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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Active outdoor pursuits > Climbing & mountaineering
However many times it has been done, the act of casting off the warps and letting go one's last hold of the shore at the start of a voyage has about it something solemn and irrevocable, like marriage, for better or for worse. Mostly Mischief's ordinary title belies four more extraordinary voyages made by H.W. 'Bill' Tilman covering almost 25,000 miles in both Arctic and Antarctic waters. The first sees the pilot cutter Mischief retracing the steps of Elizabethan explorer John Davis to the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. Tilman and a companion land on the north coast and make the hazardous crossing of Bylot Island while the remainder of the crew make the eventful passage to the southern shore to recover the climbing party. Back in England, Tilman refuses to accept the condemnation of Mischief's surveyor, undertaking costly repairs before heading back to sea for a first encounter with the East Greenland ice. Between June 1964 and September 1965, Tilman is at sea almost without a break. Two eventful voyages to East Greenland in Mischief provide the entertaining bookends to his account of the five-month voyage in the Southern Ocean as skipper of the schooner Patanela. Tilman had been hand-picked by the expedition leader as the navigator best able to land a team of Australian and New Zealand climbers and scientists on Heard Island, a tiny volcanic speck in the Furious Fifties devoid of safe anchorages and capped by an unclimbed glaciated peak. In a separate account of this successful voyage, Colin Putt describes the expedition as unique - the first ascent of a mountain to start below sea level.
Best Climbs Rocky Mountain National Park showcases the classic routes and best climbs in America's largest national park. Ideal for both local and nonlocal climbers who want to hit as many select climbs as possible in a weekend or a short visit, it provides visually appealing, to-the-point information. Longtime Colorado climber Stewart Green filters out more than 150 first-rate routes-from moderate beginner routes to challenging expert climbs.
Best Climbs Phoenix, Arizona narrows down the thousands of climbing routes across Phoenix, Arizona to the 200 best routes. These routes display the hidden beauty and deep-rooted climbing history of Phoenix. Each section comes with its own unique history, description, climbing style, and a list of gear needed. Also included are detailed driving directions, maps and trailhead information along with the best time of day and year to climb. This guide covers routes from beginner to advanced to give climbers a chance to sample the best that Phoenix, Arizona has to offer. Featuring full-color images of all the cliffs and boulders witheasy-to-follow descriptions and grades for each route. *Full-color photos *Detailed maps *GPS coordinates *Hundreds of favorite routes, many of moderate difficulty *Trivia and route history sidebars
From 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 Editions Paulsen.
The two maps, Prespa - Mt Varnous - Mt Vitsi, on one side and Mt Voras, on the other, include border areas of Western Macedonia that were until recently off the beaten track. Nowadays these areas have become popular tourism destinations that offer literally everything, from recreation activities and nature attractions to adventure sports, including skiing (there are 3 ski resorts in the area), air sports, off-road touring, motocross, cycling, hiking (the European trails E4 and E6 cross the map area), mountain running, spas, even swimming(!) at the beaches of Vegoritis and Megali Prespa lakes and naturally birdwatching. Tourism infrastructure is well developed and there are even high standard resorts such as Nymphaio and Palaios Agios Athanasios villages.
'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?
On 25 January 2018, Elisabeth Revol and her climbing partner Tomasz Mackiewicz summited Nanga Parbat, the killer mountain. Situated in the Karakoram, the world's ninth-highest peak is an immense ice-armoured pyramid of rock rising to an altitude of 8,125 metres. Elisabeth and Tomek had completed only the second winter ascent of the mountain, and Elisabeth had become the first woman to summit Nanga Parbat in winter. But their euphoria was short-lived. As soon as they reached the top, their adventure turned into a nightmare as Tomek was struck by blindness. In her own words, Elisabeth tells the story of this tragedy and the extraordinary rescue operation that resounded across the globe as fellow climbers flew in from K2 to help the stricken pair. She confronts her memories, her terror, her immense pain and the heartbreak of having survived, alone. To Live is Elisabeth Revol's poignant tribute to her friend and climbing partner.
- 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.
In 1967, seven young men, members of a twelve-man expedition led by twenty-four-year-old Joe Wilcox, were stranded at 20,000 feet on Alaska's Mount McKinley in a vicious Arctic storm. Ten days passed while the storm raged, yet no rescue was mounted. All seven perished in what remains the most tragic expedition in American climbing history. Revisiting the event in the tradition of Norman Maclean's Young Men and Fire, James M. Tabor uncovers elements of controversy, finger-pointing, and cover-up that make this disaster unlike any other.
