Mountains and uplands Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe white dome of Mont Blanc looms over France, Italy and Switzerland, and it is no wonder that the 169-kilometre Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) has captured the public imagination to become one of Europe’s most popular long-distance trails. The TMB appeals to people who have different levels of experience and travel at all speeds, and this Vertebrate Publishing Guidemap is unique in that it caters for four categories of user, providing custom itineraries for walkers, trekkers, fastpackers and trail runners. This lightweight, waterproof, durable and easy-to-use folding map features all the essential information for a successful TMB, including 1:40,000-scale mapping for the anticlockwise route starting and finishing in the town of Les Houches, south of Chamonix. It also includes nine route variations, a detailed elevation profile and route planner, safety advice, terrain information and an accommodation directory, and a link to a GPX file download.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The smaller we come to feel ourselves compared with the mountain, the nearer we come to participating in its greatness.''Philosopher, mountaineer, activist and visionary, Arne Naess''s belief that all living things have value made him one of the most inspirational figures in the environmental movement. Drawing on his years spent in an isolated hut high in the Norwegian mountains, and on influences as diverse as Gandhi''s nonviolent action and Spinoza''s all-encompassing worldview, this selection of the best of his writings is filled with wit, charisma and intense connection with nature. Emphasizing joy, cooperation and ''beautiful actions'', they create a philosophy of life from a man who never lost his sense of wonder at the world. ''Arne Naess''s ideas ... inspired environmentalists and Green political activists around the world'' The New York TimesTrade ReviewArne Naess's ideas about promoting an intimate and all-embracing relationship between the earth and the human species inspired environmentalists and Green political activists around the world * New York Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis***Shortlisted for the 2023 STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR******A Financial Times Travel Book of the Year 2022***"Enchanting" Independent"Fatland distinguishes herself from the stereotypes" Guardian "Fatland is a sensitive and insightful chronicler of quotidian lives and a compelling narrator" Observer"Erika Fatland ascends to new heights with her fascinating journey" Wanderlust"An engaging snapshot of the current residents of this high-altitude battleground . . . Fatland is a lovely writer with a sympathetic eye for the absurd" Financial TimesAn ambitious and magnificent new travelogue by internationally bestselling, prizewinning writer Erika Fatland.The Himalayas meander for more than two thousand kilometres through many different countries, from Pakistan to Myanmar via Nepal, India, Tibet and Bhutan, where the world religions of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are interspersed with ancient shamanic beliefs. Countless languages and vastly different cultures exist in these isolated mountain valleys. Modernity and tradition collide, while the great powers fight for influence.We have read about climbers and adventurers on their way up Mount Everest, and about travellers on a spiritual quest to remote Buddhist monasteries. Here, however, the focus is on the communities of these Himalayan valleys, those who live and work in this extraordinary region. As Erika Fatland introduces us to the people she meets along her journey, and in particular the women, she takes us on a vivid and dizzying expedition at altitude through incredible landscapes and dramatic, unknown histories. Skilfully weaving together the politics, geography, astrology, theology and ecology of this vast region, she also explores some of the most volatile human conflicts of our times.With her unique gift for listening, and for storytelling, she has become one of the most exciting travel writers of her generation.Translated from the Norwegian by Kari DicksonTrade ReviewEnchanting -- Martin Chilton * Independent (Books of the Month) *Erika Fatland is shaping up to be one of the Nordics' most exciting new travel writers * National Geographic *Fatland is a sensitive and insightful chronicler of quotidian lives and a compelling narrator. -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer *An engaging snapshot of the current residents of this high-altitude battleground . . . Fatland is a lovely writer with a sympathetic eye for the absurd, who draws affectionate pen portraits of the people she meets -- Amy Kazmin * Financial Times *[Fatland] is an acute and sympathetic observer, and her book fills a gap in the literature of the Himalayas . . . In High, women's stories and voices prevail. -- Jonathan Buckley * Times Literary Supplement *Excellent. Fatland's a superb reporter, with an engaging personality and boundless curiosity. The English versions of her books convey her immense vitality and charm. Ideal for armchair travelers, packed with information and entertaining anecdotes. -- Michael Dirda * Washington Post *Norwegian anthropologist Erika Fatland, whose previous books include Sovietistan, distinguishes herself from the stereotypes . . . Writing with aplomb and sensitivity, Fatland observes the sights and sounds of cities, towns and villages; she visits temples and forests and explores the high plateau. Places are carefully contextualised with geopolitical and historical detail and she weaves in geology too, grounding the work in the land itself . . . [a]s traveller and anthropologist, [she] establishes a unique rapport with girls and women leading to precious insights into lives rarely recorded. -- Anna Fleming * Guardian *The true allure of Ms. Fatland's book lies in her ability to reach inside people's homes and talk to women who lead sequestered lives, to penetrate the outer sanctum that separates Muslim women from a world that imperils female honor. As an outgoing 39-year-old woman, Ms. Fatland can have conversations that a man like Colin Thubron, celebrated for his writings on these parts, could scarcely have had. -- Tunku Varadarajan * Wall Street Journal *Erika Fatland has written a masterpiece . . . Along the way Fatland has developed her own distinct approach to travel writing. She now writes better than Robert D Kaplan * Aftenposten *Even the reader gasps for breath * Adressavisen *Fatland's extensive knowledge subtly forms an elegant backdrop for her encounters with the local people * Morgenbladet *Erika Fatland is about to, singlehandedly, completely renew Norwegian travel literature. * VG *Respect. Erika Fatland can travel, she can write. HØYT is a brilliant book. * Politiken *Genre-bursting world-class travel literature. Brilliantly executed deep-dive into the human conditions in some of the world's most important countries. -- Jens A. RiisnæsFatland has risen to new literary and literal heights * Dagbladet *One of travel writings rising stars . . . Erika Fatland ascends to new heights with her fascinating journey among the isolated villages spanning the fractious borders that divide up the Himalaya region * Wanderlust *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NEW AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER BY THE AUTHOR OF THE MOUNTAINCan be compared (with no fear of hyperbole) to Stephen King and Jo Nesbø - Massimo Vincenz, La Repubblica.D''Andrea piles on the action and the atmosphere with the panache of a seasoned writer Marcel Berlins, The Times.Marlene Wegener is on the run. She has stolen something from her husband, something priceless, irreplaceable.But she doesn''t get very far. When her car veers off a bleak midwinter road she takes refuge in the remote home of Simon Keller, a tough mountain man who lives alone with his demons. Here in her high mountain sanctuary, she begins to rekindle a sense of herself: tough, capable, no longer the trophy on a gangster''s arm.But Herr Wegener does not know how to forgive, and in his rage he makes a pact with the devil. The Trusted Man. He cannot be called off, he cannot be reasoned witTrade ReviewFull of folklore and history as well as descriptions of astonishing hardship, Sanctuary is also a study of character and what happens to people's minds when they have to find a way to make sense of intolerable circumstances . . . -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review. *With his first book, he was compared to Stephen King and the David Lynch of Twin Peaks. Here, D'Andrea will go even further into the depths of evil -- Alessia Rastelli * Corriere della Serra. *A clever, twisty and chilling page-turner. * Choice Magazine. *This immensely enjoyable chiller/thiller is a superb follow up to last year's bestseller, The Mountain. This novel demonstrates that D'Andrea has no problem at all with 'second album syndrome', Sanctuary is a brilliant piece of storytelling. * New Books Magazine. *D'Andrea's a name to add to your Eurocrime list. -- David Hewson, author of the Nic Costa novels and The KillingD'Andrea is a real master. -- Sergio Pent * La Stampa. *Pulsatingly exciting and astonishingly grisly in equal measure. * Irish Independent. *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Mont Blanc Lines, photographer and alpinist Alex Buisse has travelled the Mont Blanc massif to capture images of all the major mountain faces and to trace the classic climbing and skiing lines. As well as Mont Blanc itself, also featured are other Alpine icons, including the north faces of the Grandes Jorasses and the Droites, the Aiguille du Midi, and the Grand Capucin.Whether on the ground in crampons or on skis, or in the air by ultralight or paraglider, he has captured the majesty of the range so that he can tell the story of these classic lines and present them to us in the most stunning way possible.Mont Blanc Lines features images taken during over a decade of mountaineering while Alex worked as a professional photographer based in Chamonix. Alex Buisse’s story of these iconic mountain faces is mixed with the stories of climbers who have experienced great moments there. As a bonus feature, also included are the legendary faces of the Matterhorn and the Eiger North Face in Switzerland.Table of ContentsIntroductionMont Blanc – North FaceMont Blanc – East FaceMont Blanc – South FaceMont Blanc – South-West FaceGrandes Jorasses – North FaceDroites – North FaceAiguille Verte – North FaceAiguille Verte – South FaceDrus – North FaceDrus – South FaceAiguille du Midi – North FaceAiguille du Midi – South FaceAiguilles de Chamonix – North FacesAiguilles de Chamonix – North-West FacesAiguilles de Chamonix – South FacesMont Blanc du TaculGrand CapucinDent du GéantAiguille d’ArgentièreAiguille du ChardonnetAiguille du TourDômes de Miage – North FaceThe MatterhornThe Eiger – North Face

