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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits > Climbing & mountaineering
A climbing guide for the small cliffs of Athens and the the
outlying areas such as Likavitos, Tourkovounia, Filopapou, Imitos,
Parnitha, Pendeli, Kakia Thalasa and others. Location maps,
sketched topos of the crags with grading. English and Greek text.
The Uncrowned King of Mont Blanc by Peter Foster is the biography
of scientist and mountaineer Thomas Graham Brown, whose
encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountain earned him the soubriquet,
and whose achievements in the Alps and Greater Ranges place him at
the forefront of British mountaineering between the two world wars.
Born in Edinburgh in 1882, Graham Brown first pursued a career in
the sciences as a physiologist - his exacting father demanding the
highest standards - and the results of his research, largely
unrecognised at the time, now underpin current understanding of the
nervous control of movement in animals and man. His mountaineering
career began in earnest after the First World War. From rock
climbing in the Lake District he progressed to guided climbs in the
Alps, where in 1927 he was fatefully introduced to Frank Smythe
with whom he made the groundbreaking first ascents of the
Sentinelle Rouge and the Route Major on the Brenva Face of Mont
Blanc. This resulted in an obsession with the mountain and a feud
between the pair that smouldered and flared for twenty years.
Ambitious, determined and uncompromising in his views, he never
left others feeling neutral: Geoffrey Winthrop Young thought him `a
vicious lunatic', yet Charles Houston felt closer to Graham Brown
`than almost anyone else I know'. Graham Brown's life was one of
turbulence in his career, relationships and in the mountains,
whether on expeditions to Mount Foraker, Nanda Devi and Masherbrum,
or most frequently, the Alps. Peter Foster has drawn upon diaries,
letters and extensive archival research that illuminate the highs
and lows of Graham Brown's scientific and climbing careers, and
explores the imbalance between the significance of his achievements
and the lack of recognition he received. But, above all, The
Uncrowned King of Mont Blanc allows one to hear Graham Brown's
voice: querulous, opinionated and, to the discomfort of his many
adversaries, almost always right.
This handy, pocket-size manual provides easy-to-understand,
step-by-step guidance to climbers transitioning to the advanced
level of trad rock climbing.
A New York Times Bestseller A dramatic, inspiring memoir by
legendary rock climber Tommy Caldwell, the first person to free
climb the Dawn Wall of Yosemite's El Capitan "The rarest of
adventure reads: it thrills with colorful details of courage and
perseverance but it enriches readers with an absolutely captivating
glimpse into how a simple yet unwavering resolve can turn adversity
into reward." -The Denver Post A finalist for the Boardman Tasker
Award for Mountain Literature On January 14, 2015, Tommy Caldwell,
along with his partner, Kevin Jorgeson, summited what is widely
regarded as the hardest climb in history-Yosemite's nearly vertical
3,000-foot Dawn Wall, after nineteen days on the route. Caldwell's
odds-defying feat-the subject of the documentary film The Dawn Wall
to be released nationwide in September-was the culmination of an
entire lifetime of pushing himself to his limits as an athlete.
This engrossing memoir chronicles the journey of a boy with a
fanatical mountain-guide father who was determined to instill
toughness in his son to a teen whose obsessive nature drove him to
the top of the sport-climbing circuit. Caldwell's affinity for
adventure then led him to the vertigo-inducing and little
understood world of big wall free climbing. But his evolution as a
climber was not without challenges; in his early twenties, he was
held hostage by militants in a harrowing ordeal in the mountains of
Kyrgyzstan. Soon after, he lost his left index finger in an
accident. Later his wife, and main climbing partner, left him.
Caldwell emerged from these hardships with a renewed sense of
purpose and determination. He set his sights on free climbing El
Capitan's biggest, steepest, blankest face-the Dawn Wall. This epic
assault took more than seven years, during which time Caldwell
redefined the sport, found love again, and became a father. The
Push is an arresting story of focus, drive, motivation, endurance,
and transformation, a book that will appeal to anyone seeking to
overcome fear and doubt, cultivate perseverance, turn failure into
growth, and find connection with family and with the natural world.
