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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits > Climbing & mountaineering
'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.
This is a new book aimed at young climbers learning the National
Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme (NICAS). It features cartoon
illustrations giving step-by-step instructions on the basic skills
required for Levels 1 and 2 of the scheme and is fully endorsed by
NICAS. It is also endorsed by the Mountaineering Council of
Scotland. The book is beautifully illustrated by Sophie Mitchell
with appealing drawings and comes with a robust hardback fold-out
cover and is package with a short section of cord which enables
readers to practice the knots they are learning in the book.
The comprehensive guide to the place that brought sport climbing to
North America--
a full-color, thoroughly updated new edition Smith Rock State Park.
It was on the impressive crags of this Oregon hideaway that
American sport climbing came into its own, and to this day, some of
the hardest climbs in the United States are found on these walls.
Alan Watts, who has played a leading role in the development of
this popular rock-climbing destination, details more than 1,700
routes at Smith Rock and the surrounding area. This new edition
updates hundreds of routes, includes hundreds of new ones, and has
new photos of each crag, wall, and route. No other guide is as
comprehensive or thorough, and no author more respected for his
intimate knowledge of one of the world's most popular climbing
destinations.
The first ascent of the Matterhorn in July 1865 is one of the key
events in the history of mountaineering. It was the climax of five
years' struggle by the English mountaineer Edward Whymper in
competition with Jean Antonie-Carrel, the Italian mountain guide
who had grown up in the mountain's shadow. It also produced perhaps
the most famous mountaineering accidents of the 19th century,
bringing to an end the 'Golden Age of Alpine climbing'. This is the
story of the events leading up to this remarkable ascent and its
terrible aftermath. This is a gripping classic.
This is a definitive rock climbing guidebook to the diverse
mountain crags Buttermere, Newlands and the sandstone sea cliffs of
St Bees in the Lake District. It is published by the Fell &
Rock Climbing Club and written by Colin Read and Paul Jennings. It
is profusely illustrated with action climbing photos and Phil
Rigby's superb color photo diagrams and containing a wealth of
interesting historical information. The book features 340 pages,
plastic cover, and marker ribbon.
Lake District Winter Climbs is a joint production by the Fell and
Rock Climbing Club and Cicerone Press. It is the definitive guide
to winter climbing in the Lake District; every known winter climb
from every part of the Lake District is described - nearly 1000
routes in all, illustrated on detailed colour photo-topos. These
range from classic high-mountain gullies and buttresses on crags
such as Scafell, Pillar, and Great Gable to frozen watercourses and
icefalls including Great Gully on the Wasdale Screes, Launchy Gill,
Low Water Beck and Cautley Spout. And, of course, popular venues
like Great End and the Eastern Coves of the Helvellyn Escarpment
are described in detail. Included too are several routes in
outlying Cumbria. There are also sections on winter equipment,
winter climbing and conservation, climbing walls, accommodation,
and a first ascent list that includes masses of interesting
historical research.
'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.
This guidebook presents 60 routes covering some of the best day
walks, scrambles, hut-to-hut walks, alpine mountaineering, sport
climbing, via ferratas, mountain-biking routes, road rides, city
and trail runs and family activities the Innsbruck area has to
offer. Ideal for a multi-activity holiday or for the keen amateur
seeking a summary of the local highlights, it includes suggestions
to suit most abilities and ambitions, from gentle strolls to
adrenalin-filled mountain adventures, suitable only for those with
the appropriate equipment and experience. Nearly all the activities
are accessible by public transport from Innsbruck and many take
advantage of the region's fantastic network of alpine huts. Route
descriptions are illustrated with maps, profiles and photo topos,
and you'll also find practical advice on transport, accommodation
and equipment. Long popular as a winter sports destination,
Innsbruck also has much to offer the summer visitor, with many
kilometres of paths and trails, sport climbing crags, via ferrata
routes and engaging activity trails for children.
Fontainebleau is the world centre for boulder style climbing, with
thousands of boulders scattered throughout the majestic forest.
This 2nd volume covers all of the quieter areas that are 'deep' in
the forest (TOP SECRET), hidden from the crowded hotspots. The
climbing in these areas is stunning, with over 130 classic circuits
that comprise of 5000+ problems. The beautifully clear graphics and
1400+ photo topos, also allows for an additional 4000+ off circuit
problems to be included. This book gives an exceptional level of
detail with problem styles, heights, and even crash pad ratings. *
9000+ climbing routes - 60 venues - beginner to expert* 130+ quiet
circuits away from the crowds, covering all standards* Ultra modern
graphics, and 1400+ quality photo topos* Ideal for indoor
bouldering gym enthusiasts to explore outside* Bi-lingual
guidebook, French and EnglishThis is the second in the series from
Jingo Wobbly. Font Bloc Vol 1 - Fun Bloc, covers 7000 problems with
100 circuits. 9781873665152.
In 1909, while dreaming of the Himalaya, Norwegian mountaineer Alf
Bonnevie Bryn and a fellow young climber, the Australian George
Ingle Finch, set their sights on Corsica to build their experience.
The events of this memorable trip form the basis of Bryn's
acclaimed book Tinder og banditter - 'Peaks and Bandits', with
their boisterous exploits delighting Norwegian readers for
generations. Newly translated by Bibbi Lee, this classic of
Norwegian literature is available for the first time in English.
Although Bryn would go on to become a respected mountaineer and
author, and Finch would become regarded as one of the greatest
mountaineers of all time - a legend of the 1922 Everest expedition
- Peaks and Bandits captures them on the cusp of these
achievements: simply two students taking advantage of their Easter
holidays, their escapades driven by their passion for climbing. As
they find themselves in unexpected and often strange places, Bryn's
sharp and jubilant narrative epitomises travel writing at its best.