Read more less

Book SynopsisThough it remains by far the world's most famous mountain, in recent years Everest's reputation has changed radically, with long queues of climbers on the Lhotse Face, lurid tales of frozen corpses and piles of high altitude trash. It wasn't always like this though. Once Everest was remote and inaccessible, a mysterious place, where only the bravest and most heroic dared to tread. The first attempt on Everest in 1922 by George Leigh Mallory and a British team is an extraordinary story full of controversy, drama and incident, populated by a set of larger than life characters straight out of Boys Own and Indiana Jones. The expedition ended in tragedy when, on their third bid for the top, Mallory's party was hit by an avalanche that left seven men dead. Using diaries, letters, published and unpublished accounts, Mick Conefrey creates a rich character driven narrative, exploring the motivations and private dramas of key individuals and detailing the back room politics and bitter rivalries that lay behind this epic adventure.Trade ReviewThe 1922 expedition was perhaps the most exciting of all Everest ventures. One hundred years ago virtually nothing was known about the effects of extreme altitude and those brave pioneers were making it up as they went along, pushing the boundaries of human possibility. With his usual forensic analysis and keen eye for the previously untold anecdote, Mick Conefrey re-illuminates one of the greatest mountain adventures of all time. * Stephen Venables *A gloriously British failure: The lost story of the tweed jacket-wearing and Kendal mint cake-eating band of eccentrics who were the first to try to conquer Everest is finally told 100 years on ... The story of that first attempt on the mountain is one history has largely erased. Failure tends to be forgotten. But in its centenary year, that 1922 expedition is celebrated in a gripping new book by mountaineering historian Mick Conefrey. Yes, it was a failure - but a glorious one. * Daily Mail *Table of Contentsi: Dramatis Personae ii: Introduction 1: Himalayans at Play 2: No Place for Old Men 3: The Hardest Push 4: Larger than Life 5: Oxygen Drill 6: News from the North 7: We May Be Gone Some Time 8: The Gas Offensive 9: Summit Fever 10: Trouble in the Sanctuary 11: A Terrible Enemy 12: 2020 Hindsight iii: Bibliography and Sources iv: Acknowledgements v: Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSnowdonia has a great story to tell, of ancient oceans, mountains, volcanoes and climate change. The mountain landscape of Snowdonia is the result of everything that has happenend to it over geological time - the product of the ancient landscapes that went before it, fragments of which are preserved by rocks and landforms within the present landscape, providing clues of a forgotten past that can be read as you appreciate Snowdonia's wild beauty. The present landscape has also been shaped by the people that have worked the land and exploited its minerals.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'I have given my whole life to the mountains. Born at the foot of the Alps, I have been a ski champion, a professional guide, an amateur of the greatest climbs in the Alps and a member of eight expeditions to the Andes and the Himalaya. If the word has any meaning at all, I am a mountaineer.'So Lionel Terray begins Conquistadors of the Useless - not with arrogance, but with typical commitment. One of the most colourful characters of the mountaineering world, his writing is true to his uncompromising and jubilant love for the mountains.Terray was one of the greatest alpinists of his time, and his autobiography is one of the finest and most important mountaineering books ever written. Climbing with legends Gaston Rébuffat, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, Terray made first ascents in the Alps, Alaska, the Andes and the Himalaya. He was at the centre of global mountaineering at a time when Europe was emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and he came out a hero. Conquistadors of the Useless tells of his wartime escapades, of life as an Alpine mountain guide, and of his climbs - including the second ascent of the Eiger North Face and his involvement in the first ever ascent of an 8,000-metre peak, Annapurna. His tales capture the energy of French post-war optimism, a time when France needed to reassert herself and when climbing triumphs were more valued than at any other time in history.Terray's death, in the Vercors, robbed mountaineering of one of its most passionate and far-sighted figures. His energy, so obvious in Conquistadors of the Useless, will inspire for generations to come. A mountaineering classic.Trade ReviewLittle compromise and total commitment are features common in both Terray’s writing and his climbing, the lines of his autobiography are every bit as powerful as the lines he followed in the mountains. – John Baker, Climbers' Club JournalConquistadors of the Useless captures the energy of an optimistic world shaking off the restraints of war and austerity, and is sure to inspire today’s climbers with the irresistible passion of his mountaineering. – Scottish Mountaineering Club JournalConquistadors is one of the great books, hardly perfect but with bursts of powerful writing, especially about climbing. It is irresistible, even to those grown up enough to know better. There’s a Gallic cynicism, a dismissive brilliance that is achingly cool, and which Sutton does capture in his translation. And of course it is an outstanding account of arguably the greatest Alpine career of the 20th century. – Ed Douglas, Climber MagazineFrank, witty, clean, often controversial, Terray irresistibly conveys his lifelong passion for the mountains. – Lara Dunn, Adventure Travel MagazineTable of ContentsNote for the 2001 EditionForewordChapter One – DiscoveryChapter Two – First ConquestsChapter Three – War in the AlpsChapter Four – I meet LachenalChapter Five – The North Face of the EigerChapter Six – Guide to the Great ClimbsChapter Seven - AnnapurnaChapter Eight - Mountain RangingPostscriptAppendix One – The Ascent of Mount HuntingtonAppendix Two – Lionel Terray’s Climbs and Expeditions, and other Achievements

