grisolle, and Chèré Couloir15 Mont Blanc: Goûter Route, Tacul-Maudit Traverse and North Ridge of the Dôme16 Mont Blanc: Aiguilles Grises17 Aiguille de Bionnassay: South Ridge and Traverse18 Dômes de Miage: Traverse19 Aiguille Nord de Tré-la-Tête, Lex Blanche, Dôme de Neige: Traverse20 Aiguille de la Lex Blanche: North-West Face21 Mont Tondu: Normal RoutePractical information, hut access

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Book SynopsisFor generations of adventurers, from Mallory to Hilary, Norgay to Krakauer, Mount Everest and the world's greatest peaks have provided the ultimate testing ground. But as the public's fascination with mountaineering reaches an all time high, the question remains - why climb?In High Exposure, legendary rock climber, mountaineer and film-maker David Breashears answers with a captivating and intimate look at his life, during which he has scaled many of the world's highest peaks, including two successful ascents of Everest.Trade ReviewBreashears has led a remarkable life and his professionalism, integrity and bravery emerge throughout this account. * * Literary Review * *An enthralling account . . . This book is remarkable on a number of levels. For the long winter nights this is an inspiring account and a worthy addition to any bookshelf. * * Great Outdoors Magazine * *A series of fascinating decisions and judgements . . . a finely honed book. * * Yorkshire Post * *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisPublished by the Swiss Alpine Club, Outdoor and Mountain Medicine is a detailed reference work for everybody travelling in the mountains and keen to know more about medicine and health in the outdoors.In addition to first aid and makeshift rescue, topics like training and nutrition, women and children in high altitude, health problems on treks and expeditions, medical issues in rock climbing, canyoning, mountain biking and so on are explained by experienced mountain doctors. Countless practical tips are presented in an easy to understand format, supported with colour photos, illustrations and tables.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[Twight] is brutally honest, and nobody, including his friends or himself, is safe from his high standards and criticism. Many of these [collected pieces] are gems and shed new light on his earlier work... This is literature about the soul of alpinism, not a blow-by-blow account of climbing drudgery from some tourist peak bagger.--Rock & Ice A glimpse into the psychological reasons one person faces extreme danger.--Reference & Research Book News Deeply personal, arrogant, grandiose, thrilling and unapologetic, this record of [Twight's] career will gratify and repel extreme athletes, their admirers and detractors.--Publisher's Weekly Read [Kiss or Kill] if you have alpine ambitions -- or have a disturbed mind. It's a good read, and you might gleen some perspective from it.--Scree With chapter titles such as 'House of Pain' and 'I Hurt, Therefore I Am, ' no one would mistake Twight for a member of the Von Trapp family. A bracing tonic for us desk-bound wussies.--Pittsburgh Tribune-Review If you've delved into the growing body of mountaineering literature by reading books like Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air ... be forewarned: They're like Billy Joel; Kiss or Kill is like the Dead Kennedys ... Prodding the deepest recesses of fear the way he'd stab a wafer-thin ice runnel with the pick of his axe, Twight's Kiss or Kill is an engaging read.--The Vancouver Sun

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Book Synopsis

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