Hard Rock is the best of British rock climbing. Featuring over fifty crags and sixty-nine routes in England, Scotland and Wales, it epitomises all that is great about traditional climbing in Great Britain. Ken Wilson's first edition of Hard Rock was published in 1974 and quickly established itself as the definitive representation of British rock climbing. Ken's vision for the book's format - part guidebook, part literary celebration and part coffee table visual showcase - is one that has been much copied but never equalled. In this new edition, editor Ian Parnell has ensured Hard Rock continues to honour Ken's original concept, in particular keeping the route, not the climber, centre stage. While the activity of climbing has undergone myriad changes since 1974 - sticky rubber, camming devices, and the rise of sport climbing and indoor climbing walls - many climbers are still drawn to the drama and challenge of traditionally protected climbing. And this is why Hard Rock is still as relevant now as it was in 1974. Stretching across the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Lake District, the Pennines and the Peak District, North and South Wales and down to South-West England, the routes tackle big mountain walls, gritstone outcrops and epic sea cliff adventures. Focusing on the trad connoisseur's grade range of VS to E2, with additional routes at E3 and E4, the featured climbs are within reach of a majority of climbers. Timeless classics include The Bat on Ben Nevis, the Old Man of Hoy, the Central Buttress of Scafell, Cenotaph Corner on Dinas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass, Vector at Tremadog, Right Unconquerable at Stanage Edge and Suicide Wall at Bosigran on the Cornish coast. Alongside many of the original essays, written by a formidable cast of climbers including Pete Crew, Ed Drummond, Royal Robbins, Chris Bonington, Hamish MacInnes and Al Alvarez, this new edition features thirteen new routes and pieces by Eleanor Fuller, Stephen Reid, Kevin Howett, David Pickford, Paul Harrison, John Lawrence Holden, Martin Moran, Paul Donnithorne and Emma Alsford. It is illustrated with all-new colour photography throughout. Hard Rock's timeless collection is sure to inspire for generations to come.
Higher than Everest paints an uncompromising portrait of Tendi Sherpa, who has successfully climbed twenty-one mountains over 8,000m, including fourteen ascents of Everest. This young father, part of the elite group of Nepalese guides, embodies the new generation of Sherpas who are taking their destiny into their own hands. In the numerous conferences he holds throughout the world, he never hesitates to denounce the amateurism and obsession of certain people determined to climb Everest, as well as the over-crowding of the sacred Himalayan mountains. As a child, the man who would go on to save many lives on the Roof of the World once dreamed of becoming a monk, and from his years at the monastery, he still retains a deep attachment to Buddhism and its many rituals. Resolutely looking towards the future, but also concerned about respecting the environment and traditions, Tendi regularly returns to the secluded valley of Khembalung, the land of his ancestors, never forgetting where it is he has come from.
James Kingston loves to climb. Whether he's scaling a tree at his local park or ascending to the very top of a crane, looking down always brings about the best kind of rush. And yet it wasn't always this way. Afraid of heights as a child, James vowed to confront an almost crippling phobia. He was transformed, and became one of the most daring and unique free climbers on the planet. Today, James is the go-to man for everything HIGH. Think Wembley Stadium or the Eiffel Tower - James has conquered some of the most iconic locations in the world. Packed with death-defying POV pictures, Never Look Down tells how James faces down danger, where his favourite free climbing locations are, and takes you to the top of the world.
In Extreme Scotland, award-winning adventure-sports photographer Nadir Khan takes us on a jaw-dropping tour through Scotland's epic mountain landscape. Nadir showcases his work with some of the best adventure athletes in the world - including Ines Papert and James Pearson - in a portfolio that has placed him at the forefront of adventure-sports photography in the UK. From the icy walls of Ben Nevis's frozen north face to the raging seas of the north coast, Scotland plays host to world-class adventure sports of every discipline. Ice climbing, kayaking, ski-touring, trail running, surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing are all captured beautifully in this fitting testament to Scotland's outstanding landscapes and adrenaline sports. Alongside contributions from climber and author Nick Bullock, Tom Livingstone, Elana Bader, Mike Pescod, David Canning and Stuart B. Campbell, Nadir gives us an insight into his photographic inspirations, and shares insights and approaches to composition and other elements of his photography.