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Me not belong in the mountains? Why, I couldn't go on living without them! My thoughts, my dreams, my whole life were nothing but the mountains!'In 1953 Hermann Buhl made the first ascent of Nanga Parbat - the ninth-highest mountain in the world, and the third 8,000-metre peak to be climbed, following Annapurna and Everest. It was one of the most incredible and committed climbs ever made.Continuing alone and without supplementary oxygen, Buhl made a dash for the summit after his partners turned back. On a mountain that had claimed thirty-one lives, an exhausted Buhl waded through deep snow and climbed over technical ground to reach the summit, driven on by an 'irresistible urge'. After a night spent standing on a small ledge at over 8,000 metres, Buhl returned forty-one hours later, exhausted and at the very limit of his endurance.Written shortly after Buhl's return from the mountain, Nanga Parbat Pilgrimage is a classic of mountaineering literature that has inspired thousands of climbers. It follows Buhl's inexorable rise from rock climber to alpinist to mountaineer, until, almost inevitably, he makes his phenomenal Nanga Parbat climb. Buhl's book, and ascent, reminded everyone that, while the mountains could never be conquered, they could be climbed with sufficient enthusiasm, spirit and dedication.Table of ContentsTranslator's introduction Introduction to the 1998 edition About the author In the mountains of North Tyrol 'They'll never make a climber of me' A lesson from death End of an Alpine apprenticeship Grade VI - in the limestone cliffs Three routes on the Schusselkar The dying mountain - the north wall of the Praxmarerkarspitze Head-first to life The extreme edge of the abyss - the Mauk west wall Straight on up - the Laliderer wall Change of occupation - the ski-racer Avalanches, plaster casts and a hint of spring The Dolomite fairyland Smuggler's journey into Fairyland Once in a lifetime - Goldkappel south wall The north-east wall of the Furchetta A climb on probation Ice-glazed rock, waterfalls and stones The Royal Wall of the Civetta Winter training In the hell of a blizzard - Schusselkar wall Twenty-five summits in thirty-three hours The cold arete In the ice of the Western Alps The wall of ice and grit The north wall of the Triolet Only eight hours - but productive! Christmas on the precipices Climbing on steeples Turned down by the Jorasses Dreams come true Thunder on the Aiguille Noire A storm on the Monarch The south-west wall of the Marmolada, in winter Down a crevasse and an Alpine wager The buttress of the Grandes Jorasses Fifteen peaks at one bite The Matterhorn and a flagon of wine Gymnastics on rock - the north wall of the Western Zinne A climber went a-wooing We had to bivouac after all - on the Tofana buttress Badile - north-east wall Preparation for a great objective The mountain crucible - Eiger north wall The daily round intervenes Alone on a winter's night - east wall of the Watzmann Nanga Parbat Below 26,000 feet Above 26,000 feet Epilogue - A year later.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''John Keay is the master storyteller and historian. This grand narrative of Himalaya is as epic as the mountains and peoples he describes'' Dan Snow''Adds the human element to the hard rock. And what a rich vein it is'' Michael PalinHistory has not been kind to Himalaya. Empires have collided here, cultures have clashed. Buddhist India claimed it from the south, Islam put down roots in its western approaches, Mongols and Manchus rode in from the north, and, from the east, China continues to absorb what it prefers not to call Tibet. Hunters have decimated its wildlife and mountaineers have bagged its peaks. Today, machinery gouges minerals out of its rock.Roughly the size of Europe, the region is one of the most seismically active on the planet. Summers bring avalanches, rainfall triggers landslides and winters obliterate trails. Glaciers retreat, rivers change course and whole lakes quietly evaporate.To some, Himalaya is an otherworldly realm, profoundly life-chanTrade ReviewWonderful … In prose that feels as effortless as it is entertaining, Keay paints a fascinating picture of this magical region, covering everything from geology, glaciers, tectonic plates and botany to the spiritual and religious evolutions of humans -- C P W Gammell * Literary Review *There cannot be any current anglophone writer more knowledgeable about the region. -- Jonathan Buckley * Times Literary Supplement *Adds the human element to the hard rock. And what a rich vein it is -- Michael PalinExcellent -- Michael Dirda * The Washington Post *John Keay is the master storyteller and historian. This grand narrative of Himalaya is as epic as the mountains and peoples he describes -- Dan SnowFrom palaeontology to mysticism, from the East India Company to mountaineers, this is dazzlingly wide-ranging, brilliantly researched and elegantly told -- Ranulph FiennesThe guru of modern writers on Himalaya. Here, after a lifetime’s travel and reflection, is the story of the most important region on earth -- Michael WoodA dazzling collision of storytelling and scholarship, and the culmination of a lifetime’s research and experience, this is surely John Keay’s masterwork. He tackles the epic subject of the entire Himalayan region, through human history, and brings to it his own distinctive style – at once authoritative and colourful, stirring and droll, ambitious yet humble. A compelling portrait of a uniquely vulnerable region -- James McConnachieLet John Keay be your guide: he has decades of first-hand experience in the region, he wears his extensive learning lightly and he is a magnificent storyteller -- Chris BoningtonJohn Keay’s stunning book is meticulously researched and a gripping read. It lays out the long-standing allure of Himalaya, from the geographical and environmental to the archaeological and cultural. -- Kavita PuriA compendium of centuries of outsiders’ quests for scientific understanding of every aspect of the Himalayas — from its geology, topography and natural history to questions of anthropology and social history. No potential angle is left unexplored -- Amy Kazmin * Financial Times *The term ‘tour de force’ doesn’t do Keay's Himalaya justice. A beautiful work by one of the world’s foremost historians, the book is meticulously researched and written with Keay's particular flair. Comparable in its page-turning addiction to a fictional thriller, this will go down as a seminal work on the Himalaya. -- Kenton CoolPoetically written ... A wonderfully digressive read, with rich portraits and stories of those who made their careers and fame from Himalaya -- Maximillian Morch * Asian Review of Books *A wonderful book about an extraordinary place ... Keay's undertaking in print is as vast in its scope as the area it seeks to enclose between the covers of this single, handsomely illustrated volume ... Truly a place of wonder, wonderfully caught -- Peter Stanford * Church Times *A book that is meant to be savoured, not to be conquered. Enjoy the ride -- Mandira Nayar * The Week, India *The appropriate crown for John Keay’s writing on Asia. His study of the Himalaya marks the grand finale to his prodigious twin histories of India and China. Roll over Edward Gibbon. The powerful reimagining of the Himalaya from the structural perspective adds to the mountaineering and mythological lore, while the magisterial style is lightened by marvellous one liners… One of the best and easily the most informed books on the Himalaya -- Bill Aitken, author of Seven Sacred Rivers