Shortlisted for Travel Memoir Book of the Year, Edward Stanford
Travel Writing Awards 2020 / Winner - GOLD in Personality of the
Year, SILVER in The Extra Mile Award as well as SILVER in Book of
the Year all in The Great Outdoor Awards 2019 'This uplifting
memoir is testament that in life there are times when there is
nothing for it but to scale that mountain' -The Herald Best Summer
Reads 2019 In 1997, at the age of 24, Sarah lost her mother to
breast cancer. Alone and adrift in the world, she very nearly gave
up hope, but she'd made a promise to her mother that she would keep
going no matter what. So she turned to the beautiful, dangerous,
forbidding mountains of her native Scotland.
These essays mirror thirty years of a mountaineering life, and show
equally the author's enjoyment in the quiet places and his taste
for raw adventure. The satisfaction of solitary fell-running and
solo climbing on Welsh hills contrasts with the excitements of
Alpine north faces and Himalayan exploration.
A guide to reaching the summit of every country in Europe -
driving, walking and climbing routes to the tops of 50 countries in
Europe. Detailed route descriptions, sketch maps - advice on
transport, seasons, grading and gear. Heading to the highest point
of any European country is an experience not to be missed. The
continent has a wealth of adventure and a huge variety of dazzling
scenery awaiting the walker and climber. And each of Europe's 50
countries celebrates its national high point in a different way.
This guide brings together detailed route descriptions for those
seeking to get to the highest peaks in countries from Liechtenstein
to Latvia and Germany to Greece. Whether attempting to climb
individual high points or complete all 50 ascents, these routes are
crammed with some of the most stunning landscapes and exciting
terrain that Europe has to offer. From the frozen tundra of the
Arctic Circle to the arid plains of the Sierra Nevada, this book
contains something for everyone with routes ranging from afternoon
strolls in Malta and Moldova to three-day mountaineering ascents on
classic Alpine routes such as Mont Blanc and Dufourspitze.
Many of us who participate in adventure sports have wondered: "What
if the worst really happened? What if everything I have held so
dear were to be taken away in the blink of an eye: my way of
living, my job, my social life ... everything!?" An inspiring tale
of a remarkable recovery from a hugely challenging,
life-threatening accident. In 2013 he was caught in an avalanche
which swept him over a cliff. Despite falling 140 metres and
suffering serious brain injuries he survived. His prognosis was
that in time he might be able to communicate by blinking. Nine
years later he has made a remarkable recovery and though sheer
determination recovered his fitness levels. Pete does have speech
problems and an odd gait but he has gone on to find new challenges.
He has recently cycled the equivalent distance to once around the
equator and continues to live life to the full.
- hundreds of favorite routes, many of moderate difficulty, at
Tahquitz and Suide Rocks- Trivia and route history sidebars-
Stunning action photos- color topo maps with detailed directions to
parking areas (GPS coordinates included)Best Climbs Tahquitz and
Suicide Rocks is part of FalconGuides' Best Climbs series,
appealing specifically to nonlocal climbers and locals with minimal
time on their hands, all of whom seek visually appealing,
to-the-point guides that filter out the very best climbs in some of
America's most popular climbing destinations, with an emphasis on
moderate routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.10.
The mountains of Ireland are wild and untrodden. There is a
powerful and magnetic quality to Ireland's high places, a mix of
mountains and sea that creates an indelible impression and
inexorably draws one back. From High Places is a celebration of
Ireland's great mountains. A collection of stunning images taken
from the peaks of these mountains, it will transport you from the
quartzite giants of Connemara, the wild summits of Donegal, the
sweeping mountains of Mourne, to the towering peaks of Kerry. In
addition to these images, the author describes his own unique
experiences exploring these mountain areas and interweaves these
with an account of the local history, folklore, and geology. From
High Places will inspire the reader, be they beginner or
experienced hill-walker, to set out and explore the magnificent
mountains Ireland has to offer.
This updated and revised edition of Rock Climbing Minnesota
describes almost 1,000 routes at 13 major areas, offering a
lifetime of cragging entertainment for beginners and experts alike.
Experience the distinctive sea-cliff atmosphere of climbing along
the North Shore of Lake Superior; cling to solid quartzite routes
at Devil’s Lake and Blue Mounds State Parks; revel in the
Northwoods environment of Mystical Mountain and Carlton Peak; or
push your limits on steep sport routes at Barn Bluff and Willow
River. Maps, color topos, and stunning action photos accompany
clearly written descriptions of the routes to make Rock Climbing
Minnesota an indispensable component on your next Midwestern
climbing adventure.
