'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?

'All I wanted to do was go to sleep. And I was certain that if I did drift off, it would be for the last time.' In 1998, Paul Pritchard was struck on the head by a falling rock as he climbed a sea stack in Tasmania called the Totem Pole. Close to death, waiting for hours for rescue, Pritchard kept himself going with a promise that given the chance, he would 'at least attempt to live'. Left hemiplegic by his injury, Pritchard has spent the last two decades attempting to live, taking on adventures that seemed impossible for someone so badly injured while plumbing the depths of a mind almost snuffed out by his passion for climbing. Not content to simply survive, Pritchard finds ways to return to his old life, cycling across Tibet and expanding his mind on gruelling meditation courses, revisiting the past and understanding his compulsion for risk. Finally, he returns to climb the Totem Pole, the place where his life was almost extinguished. The Mountain Path is an adventure book like no other, an exploration of a healing brain, a journey into philosophy and psychology, a test of will and a triumph of hope.

Mountaineering in the Ecrins Massif showcases the Ecrins' most beautiful summits through a selection of the area's best lower grade snow, rock and mixed climbs. Authors Frederic Chevaillot, Paul Grobel and Jean-Rene Minelli have chosen 25 classic Ecrins routes - graded between F and AD - that have come to be regarded as classics due to their quality, their altitude or, simply, their easy access. These routes provide the essential pleasures of mountaineering: getting off the beaten track, enjoying the pure mountain air and delighting in the charms of the high mountains. Most of these routes are at the boundary between hiking and technical alpinism and should be within the capabilities of any fit hiker-mountaineer. Routes and peaks featured include: the Aiguille du Goleon; the north ridge of the Aiguille Dibona; the south ridge of Pic Coolidge; the north-east face of the Meije Orientale; and the traverse of the Barre des Ecrins ridge, plus many more. 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. A conscious decision was made to limit the selection to relatively easy climbs, and so the routes described in this book - a mere fraction of the climbs in the magnificent Ecrins Massif - should be within the capabilities of almost all mountaineers.

Lord Purdey was shaking with anger. 'Bring back the lynx? Over my dead body!' The environmental protestors murmured, and Rory stepped forward. 'Your hunting has destroyed our hills and left them treeless wastes, devoid of wildlife. It's time that changed.' 'Listen, you lentil-eating cat lover,' Purdey barked through the megaphone, 'men like me own Scotland. If we want to kill anything that moves and turn the whole damn place into a theme park, we'll do it.' Someone from the group of protestors hurled a turnip. It struck Purdey and he crumpled to the ground. Just as the archaic class system he represents must eventually fall, Angus thought with a grin. In his first two bestselling books, The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, John D. Burns invited readers to join him in the hills and wild places of Scotland. In Sky Dance, he returns to that world to ask fundamental questions about how we relate to this northern landscape - while raising a laugh or two along the way. Anyone who has gazed at the majesty of the Scottish mountains will know this place and want to return to it. Now, as wild land is threatened like never before, it's time we asked ourselves what kind of future we want for the Highlands.

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

Since the first edition of this book was released, Hueco Tanks has earned a reputation for hosting the best bouldering on the planet, not to mention being a darn good fall, winter and spring cragging area. The completely revamped second edition of this cult classic is greatly expanded and essential for such a complicated area.

This is the rock climbing instructional book. Until now, instructional books for climbers have taken a largely 'negative' approach, concentrating on how to reduce the inherent risks of the sport, and mentioning only in passing the equally important skills required to get to the top. This book represents a watershed in the genre, coming from a coaching perspective. "Sport Climbing+" is packed with inspirational photos, humorous illustrations, and two lifetime's worth of learning how to succeed at the toughest of all sports. The book takes a practical approach, focussing on the improvements that climbers can make immediately, without embarking on lengthy training programs. Written in a highly accessible, jargon-free style, this book is as beneficial to the novice indoor climber wanting to get on rock as it is to the experienced climber wanting to move onto the next level.

'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.

The Ariege region of Southern France is the compact area where the Ariege River cuts through the Pyrenees on its way from Andorra to the coast. There is a lot of high quality climbing in the area with a superb variety of rock types to go at; from the soaring granite slabs of the Dent d'Orlu, to the steep limestone bulges of Genat. Limestone, granite and gneiss are on offer and routes vary in size from boulder problems to long epics of over 20 pitches. The area has a long and intriguing history and offers plenty to do apart from the climbing, including mountain walking, caving, river rafting, skiing and checking out the many ancient castles. Factor in the year-round climbing, easy access from northern Europe and plenty of high quality accommodation in the area and it is easy to see that the Ariege region has lots to offer. The areas covered in the guidebook are in and around the main Ariege river valley which runs down from Andorra through Tarascon-sur-Ariege and Foix. All the main sport climbing crags are covered including, Alliat, Auzat, Calames, Sinsat and ther Plantaurel, as well as many longer routes on the Dent d'Orlu and Sinsat. There are also sections on Mountain Walking, Road and Mountain Biking, Water sports and skiing. Despite its attractions, the area has remained off the radar to the climbing world in general, and the lack of a comprehensive modern guide to the area must be a large part of the reason for this. This publication will hopefully open up this great area as a new destination for travelling climbers.