Read more less

Book SynopsisNorthern Horizons is the story of one runner's lifelong love affair with the mountains of Scotland and Cumbria. It is also a guidebook, and therefore an invitation to join a growing community that finds both solace and thrill in moving fleet-footed through the hills.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the 2012 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature 'I was aware that I was cold - beyond cold. I was a lump of meat left for too long in a freezer, a body trapped beneath the ice, sinking down into the dark. I was freezing to death.' In this brilliant sequel to his award-winning debut Psychovertical, mountaineering stand-up Andy Kirkpatrick has achieved his life's ambition to become one of the world's leading climbers. Pushing himself to new extremes, he embarks on his toughest climbs yet - on big walls in the Alps and Patagonia - in the depths of winter. Kirkpatrick has more success, but the savagery and danger of these encounters comes at huge personal cost. Questioning his commitment to his chosen craft, Kirkpatrick is torn between family life and the dangerous path he has chosen. Written with his trademark wit and honesty, Cold Wars is a gripping account of modern adventure.Trade Review"The book is often as varied as it is textured, and with every break I looked forward to returning ... a book that is both hilarious and haunting." (Alison Osius, Rock & Ice Magazine). "This is Andy Kirkpatrick at his best." (Tom Richardson, Climb Magazine). "The rarest of things, a mountaineering book that really matters." (John Horscroft, Climber Magazine). "Kirkpatrick's wry sarcasm, his deft character sketches of his climbing partners, and the often ridiculous situations of the game of big-wall climbing lead to many laugh-out-loud moments. The portrayal of Kirkpatrick's developing insight into his motivation and his growing realisation of the importance of life outside climbing make this a climbing autobiography on a par with Steve House's Beyond the Mountain, only with more jokes about poo and Johnny Depp." (John Chivall, TGO Magazine). "Cold Wars is a funny, poignant read and I enjoyed it very much." (Alastair Humphreys, www.alastairhumphreys.com). "Brilliantly written, painfully thoughtful and yet still an incredibly easy and gripping read. Human and brilliant at the same time." (Jon Doran, OUTDOORSmagic.com). "A good second book from one of the the UK's best climbing showmen which will hopefully open the door for a third, as this man surely has more mountain stories to tell." (Jack Geldard, UKClimbing.com). "It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, and amazingly honest at others. Read it - but then you would have done anyway." (Rosie Fuller, Adventure Travel Magazine). "The book weaves an impressive line between man and mountaineer ... and manages to break out of an over-worked genre by dint of the author's honesty and vulnerability." (John Appleby, Footless Crow). "A superbly written insight into the life of a world class performer torn by internal battles, never satisfied because to stand still is to go backwards and infuriatingly not recognising that he doesn't need to be be measured against anyone." Dave Mycroft, MyOutdoors.co.uk). "A book that is moving, powerful and hugely entertaining, often within a single chapter, Cold Wars joins Psychovertical as one of the new classics of mountaineering literature." (Nicola Underdown, rockclimbinguk.co.uk). "Cold Wars is a superb book. For those like me who don't climb, it is a fantastic insight into a specialised world with pithy comment on the difficulties faced by those who inhabit it. For those who climb big walls in winter, you may well be in it. Regardless of who you are, go and read it." (British Army Rumour Service)."A book which celebrates all that is best in mountaineering literature and the Boardman Tasker Award in particular." (Bernard Newman, Boardman Tasker Prize 2012). "The book is often as varied as it is textured, and with every break I looked forward to returning ... a book that is both hilarious and haunting." (Alison Osius, Rock & Ice Magazine). "This is Andy Kirkpatrick at his best." (Tom Richardson, Climb Magazine). "The rarest of things, a mountaineering book that really matters." (John Horscroft, Climber Magazine). "Kirkpatrick's wry sarcasm, his deft character sketches of his climbing partners, and the often ridiculous situations of the game of big-wall climbing lead to many laugh-out-loud moments. The portrayal of Kirkpatrick's developing insight into his motivation and his growing realisation of the importance of life outside climbing make this a climbing autobiography on a par with Steve House's Beyond the Mountain, only with more jokes about poo and Johnny Depp." (John Chivall, TGO Magazine). "Brilliantly written, painfully thoughtful and yet still an incredibly easy and gripping read. Human and brilliant at the same time." (Jon Doran, OUTDOORSmagic.com). "A good second book from one of the the UK's best climbing showmen which will hopefully open the door for a third, as this man surely has more mountain stories to tell." (Jack Geldard, UKClimbing.com). "It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, and amazingly honest at others. Read it - but then you would have done anyway." (Rosie Fuller, Adventure Travel Magazine). "Cold Wars is a funny, poignant read and I enjoyed it very much." (Alastair Humphreys, www.alastairhumphreys.com). "A hugely entertaining and moving book, which will appeal to mountaineers and non-mountaineers alike, and no doubt will become one of the modern classics." (Ken Applegate, Scottish Mountaineer). "The book weaves an impressive line between man and mountaineer ... and manages to break out of an over-worked genre by dint of the author's honesty and vulnerability." (John Appleby, To Hatch A Crow). "A superbly written insight into the life of a world class performer torn by internal battles, never satisfied because to stand still is to go backwards and infuriatingly not recognising that he doesn't need to be be measured against anyone." (Dave Mycroft, MyOutdoors.co.uk). "A book that is moving, powerful and hugely entertaining, often within a single chapter, Cold Wars joins Psychovertical as one of the new classics of mountaineering literature." (Nicola Underdown, rockclimbinguk.co.uk). "Cold Wars is a superb book. For those like me who don't climb, it is a fantastic insight into a specialised world with pithy comment on the difficulties faced by those who inhabit it. For those who climb big walls in winter, you may well be in it. Regardless of who you are, go and read it." (British Army Rumour Service).Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Prologue Yosemite One Dru Two Lafaille Three Black Dog Four Fitz Roy Five Mermoz Six Park Seven Fear Eight Xmas Nine Troll Ten Hard Eleven Troll II Twelve Breathing Thirteen Lesueur Fourteen Sheep Fifteen Diamond Sixteen Post Seventeen Charlie Eighteen Grounded Nineteen Magic Climbing 101 Glossary

Read more less

Book SynopsisChanging the narrative of mountaineering books, Sherpa focuses on the people who live and work on the roof of the world.Amid all the foreign adventurers that throng to Nepal to scale the world's highest peaks there exists a small community of mountain people at the foothills of Himalayas. Sherpa tells their story. It's the story of endeavour and survival at the roof of the world. It dives into their culture and tells of their existence at the edge of life and death. Written by Ankit Babu Adhikari - a writer, social science researcher and musician - and Pradeep Bashyal - a journalist with the BBC based in Nepal - Sherpa traces their story pre- and post-mountaineering revolution, their evolution as climbing crusaders with previously unpublished stories from the most notable and incredible Sherpas of the last 50 years.This is the story of the Sherpas.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Proof that epic adventures are open to everyone, even if you've got a day job.' Alastair Humphreys Nicknamed 'Mountain Man' by the Sunday Telegraph, James Forrest is the record-breaking adventurer who climbed every mountain in England and Wales in just six months – the fastest ever time. Solo and unsupported, he walked over 1,000 miles and ascended five times the height of Everest during his 446-peak challenge. And he did it all on his days off from work, proving it is possible to integrate an epic adventure into your everyday life. From collapsing tents and horrific storms to near-fatal mountaineering mishaps, James endured his fair share of hardship out in the hills. But the good times far outweighed the bad. He slept wild under the stars, met eccentric locals, and exchanged the 21st century social media bubble for a simpler, more peaceful existence. What did he learn along the way? That life is more fulfilling when you switch off your phone and climb a mountain. Chosen by The Great Outdoors magazine as their book of the year, all readers will be inspired and motivated by James’s amazing adventure, and the book concludes with a section on how YOU can achieve your next adventure. Whether it’s something to get the kids involved in at half term, a fun challenge to tackle solo or with friends, or a record-breaking attempt of epic proportions, James will guide you through everything you need to do to plan and execute your adventure. This paperback edition also features a Foreword by adventurer and writer Anna McNuff.Trade ReviewProof that epic adventures are open to everyone, even if you've got a day job. -- Alastair Humphreys, author of Microadventures