Serendipity placed David Johnston on Mount St. Helens when the
volcano rumbled to life in March 1980. Throughout that ominous
spring, Johnston was part of a team that conducted scientific
research that underpinned warnings about the mountain. Those
warnings saved thousands of lives when the most devastating
volcanic eruption in U.S. history blew apart Mount St. Helens, but
killed Johnston on the ridge that now bears his name. Melanie
Holmes tells the story of Johnston's journey from a nature-loving
Boy Scout to a committed geologist. Blending science with personal
detail, Holmes follows Johnston through encounters with Aleutian
volcanoes, his work helping the Portuguese government assess the
geothermal power of the Azores, and his dream job as a
volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Interviews and
personal writings reveal what a friend called "the most unjaded
person I ever met," an imperfect but kind, intelligent young
scientist passionately in love with his life and work and
determined to make a difference.
'Our day's route led us through snow and ice scenery of deathless
beauty. This lives strong in mind, while physical pains and trials,
the so-called realities of defeat and victory, have long been
forgotten.' Mountaineering in Scotland is one of the greatest
classics in climbing literature. It records the saga of the early
days of Scottish winter and summer pioneering, providing a timeless
antidote to modern-day tales of sterile athleticism. W.H. Murray's
vivid descriptions have an immediacy that transports the reader to
some of the most iconic routes in Britain. In this book are the
dramatic moments of the mountains, from walking and scrambling
among the rough edges of the high mountain to sighting the
mirror-sharp clarity of the burn pools in the valleys. Through his
tales of remarkable and addictive climbing adventures, Murray
recounts the very essence of what exploratory climbing and deep
mountaineering camaraderie is all about.
All the knots a climber needs to know This completely revised and
updated edition of Craig Luebben's bestseller covers the ten
essential climbing knots all climbers need to know, and then
presents sixteen others for various special situations. Color
illustrations make learning these knots a cinch. Knots include the
Munter Hitch, the Auto Block, the Clove Hitch, and the Equalizing
Figure Eight.This edition isnewly illustrated with sharp color
photos that clearly show how to tie the knots, as well as with
photos of the knots being used in the field.
‘I went on cutting. We seemed to have been going for a very long time and my confidence was fast evaporating. Bump followed bump with maddening regularity. A patch of shingle barred our way, and I climbed dully up it and started cutting steps around another bump. And then I realised that this was the last bump, for ahead of me the ridge dropped steeply away in a great corniced curve, and out in the distance I could see teh pastel shades and fleecy clouds of the highlands of Tibet.’
Everest: forbidding, exhilarating, unconquerable. All courageous attempts by man to reach its summit by heading up the northern side from Tibet had failed. The southern approach through Nepal had never before been climbed, due to its impossibly steep ice-covered slopes and the country’s policies. But in 1951 Edmund Hillary joined an expedition to find a new route up Everest from the south, which led to a new chapter in mountaineering history.
The climbers’ determination, endurance and battle against the elements culminated with their famous climb in 1953 as they finally reached the summit of this formidable mountain. Hillary’s own account of the historic climb is a classic adventurer’s memoir, originally published in 1955. It is illustrated with sketches by George Djurkovic, maps by A. Spark, and a 16-page plate section of 24 photographs from the Royal Geographical Society.
Click here to read an extract. Reviews (for the 1955 edition):
‘A gem of a book ... at no point is there any deviation from the same honesty of purpose and simple love of mountaineering which brought him, with those famous 'few more whacks', to the top’ — Times Literary Supplement‘Unquestionably the best account of the lot ... I believe this to be one of the small number of mountaineering books certain to survive’ — Observer ‘By far the best account ... Hillary has the hapy knack of helping you live his book vividly’ — Daily Mail
The inspiring memoir of a middle-aged woman who challenged herself
to climb one hundred Japanese mountains in a single year, even
after an aggressive cancer threatened to derail her dream. After
more than forty years of living "safe and scared," California
attorney and mystery author Susan Spann decided to break free by
climbing one hundred of Japan's most famous mountains, inspired by
a classic list of hyakumeizan peaks. But when an unexpected cancer
diagnosis forced her to confront her deepest fears, the mountains
of Japan became the setting for an even more transformative journey
from pain and fear to a new life fueled by hope, confidence, and
strength. This immersive, inspiring, and witty page-turner captures
the terrifying lows and breathtaking highs of a woman's journey
from timidity to confidence, cancer to healing, and regret to joy,
as she breaks the mental and physical chains that once prevented
her from living out her dreams. Susan chronicles her journey with
an insightful, often humorous eye for not only her travels across
Japan, but the culture, food, nature, and obstacles she encountered
along the way, and complements her honest and vivid prose with
breathtaking personal photographs.