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

Lancashire Rock - this is the 2016 edition of the definitive guidebook from the BMC covering all the routes in Lancashire in one volume. There are 3200 routes from Mod to E9 across 95 crags throughout the county.* Big-hitting honeypots in the Wilton area* Moorland mystery-crags in the Trough of Bowland* Limestone leads on Trowbarrow, Warton and Witches* Reclusive gems in the Rochdale region* The hidden charms of Egerton, Anglezarke and Hoghton* Denham, Cadshaw and Stanworth - Blackburn magic!* Troy, Deeply and Pinfold - free the Rossendale Three!

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first climb of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper and his party in July1865, this large format pictorial book features over 100 pages of photographs of the world's most recognisable mountain, together with tantalising extracts from Whymper's own book The Ascent of the Matterhorn, and the details of Graeme Wallace's attempt to traverse the summit up via the Lion Ridge in Italy and down the Hornli Ridge in Switzerland, 150 years later in 2015. Back in 1865, a series of remarkable coincidences brought together several ambitious British mountaineers in a race to first ascend the 4478 metre Matterhorn. Referred to as The Devil's Mountain and believed to be the place where only spirits dwelt, the Matterhorn was considered un-scalable. While the hurriedly formed British team tackled the unknown north-east ridge, a well-funded Italian team, with a two day head start, approached up via the south-west ridge. The race to finally conquer the mighty Matterhorn was truly on.Success was followed by disaster and despite becoming the most successful mountaineer of his day, stories of triumph, transgression and tragedy would follow Whymper for the rest of his 46 years of life.

Written by one of the best known navigation instructors in the UK this is the definitive and comprehensive 'how to navigate' textbook. It covers every aspect of mountain navigation; summer, winter and overseas, using traditional map and compass as well as devices such as GPS and digital software applications. This book is a reference tool for every walker and mountaineer, from novice to expert, as well as containing specific ideas for anyone wanting to help teach and instruct others. It is the official navigation handbook for the UK qualification system that includes the Mountain Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, International Mountain Leader, Mountaineering Instructor and Walking Group Leader and is endorsed by the BMC, MCofS and MI. There are chapters on the Fundamentals, Navigation Techniques, Winter Navigation, Overseas Navigation, Global Positioning system, Digital Mapping Software and Teaching Navigation. It has a functional design with easy-reference colour-coded pages, striking illustrations that complement the text and inspiring photos that give a genuine flavour of what you are up against in the mountains. It is the fourth in a series of manuals from Mountain Leader Training UK which includes the highly successful "Hill Walking", "Rock Climbing" and "Winter Skills". Carlo Forte is a well known expert on mountain navigation and is an International Mountain Leader and Mountaineering Instructor. He is currently the Chief Instructor at the national mountain centre, Plas y Brenin.

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

"Coopers Rock Bouldering Guide" leads the way to more than 400 bouldering problems at Coopers Rock State Forest in north-central West Virginia. The forest's 15- to 30-foot "gritstone" boulders contain scores of high-quality lines, delicate slabs, and powerful roofs, some coupled with sloping of the. This guidebook provides in-depth information and precise detail about finding and ascending the best lines and classics on the most developed and most convenient areas, including Tilted Tree, Roadside Rocks, Upper Rock City, and Picnic Table. Also included is information on the best time of year to visit as well as where to camp, find food, and purchase gear. For more than twenty-five years, "FalconGuides"(R) have set the standard for outdoor guidebooks. Written by top experts, each guide invites you to experience the adventure and beauty ofthe outdoors. Look inside to find: - Written description and grades - Detailed topos and overview maps- Easy-to-follow driving and approach directions- Routes by grade and alphabetical indexes- Tips on safety, climbing ethics, and more

Joshua Tree National Park is the most popular rock climbing area in the world--and for good reason. When other climbing locales are buried in snow, Josh is basking in Southern California sunshine. Thousands of sport and traditional routes on park's distinctive domes offer climbers of all abilities endless variety, from classic, well-protected cracks to delicate friction faces and edgy vertical testpieces. Excellent bouldering abounds, and superb camping in the beautiful, high-desert environment encourages extended stays. Simply put, no climber's career is complete without at least one trip to Joshua Tree, and many people find themselves returning year after year.
"Rock Climbing Joshua Tree West is the first of two volumes that together replace "Rock Climbing Joshua Tree, published in 1992 and 1986. Covering climbs in the western half of the park, completely revised and with thoroughly updated route information, and extensively illustrated, it's the climber's comprehensive and indispensable guide to the area.

In October 1972, Nando Parrado and his rugby club teammates were on a flight from Uruguay to Chile when their plane crashed into a mountain. Miraculously, many of the passengers survived but Nando's mother and sister died and he was unconscious for three days. Stranded more than 11,000 feet up in the wilderness of the Andes, the survivors soon heard that the search for them had been called off - and realise the only food for miles around was the bodies of their dead friends ... In a last desperate bid for safety, Nando and a teammate set off in search of help. They climbed 17,000-foot-high mountains, facing death at every step, but inspired by his love for his family Nando drove them on until, finally, 72 days after the crash, they found rescue.

This is the only guidebook to document Irish Climbing in a single volume. It focuses on the best routes at the best crags and includes areas and routes that have never been documented in a modern guidebook before.Very detailed directions and maps make it easy for the first time visitor to find and climb their chosen route. There are over 100 high quality photo topos in a clean, modern design and layout. The action and landscape shots show Ireland and Irish climbing at their very best.This is a selective guidebook focussing on quality routes throughout the grades. There are 22 crag destinations, north and south, including Fair Head; Donegal; Dalkey Quarry; Wicklow; The Mournes; and The Burren.

Over 200 adventures written in chilling detail by twenty-nine women who in solar winter reached the summits of all 46 Adirondack High Peaks.