Read more less

Book SynopsisWild Light is a stunning panoramic exploration of the Scottish landscape by photographer Craig Aitchison, winner of the inaugural Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. Produced over seven years and shot entirely using a traditional Hasselblad film camera, this remarkable body of work captures the essence of the Scottish wilderness through the seasons and portrays the Highlands and Islands at their most beautiful. Featuring over eighty panoramas, this book celebrates the rich natural heritage, incredible geodiversity and varied landscape for which Scotland is internationally renowned. Among a glittering cast of many are the dramatic heights of Suilven, An Teallach and Aonach Eagach, and the otherworldly landscapes of the Lairig Ghru in the Cairngorms and Glen Etive. Craig Aitchison's Wild Light will delight anyone who treasures the Scottish mountain landscape.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A full and fascinating portrait of one of the great figures of mountaineering.' – Michael PalinAt dusk on 24 September 1975, Doug Scott and Dougal Haston became the first Britons to reach the summit of Everest as lead climbers on Chris Bonington's epic expedition to the mountain's immense south-west face.As darkness fell, Scott and Haston scraped a small cave in the snow 100 metres below the summit and survived the highest bivouac ever – without bottled oxygen, sleeping bags and, as it turned out, frostbite. For Doug Scott, it was the fulfilment of a fortune-teller's prophecy given to his mother: that her eldest son would be in danger in a high place with the whole world watching.Scott and Haston returned home national heroes with their image splashed across the front pages. Scott went on to become one of Britain's greatest ever mountaineers, pioneering new climbs in the remotest corners of the globe. His career spans the golden age of British climbing from the 1960s boom in outdoor adventure to the new wave of lightweight alpinism throughout the 1970s and 1980s.In Up and About, the first volume of his autobiography, Scott tells his story from his birth in Nottingham during the darkest days of war to the summit of the world. Surviving the unplanned bivouac without oxygen near the summit of Everest widened the range of what and how he would climb in the future. In fact, Scott established more climbs on the high mountains of the world after his ascent of Everest than before. Those climbs will be covered in the second volume of his life and times.Trade Review'"Up and About" is an understatement. In this book are clear and comprehensive accounts of some of the most dangerous things it's possible to do. From winning a baby show in Nottingham to taking on the most perilous rock faces in the world this is a full and fascinating portrait of one of the great figures of mountaineering. A man for whom no challenge went unanswered.' – Michael Palin'As well as relaying the literal ups and downs of the biggest walls and highest mountains in the world, Scott writes with honesty about the emotional and personal peaks and troughs of a life where family relationships are put under strain and life itself is so often at risk.' – Allan Tunningley, The Westmorland GazetteTable of ContentsPreface; The First Age; Chapter One: Wildchild; Chapter Two: The Canal; The Second Age; Chapter Three: Empires; Chapter Four: History Lessons; The Third Age; Chapter Five: Jan; Chapter Six: Atlas; Chapter Seven: Dolomites; Chapter Eight: Tibesti; Chapter Nine: Hindu Kush; Chapter Ten: Strone; The Fourth Age; Chapter Eleven: A Changing World; Chapter Twelve: Yosemite; Chapter Thirteen: Baffin; Chapter Fourteen: Don; Chapter Fifteen: Everest Again; Chapter Sixteen: Changabang; Chapter Seventeen: Tragedy in the Pamirs; Chapter Eighteen: Strategy and Tactics; Chapter Nineteen: Everest Regained; Epilogue; Acknowledgements; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe crash of the Indian plate into Asia is the biggest known collision in geological history, and it continues today. The result is the Himalaya and Karakoram - one of the largest mountain ranges on Earth. The Karakoram has half of the world''s highest mountains and a reputation as being one of the most remote and savage ranges of all. In this beautifully illustrated book, Mike Searle, a geologist at the University of Oxford and one of the most experienced field geologists of our time, presents a rich account of the geological forces that were involved in creating these mountain ranges. Using his personal accounts of extreme mountaineering and research in the region, he pieces together the geological processes that formed such impressive peaks.Trade ReviewBeautifully illustrated. * Independent i *Entertaining and informative, Colliding Continents is an easy read which should appeal to anyone with even a little interest in geology. * Danny Yee, dannyreviews.com *All can learn from the master in this excellent book. * Jonathan Wright, Geographical *There's something here to please anyone on the geology spectrum: the student wanting to understand how the fundamentals are applied; the academic intrigued by the science; the climber dreaming of virgin territory. All can learn from the master in this excellent book. * Simon Cook, Oman Daily Observer *This is a wonderful record of Mike Searles 30 year geological explorations of the high mountains of Asia. He writes as clearly and concisely as he talks, always making huge geological dramas intelligible and interesting to the layman as well as to the expert. Whether you view the Himalaya and Karakoram as a giant exercise bar or a place for spiritual renewal, you will find this geological history of the high mountains of Asia absolutely fascinating. * Doug Scott, Climber and Amateur Geologist *An intimate anatomy of the greatest mountain range in the planet, revealed by a geologist who has walked, scrambled and climbed over virtually every inch of it. * Iain Stewart, Geologist and Broadcaster *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Oceans and continents 2: Continents in collision: Kashmir, Ladakh, Zanskar 3: The dreaming spires of the Karakoram 4: Pressure, temperature, time, and space 5: Frozen rivers and fault lines 6: Northwest Frontier: Kohistan, Hindu Kush, Pamirs 7: Faces of Everest 8: Mapping the geology of Everest and Makalu 9: Mountains and Maoists: Annapurna, Manaslu 10: Around the bend: Nanga Parbat, Namche Barwa 11: Roof of the World: Tibet, Pamirs 12: Extruding Indochina: Burma, Vietnam, Yunnan, Thailand 13: The day the Earth shook: Sumatra-Andaman earthquake 2004 14: The making of Himalaya, Karakoram, and Tibetan plateau Postscript Acknowledgements Appendix 1: Basics Appendix 2: Glossary Appendix 3: Local glossary Appendix 4: Chronology Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA “sublime” and “radically original” exploration of the Sierra Nevadas, the best mountains on Earth for hiking and camping, from New York Times bestselling novelist Kim Stanley Robinson (Bill McKibben, Gary Snyder). Kim Stanley Robinson first ventured into the Sierra Nevada mountains during the summer of 1973. He returned from that encounter a changed man, awed by a landscape that made him feel as if he were simultaneously strolling through an art museum and scrambling on a jungle gym like an energized child. He has returned to the mountains throughout his life—more than a hundred trips—and has gathered a vast store of knowledge about them. The High Sierra is his lavish celebration of this exceptional place and an exploration of what makes this span of mountains one of the most compelling places on Earth.Over the course of a vivid and dramatic narrative, Robinson describes the geological forces that shaped the

Read more less

Book SynopsisLeo Houlding started climbing at ten years of age in the Lake District and was the youngest person (and first Briton) to free climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the United States at eighteen years, which cemented his reputation. He has since gone on to summit the world''s toughest peaks and explore the most extreme places on our planet. During such explorations he has had to deal with tragedy when close friends and colleagues have been killed or badly injured, and he will discuss how you deal with such loss and carry on. Honest, raw and exhilarating, Closer to the Edge will be a ''warts-and-all'' insight into the extreme life of one of Britain''s best mountaineer adventurers. What drives him? How does he assess risk and judge what level he''ll take himself to be successful, and how does he balance this with teaching his own children the lessons he has learnt in some of the world''s most dangerous and extreme places.Trade ReviewLeo is an amazing climber and adventurer who's been pushing the limits for as long as I can remember. He's done some of the wildest climbs on earth. -- Alex Honnold

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisAselected guide to 2000 routes north of the Highland Boundary Fault. Explore thelong almost alpine length routes and classic ridges on Ben Nevis, bag yourfirst sport routes at Bennybeg or Comic Crags, or chill out on a range of shortimmaculate crags by the beach on the idyllic Erraid. From convenient roadsidecrags to remote corries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Wild Winter, John D. Burns, bestselling author of The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, sets out to rediscover Scotland’s mountains, remote places and wildlife in the darkest and stormiest months. He traverses the country from the mouth of the River Ness to the Isle of Mull, from remote Sutherland to the Cairngorms, in search of rutting red deer, pupping seals, minke whales, beavers, pine martens, mountain hares and otters. In the midst of the fierce weather, John’s travels reveal a habitat in crisis, and many of these wild creatures prove elusive as they cling on to life in the challenging Highland landscape.As John heads deeper into the winter, he notices the land fighting back with signs of regeneration. He finds lost bothies, old friendships and innovative rewilding projects, and – as Covid locks down the nation – reflects on what the outdoors means to hillwalkers, naturalists and the folk who make their home in the Highlands.Wild Winter is a reminder of the wonder of nature and the importance of caring for our environment. In his winter journey through the mountains and bothies of the Highlands, John finds adventure, humour and a deep sense of connection with this wild land.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere are few more beautiful places than Scotland’s winter mountains. But even when most of the snow has melted, isolated patches can linger well into summer and beyond. In The Vanishing Ice, Iain Cameron chronicles these remarkable and little-seen relics of the Ice Age, describing how they have fascinated travellers and writers for hundreds of years, and reflecting on the impact of climate change.Iain was nine years old when snow patches first captured his imagination, and they have been inextricably bound with his life ever since. He developed his expertise through correspondence (and close friendship) with research ecologist Dr Adam Watson, and is today Britain’s foremost authority on this weather phenomenon.Iain takes us on a tour of Britain which includes the Scottish Highlands, the Southern Uplands, the Lake District and Snowdonia, seeking elusive patches of snow in wild and often inaccessible locations. His adventures include a perilous climb in the Cairngorms with comedian Ed Byrne, and glorious days spent out on the hills with Andrew Cotter and his very good dogs, Olive and Mabel.Based on sound scientific evidence and personal observations, accompanied by stunning photography and wrapped in Iain’s shining passion for the British landscape, The Vanishing Ice is a eulogy to snow, the mountains and the great outdoors.Trade Review'Possibly the only writer who can pack history, geography, meteorology and adventure into tiny patches of snow.'– Muriel Gray'A man who can make staring at snow not just interesting, but fascinating.'– Muriel Gray'Like some guardian of a lost folk memory, Iain Cameron wanders the Highlands in search of patches of snow that have held out stubbornly against the march of the seasons. Nestled in a remote gully, the last remnant of a forgotten ice age melts into a trickle – and then is gone. His work is done for now, but the snows will return.'– Nicholas Hellen, Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere are few more beautiful places than Scotland’s winter mountains. But even when most of the snow has melted, isolated patches can linger well into summer and beyond. In The Vanishing Ice, Iain Cameron chronicles these remarkable and little-seen relics of the Ice Age, describing how they have fascinated travellers and writers for hundreds of years, and reflecting on the impact of climate change.Iain was nine years old when snow patches first captured his imagination, and they have been inextricably bound with his life ever since. He developed his expertise through correspondence (and close friendship) with research ecologist Dr Adam Watson, and is today Britain’s foremost authority on this weather phenomenon.Iain takes us on a tour of Britain which includes the Scottish Highlands, the Southern Uplands, the Lake District and Snowdonia, seeking elusive patches of snow in wild and often inaccessible locations. His adventures include a perilous climb in the Cairngorms with comedian Ed Byrne, and glorious days spent out on the hills with Andrew Cotter and his very good dogs, Olive and Mabel.Based on sound scientific evidence and personal observations, accompanied by stunning photography and wrapped in Iain’s shining passion for the British landscape, The Vanishing Ice is a eulogy to snow, the mountains and the great outdoors.Trade Review'Possibly the only writer who can pack history, geography, meteorology and adventure into tiny patches of snow.'– Muriel Gray'A man who can make staring at snow not just interesting, but fascinating.'– Muriel Gray'Like some guardian of a lost folk memory, Iain Cameron wanders the Highlands in search of patches of snow that have held out stubbornly against the march of the seasons. Nestled in a remote gully, the last remnant of a forgotten ice age melts into a trickle – and then is gone. His work is done for now, but the snows will return.'– Nicholas Hellen, Sunday Times