Balancing its wit with fascinating insight into life in early
twentieth-century Corsica, the infectious enthusiasm of Bryn's
narrative has cemented it as one of Norway's most treasured
adventure books. Peaks and Bandits embodies the timeless joy of
adventure.
This book provides the ultimate guide to rock climbing in the
United States, suitable for climbers and nonclimbers alike,
covering the technical and physical aspects of the sport as well as
the mental challenges involved. Rock Climbing: The Ultimate Guide
covers the history of rock climbing in the United States from its
origins to the present day, documenting the importance and vitality
of the popular sport. The chapters address topics such as the
technicalities of the equipment and clothing, training methods, key
places and events where the sport takes place, the different types
of rock that climbers challenge themselves on, past and present
rock climbing heroes who inspire today's climbers, and the
evolution of the sport over the years-for example, in terms of
climbers' sporting achievements and its growing global appeal. The
book also covers the sport from an unprecedented perspective that
only the author-an experienced climber and social scientist-could
provide, discussing the meaning of extreme sports in our culture,
issues of gender, why climbing can serve an individual focused on
personal achievement and satisfy those seeking to be part of a
community, and how climbers come to terms with the inherent risks
of the sport. A chronological history of rock climbing in the
United States, covering the places, events, and people A glossary
of key climbing terms A subject index
'It's a preposterous plan. Still, if you do get up it, it'll be the
hardest thing that's been done in the Himalayas.' So spoke Chris
Bonington when Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented him with
their plan to tackle the unclimbed West Wall of Changabang - the
Shining Mountain - in 1976. Bonington's was one of the more
positive responses; most felt the climb impossibly hard, especially
for a two-man, lightweight expedition. This was, after all, perhaps
the most fearsome and technically challenging granite wall in the
Garhwal Himalaya and an ascent - particularly one in a lightweight
style - would be more significant than anything done on Everest at
the time. The idea had been Joe Tasker's. He had photographed the
sheer, shining, white granite sweep of Changabang's West Wall on a
previous expedition and asked Pete to return with him the following
year. Tasker contributes a second voice throughout Boardman's
story, which starts with acclimatisation, sleeping in a Salford
frozen food store, and progresses through three nights of hell,
marooned in hammocks during a storm, to moments of exultation at
the variety and intricacy of the superb, if punishingly difficult,
climbing. It is a story of how climbing a mountain can become an
all-consuming goal, of the tensions inevitable in forty days of
isolation on a two-man expedition; as well as a record of the
moment of joy upon reaching the summit ridge against all odds.
First published in 1978, The Shining Mountain is Peter Boardman's
first book. It is a very personal and honest story that is also
amusing, lucidly descriptive, very exciting, and never anything but
immensely readable. It was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
for literature in 1979, winning wide acclaim. His second book,
Sacred Summits, was published shortly after his death in 1982.
Wired Guides' book Northern Rock beautifully presents the best
traditional climbing, sport climbing and bouldering in Yorkshire
(grit and limestone), Northumberland, Lancashire and the North York
Moors. The bumper selection of over 3500 climbs and problems with
detailed, accurate maps and full photo-diagram coverage has been
carefully curated by dedicated local experts from each area. A
guidebook that will provide any climber with a massive resource of
quality days out and inspiration for many more on top of that!
Northern Rock is published by the Yorkshire Mountaineering Club,
Northumbrian Mountaineering Club, Red Rose Definitives and the
Cleveland Mountaineering Club.
This guidebook describes 14 multi-day treks in Nepal's captivating
Annapurna region, among the foothills of the mighty Himalaya.
Routes range between 24km and 200km (15-124 miles) and between 4
and 23 days, with maximum altitudes from 1750m to 5416m. Areas
covered include Machhapuchhre, Pokhara and Lamjung Himal. The
varied treks showcase this inspiring landscape, offering stunning
vistas of snow-clad peaks and verdant valleys. From the classic
Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary to lesser-known routes,
this is the definitive guide to exploring Nepal's most popular
trekking region. With accommodation options including a mixture of
homestay, camping and lodges, trekkers have the opportunity to
immerse themselves in their surroundings and experience the warmth
and richness of Nepalese hospitality and culture. As well as
detailed route description and sketch mapping, the guide presents a
wealth of information to help make the most of a trip, including
practical advice on transport, visas and permits, when to go, what
to take and health and safety. There are notes on different styles
of trekking, tips on cultural etiquette and fascinating background
information on the region's history, plants and wildlife, culture
and religion.
Alpine expert Kev Reynolds has spent fifty years exploring mountain
landscapes and thirty writing about his experiences. Here he shares
some of the high points of a full life as a wanderer and writer.
Kev is the leading international authority on many mountain ranges,
including the Pyrenees, many regions of the Alps and the Nepal
Himalaya. As the author of numerous guides he has inspired many
thousands of trekkers to follow in his footsteps. As a lecturer he
regularly evokes the mood and majesty of the mountains to
spellbound audiences. In this book Kev tells how he set off, aged
21, to explore the Atlas Mountains of Morocco - and never looked
back. He abandoned his desk-bound local government job to pursue a
life in the mountains, living and working in Britain, Austria and
Switzerland before finding his true metier as a writer. These 75
stories capture the joy he has take in exploring the Atlas
Mountains, Pyrenees, Alps, Himalaya and 'Other Wild Places' again
and again, meeting the local people and the mountain guides,
experiencing the local food, faiths and lifestyle and watching the
sun rise and set against some of the world's highest peaks from
summit bivvies.
In 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.
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