aEUROoeThe spirit of the pioneering mountaineer emanates from Mountain Fever, a superb account of the 19th century conquests of the highest and most imposing of Pacific Northwest mountains, Mt. Rainier. [This] is the history of organized mountaineering in the Northwest as well as of Mt. Rainier and those who accepted its challenge. It carries those stories to the turn of the century when Mt. Rainier achieved the status of a national park.aEURO - Portland Oregonian aEUROoeHainesaEURO(t) story begins with the day Capt. George Vancouver sighted the snowy mountain in 1792. The author sifted accounts of the first climbers, Dr. William F. Tolmie who went to the ridge above the forks of the Mowich River in 1833, the Bailey-Edgar-Ford party, which may have reached the summit in 1851, the unknown climbers guided by a Yakima Indian, Saluskin, in 1855 and the 1857 attempt of Lieut. August V. Kautz. These were the men who penetrated the wilderness without blazing a trail.aEURO - Seattle Times aEUROoeThis book - a collectoraEURO(t)s item - will be cherished by all who have set foot on the peak and who have been inspired by its distant views.aEURO - William O. Douglas Aubrey Haines is a retired historian for the National Park Service.
Combining the skills of ice climbing and rock climbing, mixed
climbing-or M-climbing-allows for travel over all types of terrain,
under any condition. Though mixed climbing has always been an
essential part of mountaineering, the focus of this challenging
sport has shifted from the means of achieving a summit to what is
essentially the wintertime equivalent of sport climbing-with
bolted, often overhanging, ice and rock routes being climbed using
leashless tools, employing acrobatic and athletic moves.
Modern Mountaineering on Alpine Rock, Snow, and Ice. If your experience as a backpacker or rock climber is drawing you higher; if the cold, remote alpine environment calls you nearer, this book is for you. "The Mountaineering Handbook" will teach you the skills that will take you to the top. Even if youre already an experienced mountaineer, youll find detailed descriptions of the newest and most effective techniques to refine and organize your methods and equipment. "The Mountaineering Handbook" isn't mired in outdated traditionalism; its new-school techniques are safer, more effective, and more fun for mountaineers at every level. With constant emphasis on light, fast, and efficient mountaineering, Craig Connally shows you how to: . . Move quickly up and down rock, snow, and ice with appropriate safety systems. Manage mountain hazards, including rockfall, avalanche, lightning, and high-altitude illness. Select the best equipment for your personal style and objectives. Maintain sound nutrition and training according to the most up-to-date science. Understand the human factors of mountaineering--the social and psychological forces that influence critical decisions. . Connallys passion for mountaineering is evident in his writing--"The Mountaineering Handbook" is clever, insightful, and entertaining. He intends to move mountaineering into the twenty-first century, but hes also determined to turn the traditional how-to book on its ear by injecting personality, humor, and thoughtfulness into every page.. "Backpackers venture into the wilderness to see a little farther, but mountaineers describe their adventures as means of looking more closely into their own selves--to see alittle deeper. Climbing mountains compels introspection because every detail--from the smallest to the most ominous--must be constantly attended to. Thats both exhausting and exhilarating. Exhilarating, because the criteria for success are absolute and absolutely objective--they are chosen by the mountain, not by the mountaineer, and every person is equal when judged by mountains. Success requires mountaineers to appraise their own physical and mental capacities and to know, or discover, the extent of their reserves of competence, commitment, and courage. Mountaineering does not build character so much as it reveals it.""--from "The Mountaineering Handbook," Craig Connally puts many years of mountaineering, ski mountaineering, and climbing rock and ice into his engaging writing. More importantly, he has applied his advanced degrees in science and his career as an engineering manager to sort out and explain what works and what doesnt in the mountains..
Guardian Books to Watch 2022 Evening Standard Books to Watch 2022 Bookseller Editor's Choice Winner of the Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature 'A wonderful book - exhilarating and taut, fearless in its explorations of wildness, risk, motherhood, and the inner and outer worlds of the writer' Jon McGregor 'This book is beautiful' Emma Jane Unsworth 'Climbing gives you the illusion of being in control, just for a while, the tantalising sense of being able to stay one move ahead of death' As a child, Helen Mort was drawn to the thrill and risk of climbing, the tension between human and rockface, and the climber's need to be hyperaware of the sensory world - to feel the texture of rock under their fingers, how their crampons bite into the ice, the subtle shifts in weather. But when she becomes a mother for the first time, she finds herself re-examining this most elemental of disciplines, and the way that we view women who put themselves in danger. Written by one of Britain's most talented young writers, A Line Above the Sky melds memoir and nature writing to create what will surely become a classic of the genre; it asks why humans are compelled to climb and poses other, deeper questions about self, motherhood and freedom. It is a love letter to losing oneself in physicality, whether that in the risk of climbing a granite wall solo, without ropes, or the intensity of bringing a child into the world.