Read more less

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.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisLake District Mountain Landscape is a spectacular photographic perspective on the Lake District from award-winning mountain photographer and filmmaker Alastair Lee. More than five years in the making, it is a work of extraordinary commitment and originality.With an emphasis on the mountain heights, Lee captures the otherworldliness and majesty of the 'English Alps' in all seasons and conditions. An experienced climber, Lee brings all his skill and tenacity to the task of capturing sunrise from the summits of the highest peaks in England, moonlight on icy slopes and seas of cloud filling the familiar valleys of Lakeland.Ascents of seemingly unscalable crags such as Pillar and Gimmer Crag are celebrated, and 360-degree panoramas in ethereal upland light from high peaks including Helvellyn, Bowfell and Great Gable are complemented by a series of identifying sketches. In a book which is full of revelations for Lakelanders and visitors alike, Alastair Lee renews and redefines the magic of this much-loved landscape.Trade Review'Lee's Cezanne-like obsession with capturing and recording a rocky feature in all lights, conditions and weathers makes his quest a fascinating one.' (The Independent on Sunday). 'They're not just pretty pictures but images that speak of a fundamental appreciation of the hills as a refuge from the world and a visionary vantage point, a unique wild character in the landscapes of our imagination.' (The Guardian). 'Jaw-droppingly stunning views of Lake District fell tops feature in this quite breathtaking book from award-winning photographer Alastair Lee. No one leafing through this collection of inspirational images can fail to be impressed by the mood and majesty of the mountains that Lee has managed to capture through his lens.' (Westmorland Gazette). 'Any photography fans with an affection for the area should get hold of a copy and stick it on their bookshelf for emergency inspiration.' (Cameron McNeish, TGO Magazine). 'This beautiful 'coffee-table' collection of photographs is probably the most stunning I have ever received for review. Few photographers have produced such evocative pictures. This stunning volume is a gift to be treasured and enjoyed for years.' (Keswick Reminder). 'Lake District Mountain Landscape is a gorgeous look at the less-travelled route, where peaks meet sky, the summits of the landscape whose lower reaches were made famous by Wordsworth. Lee's photographs are compelling, and stunningly rendered in a large format book that carries its panoramic power to the eye.' (Steven Ross Smith, Director of Literary Arts, The Banff Centre). 'Some of the photographs in this collection of landscapes of the high Lakeland hills are sumptuous beyond words, and offer quite staggering detail. I've seen little else that captures what it's like to be high on the fells with the same expansive pleasure.' (Ed Douglas, calmandfearless.com).

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NEW AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER BY THE AUTHOR OF THE MOUNTAINTrade ReviewFull of folklore and history as well as descriptions of astonishing hardship, Sanctuary is also a study of character and what happens to people's minds when they have to find a way to make sense of intolerable circumstances . . . -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review. *With his first book, he was compared to Stephen King and the David Lynch of Twin Peaks. Here, D'Andrea will go even further into the depths of evil -- Alessia Rastelli * Corriere della Serra. *A clever, twisty and chilling page-turner. * Choice Magazine. *This immensely enjoyable chiller/thiller is a superb follow up to last year's bestseller, The Mountain. This novel demonstrates that D'Andrea has no problem at all with 'second album syndrome', Sanctuary is a brilliant piece of storytelling. * New Books Magazine. *D'Andrea's a name to add to your Eurocrime list. -- David Hewson, author of the Nic Costa novels and The KillingD'Andrea is a real master. -- Sergio Pent * La Stampa. *Pulsatingly exciting and astonishingly grisly in equal measure. * Irish Independent. *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisMountains cover a quarter of the Earth''s land surface and are home to about 12 percent of the global population. They are the sources of all the world''s major rivers, affect regional weather patterns, provide centres of biological and cultural diversity, hold deposits of minerals, and provide both active and contemplative recreation. Yet mountains are also significantly affected by climate change; as melting and retreating glaciers show. Given the manifold goods and services which mountains provide to the world, such changes are of global importance. In this Very Short Introduction, Martin Price outlines why mountains matter at the global level, and addresses the existing and likely impacts of climate change on mountain, hydrological and ecological systems. Considering the risks associated with the increasing frequency of extreme events and ''natural hazards'' caused by climate change, he discusses the implications for both mountain societies and wider populations, and concludes by emphasizing the need for greater cooperation in order to adapt to climate change in our increasingly globalized world.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewneat little book, perfect for carrying in a pocket or in hand luggage ... I would certainly recommendthis as a suitable text for pre-A level or undergraduate reading lists, or for anyone with a wider interest in mountains. * Jane Terry, GeographyMountain Research and Development *The text is packed with information and details on mountains and gives an easy-to-read insight into many facts about mountains and people's interaction with them. It is highly recommended for anybody interested and its small light-weight format allows taking it along to read at the top of a mountain. * eco.mont *Even if your interest in mountains stops short at the Cheviot, you should find food for thought in these pages. * Mike Merchant, Scottish Mountaineer *conveys a vivid impression of the many ways in which mountains are important to us. * Network Reviews *Table of Contents1. Why do mountains matter? ; 2. Mountains are not eternal ; 3. The world's water towers ; 4. Living in a vertical world ; 5. Hotspots of diversity ; 6. Protected areas and tourism ; 7. Climate change in the mountains ; Further Reading ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy do road cyclists go to the mountains? Many books tell you where the mountains are, or how long and how high. None of them ask Why?'After all, cycling up a mountain is hard so hard that, to many non-cyclists, it can seem absurd. But, for some, climbing a mountain gracefully (and beating your competitors up the slope) represents the pinnacle of cycling achievement. The mountains are where legends are forged and cycling's greats make their names.Why are Europe's mountain ranges professional cycling's Wembley Stadium or its Colosseum? Why do amateurs also make a pilgrimage to these high, remote roads and what do we see and feel when we do?Why are the roads there in the first place?Higher Calling explores the central place of mountains in the folklore of road cycling. Blending adventure and travel writing with the rich narrative of pro racing, Max Leonard takes the reader from the battles that created the Alpine roads to the shepherds tending their flocks on the peaks, and to a Grand Tour climax on the highest road in Europe'. And he tells stories of courage and sacrifice, war and love, obsession and elephants along the way.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplore the wonders of wild Mongolia through the eyes of a distinguished field biologistTrade Review“Schaller is driven by his vision of what must be done if wild spaces and rare species are to persist. . . . He is eloquent in his condemnation of what he deems gross mismanagement by the nation’s current political leaders, who allow oil drilling, mining and road-building in crucial protected areas.”—Tom McCarthy, Nature“George Schaller’s genius has been to bring the style of the best nineteenth-century natural histories together with solid present-day science. Into Wild Mongolia is a superb example of this combination.”—Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University“With great dedication to wildlife in all of its manifestations, George Schaller explores the vast steppes and other habitats of Mongolia. His revelatory explorations will undoubtedly aid the conservation of this unique ecosystem.”—Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves“Traveling in remote and unpredictable regions, George Schaller conveys the thrill of sitting near snow leopards, the beauty of vast glowing grasses, and the discovery of thousands of wandering gazelles.”—Amy Vedder, author of In the Kingdom of Gorillas: The Quest to Save Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas“Luminously written, Into Wild Mongolia introduces us to remote, often cold, and desolate landscapes, animals such as the Bactrian camel, and local characters, richly rendered. We learn to read the wordless movements of elusive creatures like the snow leopard, communicated in the oldest writing on earth, their footprints in soil and snow. George Schaller is an icon; for his dedication to conservation and his love of biodiversity we can only be grateful.”—James Prosek, author of Trout of the World and Eels.“George Schaller, a true giant, is essentially the original field biologist. His words are living history. This astonishing, vivid book describes a region that has changed, but must never be forgotten.”—Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel

Read more less

Book SynopsisWritten with fell walkers and other countryside enthusiasts in mind this thoroughly engaging and absorbing book shows that there is much more to the Lake District than simply 'stanes and watter'. Have you ever wondered why Scafell is different from Skiddaw, or why the east side of Helvellyn is different from the west side, or why Ullswater is different from Windermere, or why the summit of Helm Crag is, well, a bit craggy? If so, this book will provide some answers, together with a deeper understanding of how the fell country acquired its special characteristics. The physical landscape of the Lake District acts like a giant magnet, attracting several million visitors every year to the fell country. From John Constable to Alfred Wainwright, via William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, the Lake District has inspired visitors and residents alike. Although often romanticised in words and pictures as static and enduring, the mountains of the Lake District are dynamic elements of nature undergoing constant change. Media interest in climate change, storms, floods and landslides has done much to increase the public's perception of a 'dynamic' rather than a 'static' physical landscape. For those who think they know all there is to know about the mountains of the Lake District this book provides details of a different facet that is accessible to all who take the time 'to stand and stare'Table of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgements ix Preamble xi CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 CHAPTER TWO: The geology of the Lake District 13 CHAPTER THREE: The pre-glacial landscape 33 CHAPTER FOUR: Glaciation and related landforms 45 CHAPTER FIVE: Periglacial processes and landforms 87 CHAPTER SIX: Hillslope processes and landforms 111 CHAPTER SEVEN: Rivers, Lakes and Tarns 127 CHAPTER EIGHT: Limestone landforms 167 CHAPTER NINE: Man-made landforms 179 CHAPTER TEN: Finale 191 Further Reading 195 Societies 204 Index 205

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Mountains of the Yorkshire Dales' is the essential companion to walking the 31 rolling fells around the National Park that rise above 2000 feet. Paul Hannon's half-century of exploring the Dales has culminated in this hugely practical guidebook to hillwalks above Wharfedale and Wensleydale, Dentdale and Swaledale.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a love letter to Loughrigg.It's one of the smallest fells in the Lake District, but Loughrigg is small in height only.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith a back-story of running round the route of the classic Alpine journey the Tour de Mont Blanc, Heather Dawe explores the drive behind mountain running and racing, and how simply being in the mountains has inspired herself and other climbers, writers, artists and innovators through the years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMountain Stories is an illustrated memoir of journeys through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes, including Skye's Cuillin, Knoydart, Assynt and the Far North. Writing during lockdown, author and artist Heather Dawe finds telling these stories a powerful means of reconnection with the mountains when they are physically inaccessible. Dawe's journeys are made by walking, running, cycling or sea-kayak. The stories are a reflection of the importance of wild places and the inspiration, art and culture associated with them.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe mountains have always fascinated people. When you think of a mountain vacation you immediately think of hiking, skiing, cross-country skiing, climbing, etc., but there are plenty of other disciplines to discover that you can practice while overlooking magnificent mountain scenery! Jurgen Groenwals, editor-in-chief of 100%Snow and 100%Trails, guides you through the rich array of mountain sports, and in the meantime lets you discover the twenty most beautiful - known and less known - mountain villages and valleys in Europe.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'All mountaineers develop differently. Some go higher, some try ever-steeper faces and others specialise in a particular range or region. I am increasingly drawn to remoteness – to places where few others have trod.'The Wild Within is the third book from Simon Yates, one of Britain's most accomplished and daring mountaineers. With his insatiable appetite for adventure and exploratory mountaineering, Yates leads unique expeditions to unclimbed peaks in the Cordillera Darwin in Tierra del Fuego, the Wrangell St-Elias ranges on the Alaska-Yukon border, and Eastern Greenland. Laced with dry humour, he relates his own experience of the rapid commercialisation of mountain wilderness, while grappling with his new-found commitments as a family man. At the same time he must endure his role in the film adaptation of Joe Simpson's Touching The Void, having to relive the events of that trip to Peru for a Hollywood director.Yates' subsequent escape to the some of the world's most remote mountains isn't quite the experience it once was, as he witnesses first hand the advance of modern communications into the wilderness, signalled by the ubiquitous mobile phone masts appearing in once-deserted mountain valleys. He is left to dwell on the remaining significance of mountain wilderness and must rediscover what the notion of 'wild' means for him now.Trade Review"This book makes essential reading." (Simon Richardson, Climber magazine). "...a very good read, full of great stories and inspiration. It should be on the reading list of any budding expeditioneer." (Kenton Cool, Climb Magazine). "The Wild Within by Simon Yates is more than a standard mountaineering memoir. Yates is an insightful writer." (Lindsay Griffin, Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature). "In some ways The Wild Within is a lament for a lost world of wilderness and the reader leaves with a tinge of sadness that the world is so linked up, but it's also a celebration that the spirit of wilderness John Muir so eloquently described as being essential to the human soul. It's a big departure from previous books Against the Wall and The Flame of Adventure, but a departure that's more than succeeded." (Dave Mycroft, MyOutdoors.co.uk). "The Wild Within takes the reader to the outer limits of mountaineering experience and frames the journey in all its elemental power and mystery. The author's first book for Vertebrate can be considered a success. It can only further cement his reputation as a romantic wanderer and wilderness narrator." (John Appleby, Footless Crow). "Simon Yates has the rare ability to capture the reader's attention in the first few sentences and then to maintain interest until the very last sentence in the book. This personal tale of adventure and remarkable mountaineering skill is one that I couldn't put down until I had finished it!" (Joyce Wilson, Keswick Reminder).Table of ContentsIntroductionCordillera Darwin – Tierra Del Fuego MapOne That’s Very AmbitiousTwo Not Very ProfessionalThree The Way of the GauchoFour All Your Front TeethFive Life is GoodSix More Like Being AbroadSeven It Might not be the HardestMilne Land – Eastern Greenland MapEight A Plane CrasherNine It’s Like PantomimeTen I’ll Never Do Anything BetterWrangell-St Elias Ranges – Alaska/Yukon MapEleven Not for the Faint-HeartedEpilogueAcknowledgements