This is theengrossing story of the seasons the author spent
climbing 4000m mountains inthe different regions of the Alps. It is
also about the people with whom heclimbed who found time out of
their day-to-day routine for this extraordinaryactivity. He
explains the reason for this fascination which resulted in
theirspending decades pursuing their climbing objectives. The words
and photos both encapsulate thealpine experience in all its beauty
and suffering, pain and exhilaration,danger and humour which is
shared with each climbing partner and open to anyonewith the same
commitment. The author believes that climbing all the
4000mmountains is a realistic and achievable objective that will
take mountaineersinto much wild and beautiful terrain. These are
not just snow plods: everymountain has a worthwhile route on it and
even those with long glacierapproaches can become superb ascents
and descents on ski in an alpine spring. The many photos taken over
the years were areminder of details that had escaped notice in the
journals kept at the time.These numerous stunning and inspiring
photographs tell their own story andenrich the author's account.
The book is dedicated to all his climbing partnerswho made the
completion of the quest possible.
From one of the most daring mountaineers of modern times, Walter
Bonatti's The Mountains of My Life is an account of years spent
conquering the most intimidating peaks on Earth, translated and
with a foreword by Robert Marshall in Penguin Modern Classics. The
Mountains of My Life is the breathtaking collection of Walter
Bonatti's classic writings, detailing a life on the world's
toughest ascents. He describes the staggeringly basic equipment he
used and the fear, joy and serenity he finds on these daring
ascents, as well as the importance of finding his courage and
challenging himself. Included here too is the real story behind the
feuds and controversy that were sparked by the K2 ascent that
changed his life. Bonatti, one of the greatest mountaineers of all
time, perfectly captures here in this awe-inspiring and passionate
work the adventure, tragedy and sheer magnitude of his craft.
Walter Bonatti (1930-2011) was born in Bergamo, Italy. As a young
man he dedicated himself to extreme alpinism, and from the age of
19 to 35, he became an expert climber. In 1954 he played a vital
role in the success of the Italian expedition that achieved the
first ascent of K2. After 1965 Bonatti gave up mountaineering,
turning to photojournalism for the Italian magazine Epoca, and
travelling to remote places. If you enjoyed The Mountains of My
Life, you might like T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, also
available in Penguin Modern Classics. 'Bonatti's voice reaches us
from another world' The Press 'One of the most driven, audacious
and successful mountaineers ... of all time' Andy Cave, Guardian
More than just a travel guide, The Call of the Mountains is a
lyrical testament to the power of the Scottish mountains to offer
anyone of reasonable fitness either simple enjoyment or a deeper
journey of transformation. From the pinnacles of Skye to the
rolling plateau of the Cairngorms; from the flanks of Ben Lomond to
the Pass of Glencoe; from the summit of Ben Nevis to far away Ben
Hope - these lands can be your gymnasiums, your art galleries and
your sacred spaces all in one. Based on 1,000 miles of trekking
across these mountains, this book shows you: * Where to find the
best views * How geology, history, culture, flora and fauna have
shaped these mountainscapes * How engagement with these lands can
nurture your spirit, as well as your body and mind
- A climbing guidebook to over 250 cliffs, with all grades included
3a-8c. - A highly cost effective and practical guidebook to the
best areas. - Ideal for beginners, families, regular climbers; with
12,000+ routes. - GPS info, great access maps, campsites and picnic
spots. - Bi-lingual French-English guidebook. This title is the
first of this 4 book series to general sport climbing and
bouldering in France, and is designed for all levels of climber. It
is written by David Atchison-Jones, who has written many major
guidebooks to Fontainebleau, Bourgogne, and other areas of France.
This book includes the main 8 departments of Bourgogne and
Auvergne, along with many other cliffs from nearby departments that
are easy to access en-route and natural to include. 1)
FONTAINEBLEAU, a simple introduction to the 30 main areas. 2)
YONNE-MORVAN, spectacular Saussois, plus hidden granite areas. 3)
AUXOIS-BEAUNE-MACON, a big concentration of classic limestone. 4)
CLERMONT-FERRAND-CANTAL, all of the Auvergne volcanic towers. 5)
SAINT-ETIENNE-HAUTE LOIRE, the quiet areas of Massif Central. 6)
ARDECHE-LOZERE, a place to seek sunshine and magnificent rock.
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