In 1923, a reporter asked George Mallory why he wanted to summit Mount Everest. "Because it's there". Today the question "why do this?" is included in nearly every mountaineering story or interview. Meanwhile, interest in climbing is steadily on the rise, from commercial mountaineering and climbing walls in university gyms and corporate workplaces to the flood of spectacular climbing imagery in advertising, cinema, and social media. Climbing has become the theater for imagining limits-of the human body and of the planet- and the nature of desire, motivation, and #goals. Covering the degradation of Everest, the banning of climbing on Australia's Uluru, UNESCO's decision to name alpinism an Intangible Cultural Heritage, the sudden death of Ueli Steck, and the commercial and critical success of Free Solo, Mountains and Desire chases after what remains of this pursuit - marred by its colonial history, coopted by nationalistic chauvinism, ableism, and the capitalist compulsion to unlimited growth - for both climbers and their fans.
The Great Mountain Crags of Scotland is a celebration of climbing in Scotland's wild places, compiled by Guy Robertson and Adrian Crofton. Featuring contributions from many of Scottish mountaineering's great writers and climbers, and beautifully illustrated with breathtaking photography, it delves deep into the heart of some of the oldest mountains on Earth. This is a book for anyone with an interest in Scotland's wild places, where the mountains and cliffs, rather than the climbs, take centre stage, transporting the reader far from towns and cities, and deep into the wilderness. The crags are the tallest, steepest and most majestic anywhere in the British Isles. They are all situated in a high mountain environment, and always a good hike from the nearest road. A visit to any of these great crags is therefore a worthy end in itself. For those wishing to venture onto the crags, all the climbs described are highly adventurous, relying solely upon leader-placed protection. Many of the crags and climbs are described and illustrated here in detail for the very first time. Among these pages are accounts of some of Scottish mountaineering's greatest triumphs, but also accounts of necessary failures - chasing elusive conditions, knowing when to go down, when to return. The authors relate their personal experiences of these cliffs and the climbing, and contained here are real treasures: schoolboy Dave MacLeod soloing on The Cobbler in winter after catching the train from Dumbarton, Mark McGowan's gripping first-hand account of soloing Shibboleth on Slime Wall of Buachaille Etive Mor, Grant Farquhar's recollections of a cherished first ascent on the Great Prow of Skye's Bla Bheinn, Es Tresidder falling under the spell of Creag Meagaidh's Pinnacle Face, and Brian Davison's 15-year waiting game for the first winter ascent of Mort on the Tough-Brown Face of Lochnagar. Split into four sections - The South West Highlands, The North West Highlands, The Islands and The Cairngorms & Central Highlands - this book features unique contributions from, amongst others, Nick Bullock, Rick Campbell, Jason Currie, Brian Davison, Kevin Howett, Julian Lines, Martin Moran, Andy Nisbet, Simon Richardson and Tony Stone. Each section is accompanied by an original poem by Stuart Campbell, and renowned author and mountaineer Andy Cave has contributed the foreword.
In September 1938 A. Wainwright made a solitary walk through the Pennines. The following year he wrote up an account of this walk, which was eventually published as A Pennine Journey in 1986. This pictorial guide, written by members of the Wainwright Society, is a re-creation of his walk adapted for today's roads and rights-of-way, taking a route that Wainwright might have chosen if he was planning it today.
If there's an adventure to be had, it's likely that David Hempleman-Adams has been there first. Ranking alongside Ranulph Fiennes and Chris Bonnington in the pantheon of British explorers, he is the first person in history to achieve what is termed the Adventurers' Grand Slam, by reaching the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles as well as climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents. The question Hempleman-Adams is most often asked is, simply: what drives him on? Why risk frostbite pulling a sledge to the North Pole? Why experience the Death Zone on Everest? Why fly in the tiny basket of a precarious balloon across the Atlantic? Is it simply the case that he likes to push himself to the limits, or is there something more to it? No Such Thing as Failure answers these questions and more, uncovering what drives arguably the world's greatest adventurer. |
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