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘He appeared, without a word, in the tent’s entrance, covered in ice. He looked like anyone would after spending over twenty-four hours in a hurricane at over 8,000 metres. In winter. In the Karakoram. He was so exhausted he couldn’t speak.’Of all the games mountaineers play on the world’s high mountains, the hardest – and cruellest – is climbing the fourteen peaks over 8,000 metres in the bitter cold of winter. Ferocious winds that can pick you up and throw you down, freezing temperatures that burn your lungs and numb your bones, weeks of psychological torment in dark isolation: these are adventures for those with an iron will and a ruthless determination.For the first time, award-winning author Bernadette McDonald tells the story of how Poland’s ice warriors made winter their own, perfecting what they dubbed ‘the art of suffering’ as they fought their way to the summit of Everest in the winter of 1980 – the first 8,000-metre peak they climbed this way but by no means their last. She reveals what it was that inspired the Poles to take up this brutal game, how increasing numbers of climbers from other nations were inspired to enter the arena, and how competition intensified as each remaining peak finally submitted to leave just one awaiting a winter ascent, the meanest of them all: K2.Winter 8000 is the story of true adventure at its most demanding.Trade ReviewMcDonald shines a burning and intimate light into the souls of those who push themselves to the very edge of what is humanly possible. An instant mountaineering classic.JIMMY CHIN, CO-DIRECTOR OF FREE SOLO -- Jimmy ChinBernadette McDonald has the skill and experience to work on the largest Himalayan tapestry, the epic history, as well as pick at its individual human threads.ANDY KIRKPATRICK, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF PSYCHOVERTICAL AND COLD WARS -- Andy KirkpatrickIn Winter 8000, Bernadette McDonald demonstrates once more her essential contribution to mountaineering history. With vividness and keen insight, she evokes a world that few experience first-hand: the landscapes of black ice, thin air and searing cold – as well as the haunting inner realms of people drawn to the isolation of the highest peaks and the darkest months.KATIE IVES, ALPINIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF -- Katie IvesReading Bernadette’s superb book brought back memories of our attempt on the South-West Face of Everest in autumn 1972 when the wind and bitter cold overtook us. K2 is the only 8,000-metre peak still unclimbed in winter. Already the most difficult and dangerous mountain in the world, its first winter ascent remains a huge challenge for climbers of this generation and the future.SIR CHRIS BONINGTON -- Sir Chris BoningtonThere are no stories more terrifying, dramatic, and tearful than the abundant struggles, frequent tragedies, and rare successes in winter Himalayan climbing.STEVE HOUSE, ALPINIST, AUTHOR OF BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN -- Steve HouseBernadette McDonald has done it again. She has chronicled the first winter ascents of the fourteen highest peaks on Earth by men and women who pushed the limits of mountaineering to glorious new extremes at a terrible cost. Rich in character and conflict, Winter 8000 never turns its back on the central question: Is it worth the risk?DAVID ROBERTS, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF MOUNTAIN OF MY FEAR -- David RobertsBernadette McDonald’s clear-eyed portrayal of the men and women who embark on these ferocious adventures reveals their addiction to the cruel, rarefied beauty of the high Himalaya, and how intense ambition pushes them to risk destroying their lives and shattering the hearts of those who love them.MARIA COFFEY, AUTHOR OF WHERE THE MOUNTAIN CASTS ITS SHADOW -- Maria CoffeyWith this book, Bernadette McDonald burnishes her already shining reputation as one of our great climbing historians. These accounts give us a fascinating portrayal of the few alpinists who are willing to endure winter ascents of the world’s highest mountains.STEVE SWENSON, AUTHOR OF KARAKORAM: CLIMBING THROUGH THE KASHMIR CONFLICT -- Steve SwensonTable of ContentsIntroduction A Solitary VisionChapter One Everest – First Time LuckyChapter Two Manaslu – Zakopane BoysChapter Three Dhaulagiri – The Looking GlassChapter Four Cho Oyu – Two for TwoChapter Five Kangchenjunga – How Much Is Too Much?Chapter Six Annapurna – Carpe DiemChapter Seven Lhotse – Climbing in a CorsetChapter Eight Shishapangma – The ItalianChapter Nine Makalu – Two Against the WindChapter Ten Gasherbrum II – AvalancheChapter Eleven Gasherbrum I – Lost FathersChapter Twelve Broad Peak – Unfinished BusinessChapter Thirteen Nanga Parbat – Magnificent ObsessionChapter Fourteen K2 – A Mountain for ThoroughbredsConclusion Ice WarriorsAppendix A Selected List of ClimbersAppendix B Summary of First Winter Ascents of 8000ers

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Even the most casual reader among you will by now have worked out that the whole thing is little more than a delightful ruse for having a very good time.'Experienced climber Charles Sherwood is on a quest to find the best climb on each continent. He eschews the traditional Seven Summits, where height alone is the determining factor, and instead considers mountaineering challenge, natural beauty and historical context, aiming to capture the diverse character of each continent and the sheer variety of climbing in all its forms.The author's ambitious odyssey takes him to the Alps, the Himalaya, Yosemite, the Andes, Kenya, New Zealand and South Georgia. His goal is neither to seek glory nor to complete a box-ticking exercise, but simply to enjoy himself in the company of his fellow climbers, including Mark Seaton, Andy Kirkpatrick and Stephen Venables, and to appreciate the splendour of his surroundings. On classic routes like the North Face of the Eiger and the Nose on El Capitan, it is hard not to be swept away by Sherwood's unfaltering enthusiasm.Also featuring fascinating historical detail about each route, Seven Climbs is a compelling account of Sherwood's efforts to answer a much-debated question: which are the world’s greatest climbs?Table of ContentsThe Challenge1. Europe: 1938 Route, North Face of the Eiger (Switzerland)2. Asia: South-West Ridge of Ama Dablam (Nepal)3. North America: The Nose, El Capitan, Yosemite (USA)4. South America: South-West Face of Alpamayo, Cordillera Blanca (Peru)5. Africa: Traverse of Nelion and Batian, Mount Kenya (Kenya)6. Australasia/Oceania: Linda Glacier Route, Aoraki/Mount Cook (New Zealand)7. Antarctica: Coast-to-Coast Traverse of the Salvesen Range, South Georgia (UK Overseas Territory)Not-So-Final Thoughts

Read more less

Book Synopsis'One of the greatest mountaineering survival stories never told.' – The Sunday Times Some mountains are high; some mountains are hard. Few are both. On the afternoon of 13 July 1977, having become the first climbers to reach the summit of the Ogre, Doug Scott and Chris Bonington began their long descent. In the minutes that followed, any feeling of success from their achievement would be overwhelmed by the start of a desperate fight for survival. And things would only get worse. Rising to over 7,000 metres in the centre of the Karakoram, the Ogre – Baintha Brakk – is notorious in mountaineering circles as one of the most difficult mountains to climb. First summited by Scott and Bonington in 1977 – on expedition with Paul ‘Tut’ Braithwaite, Nick Estcourt, Clive Rowland and Mo Anthoine – it waited almost twenty-four years for a second ascent, and a further eleven years for a third. The Ogre, by legendary mountaineer Doug Scott, is a two-part biography of this enigmatic peak: in the first part, Scott has painstakingly researched the geography and history of the mountain; part two is the long overdue and very personal account of his and Bonington’s first ascent and their dramatic week-long descent on which Scott suffered two broken legs and Bonington smashed ribs. Using newly discovered diaries, letters and audio tapes, it tells of the heroic and selfless roles played by Clive Rowland and Mo Anthoine. When the desperate climbers finally made it back to base camp, they were to find it abandoned – and themselves still a long way from safety. The Ogre is undoubtedly one of the greatest adventure stories of all time.Trade Review'One of the greatest mountaineering survival stories never told.' – The Sunday Times. Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionPART I1. The Mountain2. Ancient History of Exploration3. European Interest in the Region4. The East India Company5. Scottish Contribution to Empire6. The Blanks on the Map7. Early MountaineeringPART II8. The Climbers9. March to Base Camp10. Climbing the Ogre11. The Epic Descent12. The Final StretchAfterwordAcknowledgementsFurther ReadingThe Author

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less